Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-10-07
THE SKIPPER.

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earaband had come. All day she had
lain in the pitilcss bay, crouching I'M
der the fierce blast Of the northeast gale,
the seas sweeping her decks. and now
all ON board knew that she had but O
short timo to live.
She had hid her day. Built to carry
1870 passenge Is. she had once been one
OF the pcraIar boats going through the
newly opened canal to the east, and her
long flush deck had been the scene Of
many a gay gathering when her psssen-
gers had assembled under the awnings
10 laugh, hirt and talk after dinner.
But larger and faster boats had come,
and her glory had departed, so that
after many vicissitudes here she lay,
her passenger accommodation taken out
and the space filed with grain from the
Black sea ports, sinking.
Her decks were slanting at an angle
Of 40 degrees, for tho wheat had shifted.
and she lay nearly on her beam ends
Every movable thing had long been
washed away, and n structure which
should have been immovable-the en-
CINE hatch-had also been smashed in.
That wal the immediate reason why
she was going to founder. The engine
room plates were awash, and the fires in
the stokehole were out, and for the last
two hours she had only been kept head
20 sea by means Of a sea anchor made of
the derricks and spars. A portion Of ey-
cry sea that came on board found its
way through the makeshift contrivance
Of spars and %tarpaulins nailed over the
gaping chasm in her deck that marked
the former position of the engine hatch,
and each found her a little lower in the
water.
In the shelter Of tho bridge deck, the
only structure which had been strong
enough to resist the remorseless violence
Of the seas, clustered her crew, some
80 hands, hard faced sailors and grimy
firemen, the former quiet, apathetic,
almost careless; the others, save for q
few, lead white with fear, spending
their last moments in cursing, with
foolish, meaningless repetitions Of the
same words, the ship, their luck III
coming in her and the skipper for not
making use Of the two remaining boats
which hung from their davits at the lee
side of the bridge deck, and which from
their elevated position had not gone
when the other boats had been swept
away. On the bridge stood the skipper
and the mate. bearded, elderly meI
both, straining their despairing eye
into the wall Of mist and spray which
Relentlegsly rushed down upon them, il
the faint hope that some passing vesse
might appear through the gloom of tn
gale.
{. At length the skipper turned an
scrambled down the sloping bridge I
where the mate crouched OH the lee rail
1--WE shall have TO try the boats, MI
Smith. She'll not last much longer |
he shouted, the wind picking up eac.
word as he uttered it and sweeping ther
away 10 leeward, as if jealous of th
mate hearing them.
Its a very poor chance, " said tn
mate, "but | suppose it's our only one
How long do you give her?''
"Hnlf an hour at the outside. Ar
the boats all ready?"
They've been ready since morning,
said the mate, "but can we get them i
tho water unsmashed, and won't tn
fremen rush them?"
~ don't think so, I" replied the skin
per. "There's time enough and ROOF
enough for all to get away"
But his face took a grimmer look a
he led the way down from the bridge t
che chartbouse, the mate following him
Inside they could hear each other wit
greater ease. and the skipper, Will
taking his revolver from a drawer, CAV
the mate his final instructions.
"We'n lower tho forward lifeboa
first, as she's the biggest. You will TAX
charge of her, get your crew aboard an
have every one in his place before W
start TO lower, so that you can shove o.
as soon Is she touches the water. ]
those patents act, you ought to be al
right" The boats were fitted with
patent continuance by which the tackle
holding them are automatically release
the moment the boat is water borne, 6
that there is no unlocking of blocks
be done while the boat is getting dashe
TO pieces against the ships side.
81 shall be all right, " said the mate
"but what about you? Who's going I
lower the falls Of the after boat? 70
can't manage it from the boat itseli
with all the crowd you will have o
board"
I'm lower her IRON the deck, " sal
the skipper. "n they have q Ion
painter made fast to the ship. they ca
easily pull up again under the counter
and I'll make a jump for it"
Mine you don't jump short. You
have a poor chance with those boo
and oilskins on, said the mate.
"Oh, I'll manage" replied the skin
Per. Call the men up"
The men came up in a body, and III
skippei, came out on the deck, reVolvt
IN hand.
Tho ships sinking. " he said. "an
have decided to take 20 the boat.
There's plenty Of time and room for a
70 get away in safety If You obey m
orders. You will remain standing whei
yon are till l call your names; then Il
man whose name is called will take b
place in the boat Any mar that star
for the boat before / tell him l shoe
understand allY"
There was a low murmur from Il