St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-11-03

ing vessels were visible for miles
There was no wind; the waters of the
wide lake were silent, curving away
from the bow of the vessel in long,
smooth waves, the Aim Of crisp foam
on their crests shining now and then
- Il caught the ships light.
It was the captains watch. Bundled
against the chill Of the night, few
PASSENGER sat about him, murmuring
detached sentences among themsslves.
for the captain on this deck was auto
csat. and the word just now was
silence.
But soon In the east . light wind
sprang mp; the clouds rolled cumbrous-
", and between them the harvest
moon shone Suddenly hlpod-red, paint
Ing lurid streak etxnight through
the black water-to tho ship.
With the light silence Aed; the
shapeless forms became animated, the
waves against the bow took on . cheer
note, and the captain smicably &C.
oepted cigar. But behind from the
window Of the pilothouse. the un-
changed fase of the man ut the wheel
st9xsd out to sea
There surely il no danger to boat
On such . night as this:" ventured the
oaptain's favorite. who was curious -
- the cause of the tension from which
Ne had all so suddenly been re.
novsd; and as we were talking OF nerve
In emergencies, the question seemed
not too bold.
"0tarboard, Charlie, starboardr' sud-
denly doomed the captains deep voice
10 tbs man 1t the wheel. with IN in
tonation ut once familiar and sternly
professional.
Il never had but one pieoe Of bad
luck, and that was eight years ago
As had resumed his conversa tional At
eat1do-''and 1t might JUS - well hap
pen this minute
II was sailin' the Davidson then,
carrying coal up and iron down the
lake She was pretty big barge. an
I AeA my savings in her.
! me an my wife was sitting ON the
bow one night; my girls had gone to
bed-they'd been skylarkin' al even
Ing. u was fearful black, but there
was no fog. an you could zee light
mI)As OFF,
''Starbosrd! what you got head for1
6terboard! I said"
''Starboard," repeated the dull voice
OF the man at the wheel, and the
huge bulk Of vessel cleft the path
Of silver and drifted past us in the
gloom.
Il hadn't no moro thought Of IN ac-
sSdsnt than you have this minute. :"
went on the captain. with . nervous
pAtch In his voice. "Away on to star
board was the lights Of vessel.
could see - well IS I zee you. Pretty
soon he whistled twice. That meant
hs was q goin' to keep to his side. Then
1 whistled twice, meanin' keep to his
side. Me an my wife was awatchin'
him. All st once my wife said, Tom,
shes comm for us
Port . little, Charlie"
sPort, SIR" said the man at the
wheel
by George, see her lights turn, an
In minute she was on us, straight
amidships, two-thirds through us.
8 fyelled for 'em not to back out of
the hole. We'd have sunk before you
coald wink If she had.
STEADY"
Steady, slrr' said the man At the
wheel.
II ran into my cabin for . life-pre-
server, and clapped It on my WIFE, She
was cryin' an moanin' about the girls.
Fanny I saya 'be . woman. The
girls 10 dead. an we'll be too In . min
ute. She never made . whimper after
that, en- took hold Of her an climbed
mp to the roof Of my pilot house-their
bow was right against my mast. I
sinGs ont for = line. There was NO
time to lose. an they throwed It quick.
I Fastened it about me an her, an
they hauled NJ mp ON their deck.
IAN this time the steam was roarin'
mp from the boilers, an heard man
down below cryin' an screamin'; but
It's natural, sir, for . man to try to
ave his own children first, an a.
though Was sure the girls was killed,
I had to know for certain.
81 run aeross the bow a soon q l
eould get Tree from Fanny. jumped
down on my deck. an run for the girl's
sstateroom.
ut was empty, TAe girls wa.
Eoae!-
"Starboard little, Charlier'
ss6Aarboard, cir, said the man 1t the
Kheel.
II run into every one Of them state
eooms, eryin': Where's the xirh?'
psotty soon. way up on the Delia's
lock. l heard my steward hollerin':
sHe1e they are. all safe. sir.
as.He was = good one. that fellow" I"
H. captain went on. after . pause.
s.As soon "a Ne Was struck he ran for
~ 6ir1s an rot EN- out. an the three
1aat crawled Dat on ths deck through
- eAoom.
..And was 10 one lost." asked the f.
suueea Basssagse