New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17


came out on the deck. revolver in hand.
The ships shaking" he said, land have de-
ciicd to take to the boats There's plenty Of
tirnc and room Cor all to get away in safety' II
YOU obey my orders You will remain stand
ing where you are till call your names, thef
ne man whose name IL called will take his place
in the boat Any man that starts for the boa
before tell him. I shoot understand all?'
There was a low murmur from the men. and
the skipper continued:
mfr Smith will take charge of the boat
The mate. with a look at the skipper climbed
into the boat az she hung in the davis Inc
skipper then called the names OF the crew ht
proposed to send in her, sending first the sailors
so that the mate might place each in his proper
station in the boat. before the firemen, etc, VINO
would be Of no use in the critical manruVres
OF getting her away from the ships side CROWD
ed her up. But t..cse same hremen did not uh-
derstand his reason. and thought he was sho"
ing undue preference to his own men, and'
heavier sea than usual striking the steamer
there was a cry IF. she's going down. and he
sending the ea.,Ors fEsti' and a rush for the
boat
stand back cried the skipper.
Crack, and The leading fireman spread out his
hands and pitched to his face. rolling IN
limp bundle down on to the lee rail The rest o'
the men stopped. They might as wen De
drowned as shot, they thought, and they hud
died together, looking with horrihed giahces III
their dead cOmrade. The skipper paused low
cred his revolver, and then called Inc next ha''e
they had learned their lesson, and went quietly
to the boat. which was got safely away ana
driftcd out Of sight in the mist Of the gaze.
The other boat was filled without any HlshaP
and the skipper. the only man left on the deck
lowered her she also got clear away, ana drl'cu
out TO the full length Of her painter. Tn" SKIP
per walked AFT to wait for them 10 haul ur
again He had to pass the body OF the DEAD
man. and he did not look at 1t. Tee boat was
hauling no on the painter and was getting close
the skipper got on the rail ready to jump Al
that moment a fireman. the brother Of the man
he had shot. reached over the boats bow ana
with cry Of BLAST you. stop and drown WIKI
BIZ cut the painter
The distance between The ship ard n" boat
began to widen instantly. and IN spit" Of the
frantic efforts Of the sailors a; tho cars tho deep
Is laden boat was swept away and hloiied ont
in the mist Tho s,ipf,r got down from the
rails and male his way back to The bridge deck
IL lad just ;on minutes 10 live. Ten minutes 70
Ircparc FOR the next world. after forty years at
sea-
He climbed VI on the bridge again. and sat
on the canvas Wiudsr-ccn 20 think. HIS VII"
and children. who would look after them now .
His wages W,io tlG per month. on that he had
had but small chance 20 save. We'll. he sup
posed The Shpnastcis' Society would d. some
thing for hor but she would have 10 give ny
her little house at Forest Gate. and drop from
tho position II a captains wife 20 letting lodS
lncs: perhaps one - the children could Doc got
into an oruhanara. II not. well. il meant starva-
tion or the workhousc He though, u his own
lie Of his hard. lil-uscd boyhood cabin boy in
a quebec timber ship II his manhood. spent In
unrcmiiilnr toll In al parts 81 he world. OF the
various ships he had commanded. in each ~
which he had been expected 10 use less coal. less
paint. fewer provisions. and 10 go with smaller
crews than IN the last. He thought Of the
hiackguards he had had To command az crews.
and tn" trouble he had had with them. and the
old sailor proycrb rose to his lips. ITO I've hard.
work hard die hard and go 10 he'll after all.
would be- too damned hard" Well. he'd not had
much All out 81 life. and now he was going TO
ind out what II all meant Anyway he had al
ways done his hes, for his ship.
His eyes Zen on the dead body 81 the fireman
That too, II the man should ndct him al the
lar ~ the last Judgment he would answer there
as he would have answered to an earthly court.
In my judgment il was necessary for the safety
II the men in ny charge" A sudden quivcr
warned him she was nearly gone. and he rose
to his fec; for cnc last look To windward. A. he
looked into the binding spray. H. saw a large
wave come out 81 the mist. and knew il would
swamp her. He grippcd the rail with both