Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-01


and; yet we may find some evidence OF
wreck, and that's very important
matter for us"
"And who knows but" began Zach.
you mean, Zach, that it's possible
that the Dreadnaught may have run
upon this island, quito of the route
which she was 20 follow"
why not, cnptain?"
while it's extremely improbable, !"
answered Capt Willis, that's no
reason why we should not try 10
make a landing and get at the truth Of
the matter"
Browse island Is about six or seven
miles In circumference, rs was shown
when the Mollys Hope had made tour
Of II, but ut no point OH It's shores was
there anything like n harbor or even
an inlet In which the steamer could
take shelter for a few hours. II was
soon discovered that IL would be ncces-
sary 10 lower away some OF the steam
er's boats. and even then they had not
rs yet como upon any safe landing
place.
While searching tho beach with his
glass Capt Willis finally discovered n
break In this prccipitous shore line, n
sort OF cut followed out OF the main
body Of tho island through which n
creek reached the sea After taking n
look at the place himself Zach French
vcnturcd the opinion that he could
make n landing there. The coast seemed
TO be less precipitous and its outline WINS
broken at rather sharp angle. There
was also narrow opening in the limo
OF reefs evidenced by the absence OF
breakers.
In n short half hour the steam launch
was lowered away, Capt Willis himself
being In command Of H. With him
were Zach French and others necessary
TO man the launch. Out Of caution,
two rifles. two hatchcts and several re-
volvers were taken along During the
captains absence, the mate was TO keep
the Molly's Hope In position In the
open roadstend and reply TO any signals
which might be made.
At half past one the steam launch put
OFT and headed for the shore, distant
about mile. As she entered the mar
row passage, countless sea fowls filed
the air with shril cries In u few min.
uics the launch struck gently on n
sandy beach pierced here and there
with pointed rocks Capt Willis with
Zach and tho two seaInen landed ut
once leaving the boat In charge OF tho
engineer and tlrcmcn with orders to
keep steam up Passing through the
gorge. down which the stream reached
the sea. the -four men soon found them.
selves upon tho island ledge Some
hundred or more yards away there was
a rocky elevation commanding view
OF The beach
Willis and his men at once set out Tor
this point, and having scaled IL with
some difficulty were thus enabled to get
complete view Of the island In con.
formation II rcscmblcd tho shell Of a
huge tortoise, the jutting point repre-
scnting the animals tail. In spots there
were slight layers Of soil covering this
body OF the island From the top OF
this high point Capt Willis and his mon
bent their gaze in every direction No
smoke went curling upward, no human
being showed himself The conclusion
was that N Browse island had been In.
habited, and there could be no doubt Of
that, II was very unlikely that II con-
tinued TO be so.
This is a sorry place for cnstaways,"
remarked Willis. III they were forced
10 stay here for any length Of time the
mystery is what they lived on"
"Yes;" answered French, Its nothing
but bare table OF rock with small
clump OF trees here and there, and only
u thin layer OF soil In places. But after
all castawnys have no right 10 be hard
TO please A bit OF ground under your
feet Is better than hole In the deep
sea-"
AT the start, yes" replied Willis,
but later on"
"Iiesidcs," added Zach, "itsqulte pos
sible that the castaways who sought
refuge on this island were promptly
taken of by some passing vessel"
AS II Is also quite possible that they
all persisted from unger and exposure"
"What makes you think so, captainp"
"because when they discovered that
II was In their power TO get away from
this island they would have taken down
that signal II looks TO me as II the
last OF these unfortunates must have
died before relief came. Anyway, let
us go and examine that signal; it's bare.
some evidence Of the nationality OF the
ship which went ashore here"
Capt Willis and his men made their
way down from the elevation and set
out for tho promontory which jutted
out 20 the northward But hardly had
they taken half dozen steps when one
of the men stopped TO pick up some
thing which had struck against his foot,
"Ilold on, what's this?" said he.
Lets seel" replied French.
1t was the blade OF knife such as
sailors carry in their belts In leather
sheath. Broken off even with tho han
die and full Of hicks, the blade had
doubtless been thrown away as useless.
"Well, Zach?" asked Willis.
"I'm looking for some mark 20 show
where II was manufactured" answered
the boatswain.
II was natural TO suppose that II
would bear some makers mark, but II
Ind become so rusted that until some
what cleaned of nothing could be dis
cerned. Having done this, French sue
ceeded in deciphering the words
stamped upon tho blade. They were;
sheffield, England" Capt. Willis and
his companions continued their way
towards the promontory. II was hard
tramp through this wild region. Ad-
hitting that II had ever been visited by
man, considerable time must have
elapsed since then as II was impossible
IN diSQover anv traces of foot Drints