Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-11-16


Some OF the men followed them to
their watery grave, others more self
| possessed crept forward, attempting to
escape the waves that broke over the
stern, but none made any effort to save
Thorn, and indeed it would have been
impossible so to do.
Among those who came forward to
where we and some of the Indian sail.
ors were clinging to the rope that was
coiled round the stump of the broken
foremost was Don Jose Moreno Even
In his terror, which was deep, this man
could still be ferocious, for recognizing
the senior he yelled:
"Ah! Maldonado = evil gifted one,
you called down the norther upon us.
Well, at least you shall die with the
rest" and, suddenly drawing his long
knife, he rose to his knees and, holding
to the rope with one hand, attempted
| to drive 1t into the senor's body with
| the other. Doubtless he would have
| succeeded in his wickedness had not an
Indian boatswain, who was near, bent
forward quickly and struck him so
sharply on the forearm with his
| clenched fist that the knife flew from
his hand, and in trying to recover it
Don Jose fell face forward on the deck,
where he lay, making no further effort
| at aggression.
For few minutes there was a tur-
moil that cannot be described; then,
although the wind still shriel1ed over
head, we felt that we were in water
which seemed almost calm to u.s. The
ship no longer pitched and rolled; she
only rocked as she settled before sink
ing, while the moon, shining out be-
tween the clouds, showed that what
had been her bulwarks were not more
than two or three feet above the level
| of the sea.
Six Indians, our three selves, Don
Jose, who seemed to be senseless, and
the body OF the captain dashed to the
broken bridge, alone remained of the
The rest had been swept away, but
there, close to us, the cutter still hung
| upon the davits.
| The senior saw it and cried: 'The
ship is sinking! Into the boat, quick!n
and, running to the cutter, he climbed
into her, as did l, Molas and the six In.
dian sailors.
She was full Of water almost to the
| thwarts, which could only be got rid Of
BY pulling out the plug in her bottom
Happily the boatswain, that same man
| who had struck the knife from the
| hand OF Don Jose, knew where to look
/ AVA Az anu oCluS SdllOT OF courage
and resource, was able to loose it, so
that presently the water was pouring
from her in a stream as thick as a
hawser. Meanwhile the other Indians
We're getting out the oars aud loosen.
ing the tackles.
Get the plug back" said the senior;
the vessel is sinking; you must bale
the rest"
| Half a minute more and it was done;
then at a word from the boatswain the
sailors lowered away and we were
afioat, and, better still, clear of the
/ ship. Scarcely had they got the head
| Of the cutter round and pulled three or
four strokes when from the deck of the
Santa Maria there came the sound Of a
mans voice crying for help, and by the
| light of the moon we discovered the
| figure of Don Jose Moreno clinging to
| the broken bulwarks that now were
almost awash.
"For the love of God, come back to
mel" he screamed.
The oarsmen hesitated, but the boat
swain said, with an Indian oath:
Pull on, and let the dog arown!"
1T seemed as If Don Jose heard him;
at least he raised SO piteous wailing
that the senors heart, which was al
ways over tender, was touched by it.
We cannot desert him." he an
swered; put back for him."
HE tried to murder you lust now!"
shouted the boatswain, ''and if we go
near the ship she will take us down
with her." Then he turned to me and
asked: DO you command US to put
back, lord?"
"Since the senior wills it command
you" l answered. 1--WE must save the
man and take our chance"
"He commands, whom we must
obey shouted the boatswain again.
PUT back, my brothers."
Sullenly, but submissively, the In
dams backed water till they lay almost
beneath the counter of the vessel that
wallowed in the trough of the swell be-
fore she went down.
On the deck, clinging to the STAYS Of
the mast, stood Don Jose, his straight,
oiled hair beat about his face, his
gorgeous dress was soaked and disor-
dered
Save mel" he yelled hoarsely, save
mel"
s'Throw yourself into the sea, senior,
and we will pick you up"
II dare not" was the answer, come
aboard and fetch me-"
docs the senior still wish US to
atayP" asked the hoatswain calmly.
4 "Listen, you cur" shouted the senior,
ethe ship Is sinking and will take us
with it. At the word three, give way,
men. Now, will you come or not2
Oae, two
II come," said the Mexican, and
driven to it by despair he cast himself
into the sea.
With difficulty the senior. assisted by
an Indian with boathook, succeeded
In getting hold of him as he was
washed past on the swell. There,
however, the matter rested for the pres
ent, for just then the deck of the Santa
/ Maria burst with rending sound, and
she began to go down bodily.
"Row for your lives!" shouted the
boatswain, and they rowed, dragging
Don Jose in the wake of the boat.
Down went the Santa Maria, bow
first, making hollow in the sea that
sucked us back toward her.
i So soon as this great danger had
gone by the sailors lifted Don Jose into
the boat, where he lay gasping but
of what could do to save our lives.
Asst was, we must have been swamped
many times over but for the stanoh.
ness of the boat, which, fortunately,
was new one. and the seamanship
and ceaseleSs vigilance of the Indian
boatswain who commanded her For
hour after hour he crouched in the bow
of the cutter, staring through the
sheets of rain and the darkness with
his hawks eyes and shouting directions
to the crew as he heard or caught sight
of a white-crested billow rolling down
upon us, when we would be flung up
toward the sky to sink deep into the
4 trough on the further side, sometimes
Ia1 full s.1, ~l..l