Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-11
Continued from Yesterday


if you agree to a proposition l have 10
make. When discovered the nosition
Of the rock determined, some day or
other, to make a careful survey of the
spot on my own account bv sending
down diver to examine its forma
ton. The conversation this afternoon
has revived ny-weu, within, fad. or
whatever you like to call it. 7 am
ready to set out on the expedition
whenever l can find diver bold
enough"
I'm your man, Capt. Georger" 1 ex-
claimed.
''Good couldn't ask for better. I
think you will find it as profitable en-
ployment as staying at home and taking
your chance of wrecks. This is not ex-
actly the best time of year for the en-.
terprise, but no matter! 1t will take a
week or SO to get the Wanderer prop
erly fitted out and ship sufficient
stores. Can you be ready within ten
days?"
l told him l had no other work in
view once we had finished with the
Magellan, and, after that days storm,
l fully expected she would give us lit
tie further trouble.
81 will drop into Landport at the
end of next week." he said. "Mean-
while, keep this project to yourself;
don't want it talked about, or to have
any fuss made in the newspapers"
He accompanied me on deck, the
boat was hauled up alongside and
returned to the shore. When l awole
next morning and looked out over the
bay the Wanderer was gone.
On the 27th of September We COM
menced our remarkable voyage. felt
somewhat depressed, don't know
why, at leaving home on that occa-
sion. There was something attractive
in the idea of solving this great At
lantic mystery, which, if it really OK
listed, must have caused untold dis
asters. Still, was not altogether car
ried away by Capt. Georges views. and
entertained considerable doubt as to
our success.
We steered west southwest for several
days. We sighted some of the big At
lantic liners in the distance. One even
ing huge Cunarder passed within n
mile or so of us, lights al aglow, her
tunnels belching ont columns of smoke
that trailed away far behind.
"Making rush with the mails"
Capt. George remarked as we watched
her.
Next day it was blowing rather
fresh, and we had a choppy sea. 1t
struck me as strange that, up to the
present, Capt. George had made no di-
rect reference to the object of our voy-
age That morning, however, after
breakfast, he said to me:
1--WE must take our bearings at noon,
Lawrenceson, or we may overshoot the
mark"
We did so, and when we had picked
ont our position on the chart, the
course was altered to sou'sou'west.
This brought us more out of the track
of Atlantic steamers, though we still
sighted a number OF sailing ships |
noticed that Capt. George kept close
eye on the chart during the next few
days.
One morning, when he had made the
usual daily reckoning, he came down
into The saloon with paper in his
hand, upon which was marked the
latitude and longitude.
Get your diving gear ready, Law
rcnceson," he said. You'll want it
before long
''Is the rock in sight?"
mo, nor likely to be. Probably it is
submerged. as | believe is generally
the case, though Mt what depth is an
other question. All the same, we are
not far OFF it."
That evening the engines were slowed
down. Capt. George stood on the
bridge, and for upwards of an hour he
took entire charge of the vessel, alter
ing the course from time to time. Then
he gave the signal to stop.
The men in the bows we're ready with
the anchor. and presently / heard it
splash into the water. We were provided
with special deep-sea cable, but was
rather surprised to find the depth was
not SO great as l had fancied. Capt.
George descended from the bridge, and
joined me.
Tomorrow morning we will get the
long-boat out, if the weather holds
fine" he said. 'sYou will have to pro-
coed more to the south, before you
make your first descent"
confess l did not sleep much that
night. My mind was too full of the
mystery of this ocean rock. Was the
story true? Did the terrible spot really
lie within reach of us? If SO, what an
sight would meet my view
when / stood beneath it, and gazed
around at the havoc it had wrought! l
felt l might be on the verge OF some
startling discovery.
I lay awake until long after mid
night. Then 1 determined to get up
and go on deck. AS j passed Capt
Georges cabin could tell by his heavy
breathing that he was sleeping sound
ly. / moved on, and stepped out into
the cool night air.
How well can recall the scene from
the Wanderers deck at that silent hour,
The moon was on the wane; she was wad-
ing slowly through mass of dark clouds
emerging occasionally to flood the
ocean with her silver light. Not sound
was to be heard, save the melancholy
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