The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-20

Jagged fangs across the sky. Jho
srew on shore made hasty prepare
lions TO put out. There were atiM
many people aboard the wreck, "a
number of them women and children
Bud was the first one in the boat
Come out Of that, youngster" aaid
= sailor. ''Be quick with your
s'Tm goin'," cried the boy. GIVE
got to see Carleton-pve got 70, ten
your
The sailors hand was on his collar
but Bud chung to his seat with dosper.
alton. the muscles OF his little hands
standing out like q gladiator.
1--WE got to get something for tho
paper" and his voice rose to q shriu
scream.
The man lifted him out. sat him,
not urgently, down on the wet sand
and pushed of the boat. With g fierce
cry the boy was after him, elin0ing
like a monkey to its side. The sailor
loosened the boys hands and he
dropped backward into the water.
He scrambled to the shore and stood
choking with impotent rage, strange
oaths pouring from his lips and hi1
frail hands beating at the air.
The wind increased in violence. The
thunder was terrific, and the heaven
were cut with broad. white blades.
The night grew ever blac<eEs but he
could see by the flashes that the life
boat rolled heavily and seemed in dia-
tress. He sank down and dug hic
hands deep into the sand. All at once
a peal Of thunder shook the solid
earth; a fash of lightning leuped
down and seemed to lap up the sea
and ships. Bud uncovered his eyes,
and in a moment his shriI voice was
added TO the chorus of agony sent up
from the flames Of the fated steamer.
Lightning had struck her, and the
boy had heard the sailors say thaa
she carried consignment Of coal Oil
The light was bright enough now,
and the watchers could see 6 small,
dark object leave her luminous side
and head toward shore. 10 wan
the small boat Bud screamed in
ecstacy as he saw a. man. Carleton,
work at the oars. The time seemed
an eternity, and the boat. over
crowded as 10 was with women aud
children, seemed to make no progress
1t was in danger Of swapping. How
long before the explosion must oocurf
The boy threw himself face down
ward upon the beach and waited.
the man IN the boat rise and gently
put back the hands that were er,
tended toward him, as if in entrenty,
and then with long leap spring into
the ocean. Bud saw him strike out
with strong, cOnfident strokes, while
the boat, relieved of its weight, made
a leap forward. Then there was a
sudden darkening OF the sky as the
flames swirled downward followed
by long, reverberating shock and
roar; a glare that turned the heavens
into FIRE, while the waves Missed
around the scene with the foam at
their lips stained red. There was
nurrying back and forth along the
shore; the whirling Of long ropes
lasso-like, over the waters, and. after
a while. a few charred, blaolzened
shapes upon the beach.
Bud opened the Office door at $3.50.
This is a nice time for you TO show
up growled the city editor. ''Where'a
CarletOn2 Did you get that copy2"
Bud approached the table slowly.
fumbling in his coat with trembling
hands.
I've brought the copy" he eaid.
his lips drawn and ashen- 'It'B q lite
tie wet cause twas in his pocket.
an the boy put his hand up 10 his
throat and sobbed hoarsely-'' you
see, he-got drowned"