The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-05-18

Nttihi, iOS anu ouhSIllIINs diI NottlC
to meet them and all had been safely
left behind.
They had reached the English chan
mel safely. Another day and they
would be at the end of their voyage.
The night was cold and foggy.
Morning broke and still the fog was
dense and low. Breakfast was on the
table and the captain and his wife
were about to sit down to what they
fondly hoped would be their last meal
at sea for some time, when sudden
shout from the deck, followed by loud
calls, and the sound of hurried, rush
ing footsteps told that some sudden
danger was upon them. They both
hurried toward the companion way,
but a shock sent them both staggcr-
ing back The screams from the deck
were rcdoublcd and again came that
terrible blow, mingled now with oaths
and cries of rage or fear.
Both rushed to the deck. A terri
bic scene Of disaster was before them
The side Of the vessel only moment
before so staunch and strong, was now
nothing but shattered splintered,
yawning hole through which the wa
ter was rushing into the vessel like a
millstream. A little way off was the
steamer which had crushed into them
into the dense fog. Her iron forefoot
had cut them down right to the wa
ter'S edge. She herself was practi
cally unhurt and was coming about to
see what damage she had Inflicted
upon her opponent.
The Fox was slowly sinking. The
water rushing so rapidly through the
shattered side was filing her, and she
already, not fifteen minutes after the
collision, was settling deeply into the
water. Only a short time remained
before she would sink, carrying with
her all within her reach to the depths
below.
The steamer rapidly lowered her
boats to assist the unfortunates on
board the doomed vessel and Captain
King had collected his wits and was
having his own boats cut loose from
their lashings and lowered in the wa
ter AS the first boat reached the
5 water lie hurried his wife to the side
2 of the ship, now only a few feet above
4 the surface of the sea, and hurriedly
S told the mate to put her in the boat
. and with four of the sailors to shove
c off from the vessel, while he would
make an attempt to save his papers
r and the ships instruments chronome.
/ ter.
+ Mrs. King was just about to steI
t into the boat when she remembered
that a heavy sack of gold and all hel
jewelry were where she could lay hel
3 hand on them in an instant. She de
termined to save them, as it wOulC
| take her but moment, as they lay ir
+ the corner just inside her cabin door
Rushing back to the cabin she pushed
+ open the door of her cabin and at
! tempted to pull out the drawer ii
which her valuables were lying. The
, door opened back against the drawer
/ and she was obliged to close it before
| she could open the drawer.
Pushing it shut she pulled open The
drawer and grabbed the sack of golC
: and the case which held her vaIuabes
, She pushed at the drawer to close il
I again that she might open the dOol
and escape from the sinking vessel.
The drawer stuck. Again and again
she threw herself frantically against
it with all her weight. Not an inch
could she stir it. The vessel had
, strained and twisted as the weight OF
: water had pulled her downward and
in straining had caused change in
, the position Of the casting of the
: drawer. At last it yielded to hel
, efforts and she pushed it close and
, sprang to the door.
, TO her horror she could move the
door no more thanifF had been part
of the solid wall. The same strain
which had bound the drawer held fast
, the door and she was held fast like a
rat in trap within the narrow lin
' its Of her little cabin.
! With wild eyes she looked around at
the little room which had but an hour
before looked so cozy and comfortable
) she looked upon the little tokens of
: love and friendship that decorated
r the tiny apartment to which she had
come with so many happy anticipa-
, tions of future joy and the sight of
those tokens or love added another
, shade Of horror to the fate which
menaced her.
Again and again she dashed at the
, door, striving with all her strength to
, force it open, but in vain.
The tender hands were cut and torn,
, the nails broken and bleeding, and
still the door remained fast, not an
, inch could she move it. The cabin
was In tho stern of the vessel and the
, only windows were round portfolios,
.. which were screwed fast, and could be
opened at the best Of times only by an
. effort Of strength of which She was
I, incapable. But desperation neryed
her to renewed Efforts, and she strovc
with all her might to turn the iron
, handle which locked the covers, but
:. In vain.
1t seemed to her that hours had
4 II. 4. ~. a a \