Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-04-15

or stars. The winds velocity was esti-
mated to reach no less than two hundred
! miles an hour, and the destruction it
caused was terrible.
! After blowing for a couple of hours
from the southwest it hauled about and
( blew with equal violence from the north
east. All the shipping in the harbor was
/ destroyed, and several vessels We're lifted
out Of the water and carried inland
/ One large merchant ship was taken up
bodily and planted in the midst of a
warehouse near the shore. The houses
| of the town were unroofed and in most
cases annihilated Upwards of four
hundred lives were reported lost, and
the harbor WAS full of corpses, which
were devoureI by the sharks. One Of
the most repla sable episodes of this dis
astrous storm AS that of the u s. and
! B. Co.'S steamship Amazon. She was
due at ST. Thomas on the day after that
on which the hurricane occurred, She
had cleared from New York with six
passengers and full cargo. She had
fair weather UP to within two hundred
miles of St. Thomas, and was some
what ahead of her schedule time. Ac-
cording to the narration of the surviv-
ors, she met the hurricane about o'clock
on the afternoon of the 18th She was
put about so as to run before the gale.
The wind and waves almost Immediately
dismasted her. and it was found impos-
sible to domore than keep her before the
wind, even this taxing all the powers Of
those on board. At one time she was
popped by heavy sea which broke into
the forecastle and swept many overheard.
when the wind peered about the
steamer became virtually unmanageable;
she drove before the gale, and it was ex-
pected that she must founder. But after
several hours she was suddenly beached;
and on the storm breaking it was dis
covered that she was lying in the main
street of St. Thomas, close to her own
dock. In the darkness she must have
been driven through the narrow entrance
of the harbor, and so across to the town,
avoiding by a miracle numberless OBJ
stacles. She is, however, complete
wreck, and half her ships company were
swept overheard and drowned, while
many of the others have received severe
injuries. Of the six passengers who were
on board the following are killed: Alfred
Harper, went insane and washed over
board; Charles Upper, neck broken:
James Blair, washed overboard; Percy
Nolen, washed overheard The sur
viving passengers are Herbert Simp-
son and Valentine Martin. Mr.. Martin
occupied the same state room with Mr..
Nolan, and is much affected by his death
He says he saw him shortly before the
time when the steamer was popped; he
was on his way to the forecastle. under
the impression, it is supposed that there
was greater security there than in the
stern.
''Mr. Martin left for Vera Cruz yester-
day. 1t is his intention to return by way
of Aspinwall to his sheep farm in New
Zealand, near Napier"
Having read thus far, the inspector
laid down the paper, and stroked his
chin awhile with meditative air. so
the young man is drowned, is he?" he
said, at length. 1.-The account seems to |
look that way"
''Do you mean there can be any doub: |
about it" exclaimed the judge.
II don't say there is; and as u MATER
of course, judge, l recognize the sincerity
of your attitude Still, if | were inter-
ested in the boy. should think twice
before I accepted this news as conclu-
sive. Have you heard anything person
ally?'
Nothing. This is all we know, SO
far
Well you are aware that people re-
ported drowned at sea sometimes have
way Of coming to life again. The sea is
big place, and it's difficult to be sure
what becomes of man in a heavy storm
when everythings as black as pitch.
Then again. young Nolen, you must adj
nit. might find it convenient to have it
supposed he was permanently out of the
way He could start in under new
name, with very little fear of ever being
interfered with. When this affair has
blown over or been cleared up he might
come back and all would be right again.
don't say that is what has happened:
only say it might be so. And. consider
ing that Mr. Martin was friend of the
family, it seems little odd that he
shouldn't have sent letter giving full
account of the affair. He must have
known what a value the mother and
sister would have put upon it.
Il hope with all my heart your theory
may be the true one, said the Judge.
But | fear the report is correct, he
added, after paused There can be
40 doubt about the hurricane, nor that
Percy was on the steamer There was
no necessity of inventing a report of his
death; he would be as safe in Mexico or
New Zealand as at the bottom of the
Atlantic No, I'm afraid the poor boy
IS gone. And. as | was saying just now
l trust that no steps will be taken today
to blacken his memory. The cause of
justice would not be vindicated. and it
would add terrible pang to his moth
er's and sisters grief. Some considera-
ton should be shown to them
Well, let us go down to the court
ROOM, said the Inspector, rising and
taking his hat. Il don't suppose any
one wants to trample on dead man