Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-05-06


my face to the deck, and | could not
see a yard around me. A faint light
betokened that the sun was rising, and
was making It's way even into the dis
NAL cave in which our ship was shared;
otherwise should have been In total
darkness. sighed in bitterness Of
spirit; the cup of happiness was dashed
from my lips; all hope was gone. /
should die without 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 a
passenger In The Rising Sun. Had /
not seen the likeness in little Bob's
beautiful face? Had / 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 | groaned aloud.
Are you alive, then, mate?" voice
asked,
/ managed to stretch forth my hand,
and 1t reached the hand Of a man who
was pinned to the deck by the mast, as
I was.
Can you see?" asked.
Eyes; and that is all | can do"
Have you been conscious all the
night?"
"All the night, worse luck. have
been envylng you"
"You need not do so. In what posi-
ton are WEI"
"The ship is sinking in 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, pity you" sighed,
"Are you strong enough to talk to
me?"
Talking does me good. shan't do
much more of It in this world. What
Is 1t you want to know"
"Where are the passengers
''In the sea, half Of them-out Of their
trouble. wish was out of mine.
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. All's 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" I implored, "do
not answer me in that reckless way.
You have been conscious all the night,
you say. Has anything been done with
the boats?"
Eyes. 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?"
Eyes. You want to know If your wife
is among them. What sort of WON.
an?"
Fair, with light auburn hair, ant
blue eyes,"
Eyes, yes-I knew one Bah
what's the use of thinking, now tina
everything has come to an end?"
Look, mater l cried, for l felt tina
we we've sinking fast Look, for God
sake! Do you see such woman among
those still left? And has she not
child with herr"
what business is it Of miner" he re
piled, groaning with pain. my eye
are getting too dim to see Stay
though, l can just make out woman
with fair hair But the worlds ful
OF themw
His pain must have been very great
from the way he dragged out hi
words.
"If could relieve you, would d
so. Go on. Tell me what the woma
is doing%
"She has a child in her arms"
"A boy?"
II should say SC"
"My boy-my son! Thank Goo
There may be still chance for then
All, If could but speak one word t
them. Go on-go on"
"She is leaning over the bulwarks-
ah, l see what for. There is a spar |
the water, and man, with one arr
over it, has dashed little girl to |
] see-I see! He intends to try an
save the lot of them. He is calm
out to the women-I can not hear whit
ne Says-ah, I suppose he is telling h'