The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-07-02

miserable pOSltlOn-l was lying VIII
my face to the deck, and | could not
see yard around me. A faint ligh,
betokened that the sun was rising, ano
was making its way even into the dis
NAL cave in which our ship was shared
otherwise | should have been in total
darkness. l sighed in bitterness OF
spirit; the cup of happiness was dashed
from my lips; all hope was gone.
should die without a word Of love from
my wife; for no power in the world
could, at that moment, have convinced
ME that she, with my boy, was not
passenger in The Rising Sun. Had l
not seen the likeness in little Bob's
beautiful face? Had l not heard my
wife's voice in the dark terror OF the
night? All my efforts to raise the
weight which held me to the deck were
vain, and l groaned aloud.
Are you alive, chen, mate?" voice
asked.
l managed to stretch forth my hand,
and it reached the hand of man who
was pinned to the deck by the mast, as
/ was.
Can you see?" I asked.
Yes and that is all can do"
Have you been conscious all the
night?"
"All the night, worse luck. have
been envying you
you need not do so. In what posi-
ton are WEI"
THE ship is sinking; in a few min
utes we shall reach the waterline."
And them"
He laughed bitterly. You're no sail
Or, or you would not ask And then?
Why, then, Death-and shall be glad
to meet it. MY two legs are broken"
II pity you, I pity you" l sighed.
"Are you strong enough to talk to
me?"
Talking does me good l shan't do
much more of it in this world. What
is it you want to know"
Where are the passengers"
I'm the sea, half of them-out of their
I've seen them washed away by twos
and threes and half dozens all through
the night. The sea would have taken
me, too, but this cursed mast wouldn't
bulge an inch. Ais we'll for them.
Goodnight
In his daredevil. defiant mood, the
man, whoever he was-for l never saw
his face-actually sung these words.
For heavens sake" implored, edo
not answer me in that reckless way.
You have been conscious all the night,
YOU say. Has anything been done with
the boats?"
Yes. One quarter-boat was
launched, and got safely out of this
hole, think. The other quarter boat
was also launched, and it isn't known
what has become of it."
Any passengers in the first?"
"A few
Women and children"
Not likely. Men. Those who could
scramble in first"
Mate, do you understand the posi-
ton am in. can't see yard around
me. | have wife and child on board.
The brutes! the brutes! not to save
the women and children first! There
are women and children still on deck,
are there not?"
Yes. You want to know if your wife
is among them. What sort of a wom-
an?"
Fair with light auburn hair, and
blue eyes,"
Yes, yes-I knew one Bah!
what's the use of thinking, now that
everything has come to an end?"
Look mater cried, for 1 felt that |
we weie sinking fast. Look, for Gods |
sake! Do you see such woman among
those still left? And has she not a
child with herr"
What business is it of mine?" he re-
piled, groaning with pain. my eyes
are getting too dim to see. Stay.
though, l can just make out a woman
with fair hair But the worlds full |
of them
His pain must have been very great,
from the way he dragged out his
words.
If ! could relieve you, l would do
so. Go on. Tell me what the woman
S doing?"
She has a child in her arms"
"A boy?"
81 should say So"
MY boy-my son! Thank Cod
There may be still chance for Them
All. IL could but speak one word to
them. Go on-go on"
"She is leaning over the bulwarks-
all, see what for. There Is spar in
the water. and a man, with one arm
over Il, has dashed little girl to it.
1 see-I see. He intends to try and
save the lot of them. He is calling
out to the women-I can not hear what
he says-ah, 1 suppose he Is telling her