The Portland daily press., 1895-05-22

many Sucn, Wn1cn might MENTION but i
shall conane myself to one which hap
pened to me quite lately"
"All right" said George Hopkins
"Ahout six weeks ago." the minister
went oG. II had occasion to 20 from the
island of Cuba to one Of the smaller islands
near by, and for that purpose engaged pas
sage on small steamer, owned by one Of
the large sugar companies there. 1t was
not customary for this steamer to carry
passengers, as it was designed by the com
pany for the use of its own employees and
the carrying of supplies to stations which
it owned on some of the smaller islands
However, was well known to the COM
pany's officers, and had no difficulty in
securing passage. The steamer on which
l was to take the trip had been built by
the company as an experiment and was
composed almost entirely of iron. The
stations being close together, the crew of
three men were not often obliged to dine
on board and there were no conveniences for
cooking. The company had, however, pro-
vided an alcohol stove for making coffee
and such work, and the alcohol for this was
kept in good sized iron tank on the after
deck. While it was easy for the crew to
get food at the stations, alcohol, except in
the form of rum was difficult to obtain,
and they never left Cuba without a good
supply, SO, when we started, the tank was
very nearly full.
GAS soon as we had cleared the dock l
lay down on one of the hunks in the cab
in, wishing, if possible, to get nap, for |
had been up late the night before may
have slept two hours, when I suddenly
awoke to find the cabin filled with smoke
1 rushed to the deck and found it deserted
Forward Of the engine room great clouds
of smoke were pouring forth, and the
flicker of fame showed that tho fire had
made fearful headway. I hurried to the
side, where, as came on board, had no.
ticed a small boat.
"The boat was gone. The crew, unused
to passenger, must have forgotten me in
their excitement, and finding the fire be-
yond control had taken to the small boat
without me. FeverishlyI scanned the ho-
rizon for some trace Of them. A distant
black speck was all that met my eye. 1
was alone on the ocean, in a burning YES
sci, and for a few minutes 1 gave myself
up to despair. I could not swim, and so
lacked the courage to seize something that
would float and leap overheard. Suddenly
thought came to me, an idea, which,
while desperate enough, presented to my
mind the only chance of escape. I ran to
the engine room, which the fra had not
yet reached, and with feverish haste began
to rip off the asbestus covering from the
pipes and lower part of the smokestack.
In few minutes had collected great
armful. Hurrying off with this, broke
open the tank Of alcohol and threw the as
bestus into it. On the top of the tank
put an iron grating, strong enough to sup
port my weight, which 1 got from the
hatchway, and over this stretched wire
screen from one of the cabin windows. My
plan will now be clear. / knew the inte-
rior of an alcohol flame is kept cool by evap-
oration, and what constructed was moth
ing less than an immense alcohol lamp.
From the cabin I brought STOOL q book
and light lunch, and placing the stool in
the middle Of the iron grating 1 sat down
upon it. The deck being Of iron, and the
most incombustible part of the cargo be-
ing stored aft, hoped that the heat would
not be great enough to melt that part of
the deck and let me down into the hold.
The flames were now eating their way
rapidly toward where sat, but, not know
ing how long the alcohol would hold out,
had decided Dot to light my lamp until
their heat had become almost unbearable.
This time came soon enough, and, with
trembling fingers, I dropped a lighted
match close to the edge of the grating on
which 1 sat. A bright flame burst up
around me, and for moment feared that
I had but hastened my end. Almost i'm
mediately, however, noticed GOODNESS,
very refreshing after the heat of the burn
ing vessel, and settling myself comfortably
on the stool took up my book"
"Oh, come, said George Hopkins.
"What is it?" asked the minister pleas
antly.
Nothing" said George Hopkins.
"My only fear now" the minister went
on, "was that the heat might melt the
deck where was or burn through the iron
hull below the water line and SO sink the
vessel Luckily, neither of these two Ca
tastrophes happened. For some time /
watched with delight the great clouds of
smoke as it rose from the vessel, for the
day was very quiet, and then spread out
over the sky like black pail. Tiring of
this, took to my book, and it was not un-
til after some hours had elapsed that be-
gan to feel hungry. By the time had
finished my lunch the fire had almost burn
ed itself out and though the deck in some
places still showed dull red the ship was
beginning to cool of. My great fear now
was not that the alcohol would not last,
bue that it would last toe long, and SO
keep me a prisoner in the lamp. However,
just after the deck haa become cool enough
to walk upon, the fame around me flick
cred and went out That night was tax
en- off by a paEing vessel and SO added
another to the list of miraculous preserva-
tions of ministers of the gospel
My wife said something about divine
Providence. I sat open mouthed, looking
in amazement from one to another of my
companions. Not SO George Hopkins. He
rose, and, leaning across the table, shook
hands fervently with the minister
II have always looked down on minis
tiers, " he said impressively, land thought
them unworthy of my friendship, but in
you, sir, I recognize man and brother,
and am proud to know you. I am not a
regular attendant at church-in fact, I
have always avoided such places, but now,"
and his voice grew husky with emotion,
you shall see me in your congregation ev-
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