The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-12
AN ENRAGED CAPTAIN.

| sailor Tor the aNOWeu purpose Vi WOThlnS
his way back to the United States. He was
handsome and manly young fellow, and
could not help thinking him out of his
sphere, for surprising as it may seem, he
bore the unmstakabe stamp of the gentle
man. His name was Hubert West
| know not what first attracted Lefa's at
| tention to West, but we were not long out
of Hong-Kong before she had seen him and
| eyinced an interest in him. One day she
found a chance to speak to him, and, de
spite his position as common sailor, she
improved the opportunity. The girl was
utterly artless, and although she was sure
her father would be displeased if he knew
of it she did not understand why she
should not talk to any of the seamen she
fancied to converse with
By the time we reached the straits of
Sunda the girl was secretly in love with
West, and had begun to feel it my duty
to give the captain quiet tip, when of a
sudden the old skipper discovered how mat
tiers stood. / believe he came upon West
and Lefa as they stood conversing in some
secluded nook and overheard what they
were saying.
| Then there was fearful row. 1t must
be the presuming young man was making
love to the girl, else even a man of Captain
Hume's peppery temper would not have
been so enraged. He said some pretty saw
age things to West. and later l heard him
storming at Lefa in the cabin, while she
sobbed, but made no reply. He told the
young sailor to take care not to speak to
the girl again unless he was anxious to lay
in the hold for good portion of the voyage
Somehow this affair turned my sympa-
thies in favor of West, who bore himself
quietly through it all, without showing
| -. 20 than hn
showed the gentleman in his makeup, and
| fell to wondering what his history could
be. As a result / deliberately cultivated
him and sought to draw him out. He
proved cultured, educated, able to speak
five languages fuently, but | could not get
him to talk of himself and | finally gave
up the attempt.
We were well on our way across the In
dian ocean when terrible discovery was
made. The Marmaton was on fire! AT first
it was thought we might hold the flames in
check or subdue them, but they made rapid
Roadway, and it was not long before all
, realized the ship was doomed. Still we
fought to the last gasp, hoping to sight a
sail, having hoisted signals of distress.
No sail appeared, and at length the de
spairing skipper came hurriedly to me, his
stern face pallid.
| W e HluSl tiit SIip
w." he cautiously declared ut is not gen,
orally known, but have large amount OF
gunpowder aboard, and the fire is getting
j dangerously near it. Twill lower you and
Lefa in the dingy, which is a mere cookie
shell, and you must look after her until W.
nick YOU up with one of the other boats
want to get her beyond danger without de
lay"
This plan was swiftly carried out. AS w
entered the little boat | saw Lefa glanc
toward West who was working at the loni
boat with other sailors. A moment late
we were lowered to the water, and then
pulled from the ship.
1t must be Captain Hume was not awar
how close the fire had approached to tn
powder, for barely had we reached fai
distance from the ship before a terrible eS
plosion took place. Smoke, flames ant
timbers shot into the air. was hurled o
fell to the bottom of the dingy, whicl
rocked madly on the boiling water, AM
= when looked toward the Marmaton tn
shattered hulk was sinking from view.
For the moment, thought every ma
aboard the ship had persisted, and | wa
filled with the greatest horror by the al
palling tragedy. Lefa sat dazed and speed
less, staring like one turned to stone
Then came cry, and we saw man ba
8 Ting with the waves. 1t was Capital
Hume, who in some marvellous way ha
escaped instant death. But he was on IL
d. point of sinking, and we were some di
lance away-too far TO reach him IN time
All at once we saw another VINO wa
swimming toward the drowning skippe
ir II was West and he reached the captain
80 time to support him until could pull I'll
dingy to the spot. Then | assisted Dol
men into the little boat, which loaded 1t
/, its full capacity.
The captain had been injured but We
was not even scratched. Neither ma
could tell how he escaped death in the
plosion, and what made their escape see
the more astounding was the fact that n
another living person of all aboard the sh
N was to be seen. The sailors had all met
OF slant Annihilation.
RS 1t looked as if our fate might be one
en- starvation, horrible to contemplate b
seven hours later we We're picked up by q
English bark Grantham, bound from Ca
al cutta to Melbourne. We were treated WI
o. the greatest kindness, and Captain Hum
No. who was suffering from the shock and /
nd injuries, received the best of care.
Fortune favored US in Melbourne,
Hume came upon an old skipper whom
or knew, and we procured passage on I
he American merchantmen Clara Reeve
he bound for Baltimore. And what was me
ia, surprising. the captain saw that HuD'
West went along rs passenger. not as SALT