Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-05-31
is KILLED
How the Sad News Was Received ia
Mid-Ocean by an English
Troop Ship.
That laws Was a Fugitive and the
War Ended-SOrrOW and
Joy Mingled.

JOY Mingled.
Early one morning the mate was star.
tied by the cry from aloft: "Black
smoke ahead, sir! A big steamer stand
ing to the southwark
The captain was called and in a trice
bounced on deck, where, applying the
glass to his eye, he took a long look at
the stranger who had pushed SO sudden
ly out of the early mist hanging low
upon the horizon.
Whatever her character, we had but
little chance Of escape if she had rifled
guns. Many a glance of apprehension
was directed toward the somber hull
and pair of sloping smokestacks with
the twisting smoke trending far astern.
"Show him our colors, sir! Bend on
the ensign. Wemay as we'll be hung for
a sheep as a lamb. II that fellow is a
rebel, tho sooner we know it the bet
ter!' exclaimed tho captain somewhat
excitedly to the mate.
1t was close upon six bells(7 o'clock)
when the steamer revealed her national
ity.
We fairly yelled when the blood red
cross of st. George danced up aloft from
the steamers signal halyards. She was
evidently "a troopship bound for the
cape, a tritle out of her course, but we
did not stop to consider that.
She was too far distant to speak, but
in obedience to a gesture from the cap
tain the mat3 enlptied a bag of gayly
colored signals Oh deck, and the boys
were called aft to man the halyards and
lend "a hand to bend on the magic flags.
Upward huttered the particolored bits
of bunting, glasses We're loyoled, and
breathless expectancy marked the sun
burned featu s Of the clippers crew,
for the inquiry flying from our mizzen
royal mast was, "What news Of the
American war;"
The flash OF foam cast up by the hugo
! propeller greeted our straining vision,
the great steamer glidcd onward, but
no responsive signals ~gladdcncd tho
anxious hearts OF those yearning to hea.
news from home.
With n passionate exclamation of dis
appointment the CAPTAIN closed the
joints of his long glass with a savage
snap, saying as be turned away: ''iie
hasn't our code. It's no use
Look at that!' suddenly exclaimed
the mate, pointing. "NNhaJ is ho going
to do?"
"He is comm, about" shouted the
captain, his hronzed features fairly pal
ing. Can it DO possible he has played
us a trick and is tho Alabama? Stand
by, all hands, for
A deep blast of tho steam whistle
rumbled over tho flashing waters, fol
lowed by a number of quick toots as the
| steamer ranged to leeward. Then an
expanse of white canvas was lowered
| over the side.
Glasses were directed upon that
bright patch amidships, upon which
dark lines could be discorned with tho
naked eye, The glass showed these were
| letters.
II have it!' shouted the captain,
leaping cxcitedly into the rigging.
"Spread the news fore and aft! It says:
THE American conflict is over! Davis
a fugitive'-and what's that? Heavens,
no-yes--'Lincoln is killed.!
"StriEe the colors half mast, sir"
continued the captain to the mate in a
subdued tone. Then he added, "Hoist
tho signal, Thank you, to the steam
err
AT that moment the rich, full tones
Of a regimental hand were waited across
the heaving swells, and many an eye
%glistened with emotion as the well
known strains of "Hail Columbia
were family heard. The steamer slowly
fell off and resumed her course, while,
as if actuated by Il impulse, officers
and men sprang into the weather rig
ging, giving three times three and wav-
ing their hats in return for the kindness
Of the courteous Englishmen. The stars
and stripes were dipped three times, the
hoarse whistle rang out in return, the
Meteor flag slowly and majestically re-
turned the salute, and the greeting in
midocean was over.
"The commander Of that craft is a
gentleman-every inch Of him!' was
the admiring remark Of the mate as he
glanced astern at the fast fading troop
ship.-St. Nicholas.