Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-15

pany's officers, and had no difficulty I'm
securing passage. Tho steamer on which
was 10 take the trip had been built by
tho company as nh 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 conyenicnces for
cooking. The company had, however, pro-
vided an alcohol stove for making coffee
and such work, and tho alcohol for this was
kept In good sized iron tank on tho after
deck. While II was easy for the crew TO
get food ut tho stations, alcohol, except I'm
tho form Of rum, was difficult to obtain,
and they never loft Cuba without good
supply, 80, when we started, the tank was
very nearly full
Gas soon a. we had cleared tho dock
lay down on one Of the hunks In the cab
In, wishing, II possible, to get nap, for
had been up lstc tho night before. may
have slept two hours, when suddenly
awoke TO find the cabin filed with smoke.
I rushed to the deck and found II deserted.
Forward OF tho engine room great clouds
of smoke were pouring forth, and tho
flicker Of flame showed that the fro had
made fearful headway hurried to the
side, where, AZ came on board, i had no
ticed small boat.
1.-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. Feverishly scanned the no
rizon for some trace Of them. A distant
black speck was all that met my eye. 1
was alone on the ocean, I'm n burning ves-
sol, and for few minutes gave myself
A.,I n xA .~I
lacked the courage to seize something that
would float and leap ove&board. Suddenly
a thought came to me, an idea, which,
while desperate enough, presented to my
mind the only chance of escape. / ran to
the engine room, which the fire 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 l 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 / 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-
ing less than an immense alcohol lamp.
From the cabin brought a stool, book
and light lunch, and placing the stool In
the middle Of the iron grating l 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.
Vho ~
rapidly toward where sat, but, not know
ing how long the alcohol would hold out,
I had decided not to light my lamp until
their heat had become almost unbearable.
This time came soon enough, and, with
trembling fingers, I dropped lighted
match close to the edge Of the grating on
which sat- A bright flame burst up
around me, and for moment I feared that
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"
ooh, 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 1t rose from the vessel, for the
day was very quiet, and then spread out
over the sky like black pail. firing 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 a dull red the ship was
beginning to cool off. My great fear now
was not that the alcohol would not last,
but that it would last too long, and so
keep me q prisoner in the lamp. However,
just after the deck had become cool enough
to walk upon, the flame around me flick
cred and went out. That night l was tax
en- off by n passing vessel and so added
another to the list of miraculous preserva-
tions Of ministers of the gospel"
My wife said something about divine
Providence sat open mouthed looking
in amazcment 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
ters," he said impressively, "and thought
them unworthy Of my friendship, but in
you, sir, recognize n man and brother,
and am proud to know you. am not a
regular attendant at church-in fact,
have always avoided such places, but now, +"
and his voice grew husky with emotion,
''you shall see me in your congregation ev-
cry Sunday, and in after years 1t shall be
my proudest boast that have heard you
preach the truth. ''-vExchange.