The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-06-16

standing beside one OF the headlights
in the vessels side, abstractedly gaz
ing at photograph held in his hand
Upon perceiving me he hastily thrus,
it into the bosom ct his shirt, but my
interest was aroused, and l insisted
upon its being shown me. | was
obliged to repeat my demand, how
ever before he would produce it, and
then in shamefaced way he handed
over to Inc the picture OF a beautiful
Samoan girl, whose features bore in
softened curves a striking RESENT Olance
to his own On the lower margin OF
the card, in characters evidently
formed by an unframed hand, was
the brief legend, "Iolani," but upon
my appealing to him for al explana
ton he answered never word, com
mands and entreaties alike being Of
no avail in drawing him out.
Ordinarily the incident would have
seemed trivial enough, and had it not
been for the sequel which transpired
shortly after our return to Apia. it
probably would never have recurred
to my memory.
1T came about in the early morning
hours of the 10Th day of February.
Our ship was not alone in the little
reef girt harboi. Besides multitude
of smaller craft which had been driv
Ell to seek It's scant protection from
the storms that had been sweeping
the surface Of the sur1 ounding ocean
for a week past, powerful fleet of
war vessels, representing the navles
of three great nations. was assembled
therein. From the 18th to the 14th
the weather had been squally and the
barometers indicated an impending
gale, but by the morning of the 18th
the conditions had modified and in the
afternoon a perfect calm prevailed.
No leave of absence from the vessel
was extended to the crew. but a few
of the catererers and messmen, includ
ing Wailoah, had been allowed to go
ashore for the night in the interest of
their duties, with instructions to re
port at the landing should signal OF
three guns be fired
Until the hour of midnight was
struck, scarcely breath of air had
disturbed the tranquility of the wa
ters, but the simultaneous changing
OF the shi p's bells seems to awaken
the storm god from his titful sleer,
the dying vibrations merging into Il
shiverIng sigh which arose from the
deep to be hurled back in a stitied
moan from the fast lowering skies
SO rapidly did the change transpire
that the barometers were all but
caught mapping, their indicators shift
ing from one to another extreme with
startling suddenness.
Without moments delay the re
call guns were fired and boats dis
patched to the shore for the absen
tees, while on board extra anchors
were got ont and everything made
snug to meet the imminent tempest
BY the time boats had returned a
fierce gale was raging about the is.
land, the sea dashlng in huge below
lus breakers over the coral reefs,
which, atfording us no protection from
the fury of the storm, were a constant
menace to the ships lying near them
Never shall | forget that awful expe-
rlence and the dire calamities which
from the beginning were portended
Enyeloped alike in darkness and
swlrling waves, not knowing what
moment our vessel might be dashed
to pieces upon some treacherOus rock
or sent to the bottom in a collision
with one of the many other ships in
the bay, it was an ordeal to inspire
the stOutest hearts with dread. All
too late it was discovered that our
anchors were dragging and we were
drifting towards the reefs. The en-
glnes We're Set to work steaming in
the opposite direction, and for time
we appeared to hold our own, but mo-
ment by moment the gale increased
in violence. until it was no longer Il
gale, but stupendous hurricane, and
as the gray dawn crept in around us
we were Ell abled to distinguish the
reefs within cables length of our
starboard quarter.
Something must be done instantly,
If line could be got to the shore,
we might be saved; otherwise we
were doomed. But how was 1t to be
accomplished? A small boat was ont
of the question in such q tremendous
sea, and an attempt to swim it would
be little short of madness. Yet it
was the one remaining hope, and a
volunteer was called for. There was
a moments hesitation-not of fear,
but of ditlidence-and figure clad in
oilskins glided from under the fore
castle to the executive officers side.
The light was yet too uncertain to
clearly distinguish faces. but l heard
some one say Nv Wailoah" and surged
forward with the rest to make sure.
As drew near and made out the
bronze face under the sou'wester, |
muttered vaguely to myself, Yes,
Wailoah,-but how small of stature
lie seems" Scarcely had / spoken
when the volunteer mounted the bull
warks close by the gun against which
l was steadying myself. A moment
later the oilskin coat and sou'wester
were thrown aside and | beheld above
me, outlined against the white crest
ed breakers. clad only in a scarf about
the loins, and with a small line pass
ed around the waist-not Wailoah.
but the graceful figure of girl. l
stood as if riveted to the deck Where
had her face appeared to me before? |?
Suddenly there flashed into my recol
lection the remembrance of the pic
ture and inscription which | had seen
III Wai!oah's possession, and involun
tarily my lips framed the syllables,
"Iolani." The next instant she had
vanished. Whence she had come
did not in that hour of peril seek to
ascertain, but when the line we stood
watching with mingled hope and fear
ceased to pass over the side and we
knew the effort had proved frnitless,
| felt bitter pang at heart to think
that the devoted girl had sacrificed
her life in trying TO save ours
Notwithstanding that she was but
one of many, from our brave com
j