The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-20


and: vet we may lind some evidence of
a 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, quite of the route
which she was 10 follow|
"Why not, captain?"
'While it's extremely improbable"
answered Capt Willis, that's no
reason why we should not try to
make landing and get at the truth of
the matter"
miles in circumference, as was shown
when the Molly's Hope had made tour
Of il, but at no point on its shores was
there anything like harbor or even
an inlet in which the steamer could
take shelter for few hours. 1t was
soon discovered that il would be neces-
sary 10 lower away some of the steam
er's boats, and even then they had not
as yet come upon any safe landing
place.
While searching the beach with his
glass Capt Willis finally discovered a
break in this precipitous shore line, a
sort OF cut followed out of the main
body OF the island, through which
creek reached the sea After taking n
look at the place himself Zach French
ventured the opinion that he could
make landing there. The coast seemed
TO be less PERCEPTIONS and its outline was
broken at rather n sharp angle. There
was also narrow opening in the line
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 IL. With him
were Zach French and others necessary
TO man the launch Out of caution,
two rifles, two hatchots and several re-
volvers were taken along. During the
captains absence, tho mate was TO keep
the Molly's Hope in position in the
open roadstead and reply to any signals
which might be made.
At half past one the steam launch put
of and headed for the shore, distant
about a mile. AS she entered tho mar
row passage. countless sea fowls filled
the air with shrill cries. In few min
utes the launch struck gently on
sandy beach pierced here and there
with pointed rocks Capt Willis with
Zach and the two seamen landed at
once, leaving the boat in charge Of the
engineer and firemon with orders to
keep steam up Passing through tho
gorge, down which the stream reached
the sea, the four men soon found them
selves upon the island ledge. Some
hundred or moro yards away there was
a rocky elevation commanding view
of the beach.
Willis and his men at once set out for
this point. and having scaled IL with
some difficulty were thus enabled to get
n complete view of the island. In con-
formation IL resembled the shell of a
huge toy oise, the jutting point repre-
senting 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 men
bent their gaze in every direction. No
smoke went curling upward, no human
being showed himself. The conclusion
was that II Browse island had been in
! habited, and there could be no doubt of
that, it was very unlikely that 1t con-
tinued TO be so.
"This is sorry place for castaways,"
remarked Willis. "If they were forced
70 stay here for any length of time the
mystery is what they lived on"
"Yes;" answered French, tits nothing
but bare table of rock, with n small
clump of trees here and there, and only
thin layer of soil in places. But after
all castaways have no right to be hard
10 please. A bit OF ground under your
feet is better than a hole in the deep
sea-"
AT the start. yes" replied Willis,
"but later on"
BESIDES" added Zach. t'squite pos
sible that the castaways who sought
refuge on this island were promptly
taken Off by some passing vessel"
"As il Is also quite possible that they
all persisted from unger and exposure.
"What makes You think so, captain
because when they discovered tha'
IL was in their power to get away from
this island they would have taken dowT
that signal. IL looks TO me as If th'
last OF these unfortunates must have
died before relief came. Anyway, lie
us go and examine that signal; it's bare
ly possible that we may come upor
some evidence of the nationality OF tn
ship which went ashore here"
Capt. Willis and his men made thei
way down from the elevation and sc
out for the promontory which jutte'
out 10 the northward. But hardly ha'
they taken half dozen steps when on
of the men stopped TO pick mp some
thing which had struck against his foot
Hold on, what's this?" said he
Lets sect" replied French.
II was the blade Of knife such
sailors carry in their belts in leathe
sheath. Broken off even with the han
die and full Of hicks, the blade ha
doubtless been thrown away as useless
well, Zachp" asked Willis.
"Tm looking for some mark 10 shoV
where IL was manufactured" answerc
the boatswain.
/ ...D,1ua t1,nt