Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-23

man for the post They had been mess.
mates for years and had learned 70 ap-
preciate each other Besides whatever
William HOLSTER did was well done
Rod Shelton and his men were devoted
TO him, body and soul. Most Of the
crew had already shipped ON some one
or other Of his vessels, and the officers
and men were really like one family
4 SO favorable. therefore. was the out
look that but one thought seemed to be
uppermost In the minds Of the fathers
and mothers, wives and sweethearts
who congregated on the wharf TO bid
good by 70 these fortunate seamen. and
/ that was. II would be but q matter Of
six months, flying trip between Cali
fornia and India, an excursion from
San Diego TO Calcutta, and not one Of
those commercial or exploring expedi-
/ tions which keep n ship ut sea for years,
| exposed To the most dangerous waters
Of both hemisphercs This crew knew
what such expeditions were, and their
families had often seen them sail away
under conditions well qualified TO cause
grave apprehension
The work Of getting the Dreadnaught
ready for sea was nearly completed
The ship was lying pretty well out in
the harbor, 80 that when the time
should come for her TO weigh anchor,
she would stand In need Of no tug TO
tow her through the narrows A
good breeze was blowing off shore, all
she would have TO do would be To trim
sails and get away Capt Allaire
| onuidnt hava ,,yt.hod Sor k..tar ,,,,o,k
er or more favorable wind TO carry him
out Of these waters which glistened in
the morning sun far beyond the Coro-
nado isles
BY ten o'clock every man was Mt his
post There were 10 be no more per.
mits 10 go ashore. II might almost be
said that the voyage had actually be-
gun. Several yawls had come up along
side the ship at the starboard ladder 10
take of those who had gone on board
TO bid friends or relatives n last good
by Among these were Andrew Hollis
ter, senior partner OF the firm Of Hollis.
ter & Co., and Mira Allairc. followed by
servant In charge Of little Walt, With
tho captains wife were Lewis Barker
and his wife Kate, Mollys first cousin
a
any family, had no parting scenes to go
through with; but he was more than
certain that Mr. HOLSTER and Capt
Johns wife would not fail TO wish him
good speed and safe return
Just then Shelton was standing on
the forecastle where half dozen men
were already ut the capstan weighing
anchor, and the click OF the capstans
pawls could be heard The Drcndnaught
had already swung around q little and
the cable had begun 10 crcah In the
hawsehole- The national colors were
dying from the mlzzcnpeak and from
the main truck was displayed the house
dag, bearing the initials OF Andrew
Ilollister q Co. The sails were loosencd
aud all ready TO be hoisted the moment
the ship should get little Roadway
under the pressure Of her forestry sails
and jibs.
Standing on the quarterback. with
his watchful eye taking note Of every.
thing about him, was John Allairc, lis
tening TO the last instructions Of Mr..
Andrew Ilollister, In reference 10 the
vessel and her cargo.
As the merchant handed the ships
papers and bills Of lading to the young
captain, he said!
John, N circumstances should re-
quire you To modify your course, act &C
cording TO your best Judgment and let
me hear from you from the FIRST place
you touch at Perhaps you may touch
at one of the Philippines, for don't sup
pose you intend 10 pass through Torres
straitP"
mo, Mr.. HOLSTER" replied Captain
John, ~ have no notion of rislSing the
DreadnauRht In the dangerous seas
north Of Australia My route will be
the Sandwich islands, the Marianas,
Mindanao OF the Philippines, the Cclcbcs
Of Macussa strait In order 10 reach Sin.
gnpore through the Java sea It's plain
sailing from this point TO Calcutta. |
don't think that any winds that may
meet with In the West Pacific will force
me To change this course However,
should you want TO telegraph me, be
kind enough to address me either at
Mindanao, where ! may touch,o at Sin
gaporc where certainly shall"
VERY well, John, and don't neglect
TO advise me at the very earliest possible
moment Of market prices In Calcutta
II may be that your report would loaC
me 10 make some changes wi tn respect
to the Dreadnaughts cargo on her re
turn trip"
You may rely upon me, Mr. Ilollister,
replied Allnire
AT this moment shelton approached
, The anchors utrip, captain"
And the ehbp"
is making itself felt"
stand hv them"
r Then, turning TO Mr. llollister
Captain John thus addressed him. hi
, words having the genuine ring OF graft
, tude In them:
"Oucc more, Mr. Ilollistor, let mi
, thank you for having given me the com
Z mand Of the Dreadpaught | trust tina
Q you will not be disappointed In me"
a 81 am sure shall not, John" sale
f. llollister ~ don't believe could have
i put the interest OF our house into safe
p hands"
/. The merchant exchanged n heart,
. grasp Of the hand with the young cap
I tain and walked away
, Mira Allaire, followed by the nurse an,
I little Walt, now Joined her husband
a Lew Barker and his wife were also o
4 the group The moment of separation
@ was rapidly approaching There wa
o nothing left hor Capt AllRire to d
ave W hid bis wife and family las
= guod-by,
q Thin was only the second year O
. Mully's marriage, and her baby boy wa
}, hardly niue months old; but painful a