The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-18

been detached from the wreck short
time prior to the arrival of the Golden
Gate. II was therefore possible that
they were at that moment in close
proximity to the scene Of the wreck.
With the coming of November, Willis
asked himself whether he was TO con-
slider that the campaign was at an end,
at least SO far as the Australian coast
and islands lying off it were considered.
Should he return home after he had
made search among the Sunda islands
living in the southern part OF Timor
sea? In plain words, was he conscious
of having done everything that 1t was
possible for man to do?
The brave sailor hesitated TO look
upon his task az ended even after he
had secured the Australian coast.
Something happened to rescue him from
this state of indecision.
On the morning of November he
was engaged in conversation with Zach
French when the boatswain pointed at
some objects floating in the water
about half mile from the steamer.
They were neither pieces of wood, frag-
ments of planking or trunks Of trees;
they were huge punches of grass, sort
of yellowish gulf weed torn from the
bottom of the sea and drifting along
the main land.
"Well, that's strange" said French,
"hang me il that grass isn't coming
from the west; yes, from the southwest!
There must be current which is carry
ing il toward the strait"
"That's So" replied Capt. Willis,
"and it must be a local current with an
easterly course unless il be the effect of
the tide"
II don't think So captain" answered
French, "for recollest now that early
this morning noticed punches of this
grass drifting in the same direction"
Zach, are you certain of it?"
Gas certain as / am that we shall
find Capt. John some day"
"Well," replied Capt. Willis, 'if such
n current exists it may be that that
piece of the wrecked Dreadnaught came
from the west following the Australian
coast"
''That's exactly my opinion, captain"
"Then there is but one course for us
TO take. We must continue our search
across Timor sea as far as the west
| Australian coast"
'I was never more convinced of Il,
captain, since beyond all doubt there is
coast current which runs in the di-
rection of Melville island. BY assum-
ing that Capt. John was lost in western
waters, we have now an explanation
| how it was possible that piece of his
wreck should have. been picked up
where it was"
Capt. Willis sent for his mate and
consulted with him as to the expediency
of continuing the expedition towards
the west. The mate was of the opinion
that it now became absolutely necessa-
ry to do so, at least until the source of
the current had been reached.
"To the westward thenl' cried Capt.
Willis; 1--WE must not go back to San
Diego with possibilities but with cer-
tainties--the certainty that IL the
| Dreadnaught went to pieces.e ie
Australian coast there is not pla ,r
spar Of her left in existence"
In consequence OF this-under the cir
cumstances--very justifiable determine
| bioli, thc 4uoily . ilopc CIpSStu W Il J.
NOR island in order to take on provis-
ions and fiji her coal bunkers, and then,
after a stay of forty-eight hours, re-
crossed TO Cape Londonderry Upon
leaving Queens channel, Capt. Willis
determined to follow as closely as pos
sible the outline of the Australian coast
above Turtle point. At this location
the direction of the current towards the
east was very perceptible.
Upon making Cambridge gulf, the
waters of which battle the foot of
Mount Cocbburn, Capt. Willis resolved
not TO risk his vessel in this deep fun
mel bristling with reefs, so he ordered
the steam launch TO be lowered and put
i'm command of Zach French, with or
ders to make thorough search of the
interior of this gulf.
Evidently" said Capt. Willis 10 Zach,
"if John Allaire and his crew fell into
the hands of the natives of this coast,
it would be folly TO imagine that sim
gle soul OF them is still alive. But what
we are after is TO learn whether there
are any remains Of the Dreadnaught in
case the natives should have scut-
tied the clipper ship in the Cambridge
gull"
"It wouldn't surprise me in the least
10 find out that the villains had done
sol" replied Zach.
French made the tour of the gull
without coming upon any traces of the
lost ship and thereupon returned to the
steamer.
Capt Willis now weighed anchor
rounded Dussejour cape, and headed for
the northwest double Cape Londonderry
Continuing her now southwcsterly
course, the Molly's Hope crossed Bucca,
neer archipelago and entered King
sound, and by the end OF January, after
fruitless search in this long arm oi
the sea for some trace of the Dread
naught, Capt. Willis determined 10 end
the expedition at this point, 10 wit: Al
the eighteenth parallel of south lati
tudc.
a. a