Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-01
CHAPTER XIV
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1
LIFE At LAST
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 rs far as the
outer edge Of the Arlfoora sea The
second made known the fact that Mel
vile and Bathurst islands had yielded
mp no trace Of the Dreadnaught There
| upon, Mrs. Allaire had been notified
that the steamer would follow the Tin.
or sea and 80 reach the western coast
of Australia. where the search would
be continued among the different archi.
pelagoes adjacent 20 that coast. after
which the Molly's Hope would sail for
home, but not, however, until she had
ransackcd 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 10 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 APP
pearance In the ofling. As far
as they could see her, with.
out waiting for her 10 display her
number, the sailors OF San Diego would
recognize her by the cut of her iib, just
as one can tell a Frcnchman from n
German, or even an American from an
Englishman. Finally, on March 81,
the Molly's Hope hove In sight about
MI mi o. al
full Roadway before "A fresh north
wester. Before one o'clock sho 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 tho whurfs, some Off Island
point and some on Iona point Mrs
Allaire and Andrew Ilollistcr, together
with several friends, In their haste 10
communicate with the steamer, had
taken a tug and were already under
way. A strange prcscntinent had come
upon the crowd, and rs the tug steamed
by not cry went mp They seemed to
have concluded that II 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. Allairo. MIR Ilollistcr and their
friends came up along side the steamer
In n 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 Drcalnaught had gone
to pieces. There II was that the sur.
viyors OF the wrcc: had taken refuge
and there II was that they had met
the death
AMP" whispered Mrs, Allairc.
AN" said Capt Willis
A terrible feeling ~ sorrow and de-
spair came upon the people rs the
Molly's Hope, with her colors drapci
with Grape, steamed slowly In nearer
the city During the few moments that
Mrs. Allairc and Andrew ilollistcr-rc.
NAMED on board, Capt Willis had brief.
ly made known t. them the facts OF the
wreck OF the Dreadnuught ON Browsc
island. II was decided to delay report
Of the expedition until later After
pressing Willis and Frcnuh'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
10 despair, still unwilling % consider
herself the widow Of lohn Allaire
When the Mully's Hope had taken up
her position nearer the city Mrs.
Allaire rcappcarcd nmiGship and APP
proaching Capt Willis bcrCcd him and
Mr.. llollister and also Zach French to
meet her ut her home that same day, at
n later hour A little before three the
men made their appearance at Prospect
cottage and were received 10y Mrs.
Allaire In the parloron the ground floor
Capt Willis" said she, after they
had taken their places around table
upon which was unrolcd u map of |
northern Australia, "bc pleased to
make u report 81 the expedition"
no ne CONTINUED