The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-28

seas sweeping her decks, and now all on
board knew that she had but a short time
to live.
She had had her day. Built to carry
one hundred and twenty passengers, she
had once been one of the popular 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 passengers had assembled under
the awnings to laugh, fiirt 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 accommodations taken out and
the space filled with grain from the Black
Sea ports, sinking.
Her decks were slanting at an angle OF
forty-five degrees, for the wheat had
shifted and she lay nearly on her beam
ends; every movable thing had long been
washed away, and one structure which
should have been immoyable-the engine
hatch-had also been smashed IN.
That was 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 10 sea
by means of a sea anchor made OF the
derricks and spars. A portion of every
sea that came on board found it's 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 little lower in
the water.
In the shelter of the bridge deck-the
only structure which had been strong
enough to resist the remorseless violence
of the seas-clustered her crew. some
thirty hands, hard-faced sailors and
grimy firemen; the former quiet, apa-
thetic, almost careless; the others, save
for a few dead-white with fear, spend
ing their last moments IN cursing with
foolish, meaningless repetitions of the
same words, the ship, their luck in COM
ing In her. and the skipper. for not max
ing 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 men,
both. straining their despairing eyes into
the walls of mist and spray which relent-
lessly rushed down upon them, in the
faint hope that some passing vessel
might appear through the gloom of the
gale.
AT length the skipper turned and scram-
bled down the sloping bridge to where the
mate crouched on the~lee rail. we shall
have TO try the boats. Mr.. Smith; she'll
not last much longer,' he shouted the
wind picking up each word as he uttered
1t and sweeping 1t away to leeward, as If
jealous of the mate hearing it.
Its a very poor chance" said the
| mate; but l suppose it's our only one
How long do you give her?"
Half an hour at the outside. Are the
boats all ready?"
They've been ready since morning"
said the mate; but can we get them in
the water unsmashed and won't the fire
men rush them?"
Il don't think so. A." replied the skipper:
there's time enough and room enough
for all to get away
But his face took a grimmer look as he
led the way down from the bridge to the
chart house, the mate following him In
side they could hear each other with
greater ease, and the skipper, while taxi
ing his revolver from a drawer gave the
mate his final Instructions
We'll lower the forward lifeboat first
as she's the biggest; you will take charge
OF her. get your crew aboard and have
every one in his place before we start to
lower, so that you can shove off as soon
as she touches the water. If those pat
ents act, you ought TO be all right" (The
"
ance by which the tackles holding them
are automatically released the moment
the boat is water-borne, so that there is
no unlocking of blocks to be done while
the boat is getting dashed TO pieces
against the ships side.)
Il shall be all right" said the mate:
but what about you? Who's going to
lower the falls of the after boat? You
can't manage it from the boat itself with
oil ha Won will bax on nd
.'Pll lower her from the deck" said the
skipper. IF they have a long painter
made fast to the ship they can easily pull
up again under the counter, and I'll make
a jump for il -
Mind you don't jump short; you'd have
poor chance with those boots and OIL
skins on said the mate.
"Oh. I'll manage replied the skipper.
Call the men up"
The men came up in body, and the
skipper came out on the deck, revolver
in hand.
THE ships sinking" he said, land
have decided to take to the boats. There's
plenty OF time and room for all to get
away in safety, If you obey my orders.
You will remain standing where you are
till / call your names. then the man
whose name is called will take his place
in the boat Any man that starts for the
boat before I tell him, shoot; under
stand all?"
There was low murmur from the men,
and the skipper continued:
Mr.. Smith will take charge of the
boat
The mate, with a look at the skipper,
climbed into the boat as she hung In the
davits. The skipper then called the names
of the crew he 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..
who would be of no use in the critical ma
neuvers of getting her away from the
ships side. crowding her up. But these
same firemen did not understand his reas-
on. and thought he was showing undue
preference to his own men. and, a heavier
sea than usual striking the steamer there
was cry Of '.She's going down, and he's
sending the sailors first!' and a rush for
the boat.
STAND backi" cried the skipper.
Crack and the leading fireman spread
out his hands and pitched on his face
rolling in limp bundle down onto the lee
rail. The rest of the men stopped. They
might as well be drowned as shot, they
thought. and they huddled together, look
ing with Mortified chances at their dead
comrade. The skipper paused, lowered his
revolver and then called the next name;
they had learned their lesson and went
quietly to the boat, which was got safely
away. and drifted out of sight in the
midst of the gale.
The other boat was filled without any
mishap, and the skipper, the only man
left on the deck, lowered her; she also got
clear away and drifted out to the full
length of her painter The skipper walked
aft to wait for them to haul up again