The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-22
CHAPTER XIV.

Two letters had been received from
Capt. Willis since the sailing of the
Molly's Hope. The first reported their
fruitless search among the passages of
the Torres strait and as far as the
outer edge of the Arafoora sea. The
second made known the fact that Mel
vile and Bathurst islands had yielded
up no trace of the Dreadnaught There
upon, Mrs. Allaire had been notified
that the steamer would follow the Tim
or sea and so reach the western coast
of Australia. where the search would
be continued among the different archi-
pelagoes adjacent to that coast, after
which the Molly's Hope would sail for
home, but not, however, until she had
ransacked the smaller islands and ex-
hausted every hope of finding some new
evidence of the life or death of Capt.
John and his companions.
BY the end Of February, however, Mr..
Hollister began to be of the opinion that
the second expedition was being greatly
prolonged. Every day people could be
seen on their way to Island point in
hopes the steamer would make her ap-
pearance In the offing. As far
as they could see her, with,
out waiting for her TO display her
number. the sailors of San Diego would
recognize her by the cut of her jib, just
as one can tell Frenchman from a
German or even an American from an
Englishman. Finally, on March q,
the Molly's Hope hove in sight about
nine miles out, steaming along under
full headway before fresh north
wester. Before one o'clock she had
entered the narrows and anchored just
inside the bay. The news had spread
rapidly through the city, and crowds Of
people had gathered at different points,
some on the wharfs, some off Island
point and some on Iona point Mrs.
Allaire and Andrew Hollister, together
with several friends, in their haste to
communicate with the steamer, had
taken tug and wore already under
way. A strange presentiment had come
upon the crowd, and as the tug steamed
by not cry went up. They seemed to
have concluded that if Capt. Willis had
succeeded upon this second expedition
the news of his success would have
been known everywhere by this time.
Twenty minutes later, the tug bear
ing Mrs. Allaire. Mr.. Hollister and their
friends came up along side the steamer.
In a moment or so they had learned the
results of the expedition. IL was in the
western part of Timor sea on Browse
island that the Dreadnaught had gone
10 pieces. There IL was that the sur
yivors Of the wreck had taken refuge
and there IL was that they had met
the death.
"All?" whispered Mrs. Allaire.
"All," said Capt Willis
A terrible feeling OF sorrow and de-
spair came upon the people as the
Molly's Hope, with her colors draped
with Grape, steamed slowly in nearer
the city. During the few moments that
Mrs. Allaire and Andrew Hollistcr re-
mained on board, Capt. Willis had brief
ly made known 20 them the facts of the
wreck of the Dreadnaught on Browse
island II was decided 20 delay report
Of the expedition until later. After
pressing Willis and French's hands.
Molly had walked toward the stern of
the steamer and sat down lost in
thought. but. in spite of these incontro-
vertible proofs. not giving herself over
20 despair, still unwilling 20 consider
herself the widow Of John Allaire.
When the Mollys Hope had taken up
her position nearer the city Mrs.
Allaire reappeared amidship and sp-
oroachinR Capt. Willis begged him and