The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-09-06


wreck from aloft while sky.lights
and bulwarks were cushed like egg.
shells in the grasp of a giant.
This latter calamity, however.
proved to be a Blessing, as it allowed
the vast volume OF water to flow Oh
into the sea.
Harry had been knocked senseless
over the wheel, and there lay
dead than alive.
But the captain: where was he:
His voice was silent.
The second mate, who with his
watch had been below. rushed
affrighted from the cabin, through
the after companlOn-way.
For Gods sake, what has hap
pened:" he exclaimed. Have we
been in collisionI"
But he received no answer. for
there was no one to reply.
By the feeble light Of the stars,
which now began to twinkle forth,
the officer observed the boy where he
had fallen. and casting a hasty
glance at the pallid features of the
lad was convinced that he was past
all hopes of recovery.
The second mate then crawling
along the star GARD rail to the
''break Of the poop looked down
upon the main deck. and to his hOr.
ror, saw several bodies washing back
and forth among the wreckage. to be
swept, one after another. out through
the riffs in the bulwarks.
Are you all dead?" he at length
found voice to eXclaim. Am / left
alone:"
But he was instantly g~laddened by
a reply from forward: The starbd
watch Is safe, sir"
Thank Heaven" Then louder
the second officer called out: Take
a look at the long Loaf, and if it is
not stove, cast the lashings adrift,
and make ready TO launch her. We
may have to leave the bark"
In a few moments the welcome re.
spouse came back: 'She is all right,
sir"
That's good. Hold her ready I'M
til l sound the pumps and see if we
have sprung aleak."
He hurried to his room and Sc
cured the sounding roo and line: as
most OF the water had now rolled
off f. ON the main deck he succeeded
in reaching the pump.
Quickly dropping the iron down
the tube until it reached the keel
son, he so0n drew it up again.
"SiX .cet or water in the hold" he
exclaimed. She'll go down under
US. Launch the boat, and as he
again fastened to the cabin. this
time to procure what provisions
might be handy, one Of the men an.
n0Inced.-
THE main hatch is stove in, and
the cargo is all a wash"
THIS report had the effect Of accel.
Grating the officers movements, and
selling what few eatab les were at
hand in the pantry. he fastened to
join his shipmates who had succeed
ed in getting the boat atloat without
damage.
Fearing to be in too close proyimi-
ty to the bark when she should foun-
der, they pulled rapidly away in the
darkness, and as day broke they
found themselves alone upon the
ocean: but ere the sur was an hour
high the black smoke of a steamer
was deserted upon the horizon, and
before the great luminary had
reached the zeneith. they we're safe
on board a large vessel which was
bound to Baltimore.
the captain heard their story with
feelings Of sadness, and extended -
the ship wrecked mariners all 'ue
hospitality that Law / n his pc yer
When the steamer reached port she
news OF the loss Of the Beatrice WIS
flashed from city to city throughout
the continent, and many were the
hearts made sorrowful by the terrible
tale.
But did the bark founder?
About an hour after the second
mate had SO hurriedly abandoned the
supposed sinking craft, the boy,
Harry, began to return to conscious
ness. Slowly he raised his head and
looked around.
The night was clear now, but
strange sounds fell upon his ear. 1t
was the thrashing and chatting of the
tattered sails and broken yards that
still hung from aloft
lettering to his feet. the Lao be-
came aware that he was suffering
most intense pain about the body and
limbs. But as he took a few steps
he was overjoYed to find that no
bones had been fractured and the
pain was only from external bruises.
AS the youth was en4eavoring to
recall the terrible scene through
which he had passed. he heard a
feeble moan issuing from the port
side Of the after-house. and stagger-
ing to that portion of the vessel, he
WaS daliahtad II COO 4na hoLnrad fa.-