The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-06-29

EySz ~ >SrS them; they scarcely
dSSSN part of the tragedy
which was then be-
Ing enacted. When / recovered my
senses my first endeavor was to get
10 my feet, but i found was pinned
10 the deck, by reason Of the mast hav-
Ing fallen across my body. / believed
that was otherwise unframed, for 1t
did not appear to me that any of my
bones were broken. But l was in this
miserable position was lying with
my face to the deck, and l could not
zee 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. mater" voice
asked.
managed to stretch forth my hand,
and IL reached the hand Of man who
was pinned to the deck by the mast, as
was.
Can you see?" l asked.
eyes; and that is all can do"
Have you been conscious all the
night?"
"All the night, worse luck. I have
been envying 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--ands Il shall be glad
to meet it. My two legs are broken"
Il pity you, / pity your l sighed.
Are you strong enough to talk to
me?"
Talking does me good. I shan't do
much more Of it in this world What
ls it you want to know"
Where are the passengers?"
I'm the sea, half of them-out of their
trouble. l wish I 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. Ais we'll for them.
Goodnight"
In his daredevil defiant mood, the
man, whoever he was-for / never saw
his face-actually sung these words.
For heavens sake" 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?"
Yes. One quarterboat was
launched, and got safely out of this
hole, think. The other quarter boat
was also launched. and 1t isn't known
what has become of it,
ANY passengers in the first?'
"a few"
- Women and children"
mot likely. Men. Those who could
scramble in first"
Mate, do you understand the posi-
ton am in. can't see yard around
me. / have a wife and child on board.
: The brutesi the brutes! not to save
the women and children first! There
are women and children still on deck,
are there not?'
Yes. You want to know il your wife
Is among them. What sort of a wom-
an7"
Fair, with light auburn hair and
blue eyes"
what's the use of thinking, now that
everything has come to an end?"
Look, mater cried, for felt that
we we've sinking fast. Look, for Gods
sake! Do you see such woman among
those still left? And has she not a
child with herr"
What business Is 1t of miner" he re-
piled, groaning with pain. my eyes
are getting too dim TO see. Stay,
though, can just make out woman
with fair hair But the worlds full
of them
His pain must have been very great,
from the way he dragged out his
words.
If I could relieve you, would dc