New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-19

vibration of the whirring propeller. until know
ing what cheap snip plates and bad rvets are.
| sincerely wished myself out of IL
In the morning found the water pouring deep
over either rail. while all around stretched
wild, white-crested sea, the spindrift, torn Off
the waves. drifting along before a hard north
easterly gale beneath low flying scud that swept
the mastheads. Some OF the cargo had shifted
and the Corona lay down to 1t and wallowed
as only a deep tramp can, showing her bows up
to the foremost into the big ridges That rolled
down upon her. There were tons of water roll
ing about the decks and miniature cataracts
pouring from bridge and houses, but she was
still going ahead-at least, the engines were,
though the chief said
Man. the auld mills turning half speed. but
we'r gaun back sterrun first tae Las Palmas
Then msfortunes began to arise; something
got adrift the forecastle head and changed
about; it may have been an unshackled chain or
anchor flashing. Three men. watching their tiihe
and clinging TO the rail when heavy sea came
on board. crawled forward. | was watching
them from the bridge. and saw an unusually
large wave rising ahead-a wall of glittering
green water. curling over into foam at the sum
nit. The captain waved his hand TO the men
and they gr.sped the rails. Next moment the
bows disappeared deep In the sea. and when the
amer slowly lifted n streaming foreCaste out
of the ocean only one remained. clngng hal1
drowned to the rails; while, az the vessel rolled
heavily down and the sea poured out saw ms
companion clutch at the buwarks. miss them
and disappear beyond all hope OF rescue In a
smother of foam.
The other poor fellow lay washing about the
four seamen crept forward to go to his AID
Mack came up with a long face to say thai
more Of the tubes in the port boiler had burst.
and that the water pouring out under the
CRATES from a leak in the back end. He said:
Il hae scaulded bath hands an feet trying tae
pit in the patent shoppers, but there's that much
steam an hot water fyin' round, 1t Gamma DE
done"
There brief consultation. and 1t was de-
cided to draw the fires in one boiler while the
fremen did their best to raise enough steam
fro mai mi 10 one
to .
Mind Mack If she falls of in this sea It's all
up. BE quick" said the captain. TO Whlch the
chief answered briefly:
Il haze been In a hot furnace afore an can
gang again-there'l be no time lost so the
rest of the day and all night we lay TO- every
man at his post, while. with ventilators torn
up hatch covers ripped off. and water gurgllng
about deep in the holds. the Corona swung TO
the heavy Atlantic sea in imminent peril.
Next morning a steady clang and clatter hoat-
ed ND through the soke-hold gratngs, and
fireman, wiping the sweat from his sooty race,
came up to say that the chief wanted me below
to see how repairs were done at sea. Climbing
down slippery iron ladders. clinging tight to the
rails to prevent being flung from the Keeling
platforms into the shining machinery, | went
through the engine-room. nodding to the second,
who sat where he had been for twenty-four
hours with his hand on the throttle, while his
woin-out subordinates and greasers Crept about
oilcan in hand carefully feeling the whirllng
cranks for signs Of hot journals. After crawl
ing through dark passage reached the STOKE
hold and. clutching a stanchion, stopped to &C
custom my eyes to the dim light. fireman
with a broken leg lay moaning on pile OF rough
sacks while his comrades strir ped 10 the waist,
their dripping skins shining in the light OF the
boiler lamp balanced themselves and their
heavy shOVelfUlS Of coal carefullN against TN"
violent rolling they fed the roaring furnaces
the life of the ship-and forced one boiler to do
the work of two. \ stream of cold air whistled
down the yawning ventiator shafts and cut
through the stoke-hold like a knife as II rushed
to the twnkling CRATES The chief engineer.
looked gaunter and grmmer than ever, was
swathing himself in sacks opposite the front OF
the mort boiler which. although the fires had
been drawn, was still almost at blue heat HIS
third trying to persuade him not to enter
the lue himself but the chief shook nm OH.
Dare | no gang myself whaur | send IRE
man." he said and then waited hammer N,
hand until planks were thrust into two or the
dark furnaces over the glowing hrebars
An acrd smell of charring wood foated out or
the three-feet flues and, then, while we held our
breath. the chief slowly crawled down the hot
furnace and disappeared into the dark boiler.
while a fireman followed him along the wing
flue
For some minutes there was Gathering OF
hammers. and then a nerve-tryinE silence. we
listened with hearts in our mouths. but only
heard the hammerng of the runaway engines
and the vibrating of the plates as a heavy sea
struck the ship Then smothered cry came
from the fue--"For Gods sake get me out.
and leaning forward. two firemen dragged the
engineer forth. backened and burned after
which he promptly collapsed into dead faint
risk Of his life and making fast rope his com
rade was hauled out
Presently the chief gasped and sat up. holding
out a hand which the burned flesh was peel
ing from the bones in rags Il can do nae MAR,
he said: its a boiler-maker's job. An we Gamma
drive the ither boiler at that rate any longer
it's no safe the moo She'll fall off in the trough
of the sea when the engine slows-an' roll over.
Lord have mercy on us.
Just then a dilapidated greaser came In from
the engine-room, and | recognized the man who
was working his passage. you should have sent
for me before" he said. Give me the tools
What dae ye ken ABBOTT cakng"' asked tho
chief roughly.
II was the best boiler-maker in Hartlepool be-
fore took TO the drink. was the quiet reply.
Give him the tools-its neck or nothing the
moo" said the chief.
The stranger carefully wrapped his hands in
the sacks, and then, with hammer slung round
his neck Crawed into the black mouth OF the
fue pushing a fiat engine-lamp before him. The
smoky flame cast Pickering shadows in the hol-
lows Of the corrugated steel, shining mistily
through the blue yapors from the underside OF
the plank charring the hot hrebars below;
then the light disappeared as the dark figure
crawled over the irebridge and faint glimmer
shone from the combustion chamber beyond For
five minutes the sharp ringing tap-tap of a ham
mer followed by the duh crunch of caulking-
tool biting into the soft metal of the patch,
echoed through the half-empty boiler. while the
trickle of water which flowed through the ashes
increased in volume. The chief engineer biting
his lips to keep back "a cry OF pain, and holding
his burnt hands Imply in 'front.' watched II care
fully until the trckle grew smaller. and at last
only slow drip. drip. fell from the mouth of the
fue The stokers from the starboard boiler left
their work and clustered round. and so still was
every one that above the gurgling wash or the
water outside the mOnotonous hammer or the
engines and the trembling vibration OF every
plate and angle a great struck the vessel.
the splash OF every drop falling on the floor
plates could be plainly heard.
The red glare OF the boiler-lamps fell on anx-
ious faces, dripping with sweat and smeared
"
of the fue and as watched could plainly feel
tiny artery pulsing as If IT would burst be
meath my ear Then the tap of the hammer
ceased: there was a clatter as Of something drop
ming in the combustion chamber. and with low
hiss as Of water on hot metal. the dim llght