Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-01-24
To which I answered solemnly.

q
"AmenI'
Rushing off to the chief engineer, I
briefly explained matters to HIM, and
gave him the Captains orders. The
engineer was q big, hard-headed
Scotchman, and gripping my hand in
grasp like a.yice, lie cried:
'I'll max the ship go, Robert. But
it'll be bad thing for onything we
run into, I'm thinking. 1t will that"
Well, we tore along through the fog
all dry Tuesday. 1 was in a dyeadful
state of mind. On the ono hand
was nil anxiety to reach port in time
to cable to England aud stop the
execution OF Rupert, while, on the
other, We were risking the lives of the
crew and some $50 passengers, to say
nothing OF the ship and cargo.
didn't leave the deck for moment
oil day. l promised the Captain
would not leave stone unturned to
insure the safety of the vessel. We
put three times the ordinary number
of men on the lookout, and kept fog.
horning and whistling all day long,
but, by merciful Providence, we Ind
n clear course. We only sighted ono
vessel, about midday, but 1 could not
discern what she was. Toward night
tho fog lifted aud the stars shone. Nc.
Greig, the engineer, now had the Goals
piled on mt fearful rate, and we shot
through the water like an arrow; but
early next morning the wretched fog
came on again.
We were, OF course, nearing land,
and thu riolr Af
minute more serious. We kept on our
mad career. The passengers knew
there was something queer about
steaming 50 fast through fog, but
answered them all:
"Oh, we're oil right. We're on oul
usual track, and nothing gets in our
way"
This was truo to some extent, but
the risk was enormous, and every mile
that wo got nearer land 1 got more
and more nervous.
However, to cut long story short,
we gained New York Hurbor Mt 8. 90
on Wednesday afternoon, nearly run.
ming down IN outgoing Steamship
some twenty miles out, and which we
avoided by the skin of our teeth
AS soon rs we arrived i hurried
OH shore, by the Captains permission,
and hunted up tho British Consul,
whom 1 dragged off to the cable COM
pany's Office, and we sent Joint tale-
gram from him and tho Captain to tho
Homo Secretary in London. 1 also
wired to tho Governor of the Jail
where Rupert was waiting execution
to Rupert himself, and to my sister.
The message to the Home Secretary
WAS long one remember it cost mo
about Go.
L waited Mt tho cable Office for IL re.
ply. 1t came within four hours, which
was pretty quick work. as my message
wodil not reach London till about 8
o'clock Mt n;stt English time being
about five hours nher,l of New York.
Rupert was respitcd till our evidence
could be brought home and inquired
into, and In less than anothefrmonth 7
had the pleasure of shaking hin, by
the hand as an acknowledged innocent
man, her Majesty having. in the pecu-
liar fashion of the English law, been
pleased to grant HIM "lree pardon"
for nm offence he had never committed.
However, all was right ut last. Ru-
pert succeeded to his unclo's property
and married my sister Patty in due
course.
But the two days following Capper-
molc's confession were the most anx-
ious time in my life. was thoroughly
upset ana almost PROSTATE for week
afterward. which is saying great deal
for strong -ncrved sailor. --Tit-Bits.