The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-03


mother was dead and had been buried II
the churchyard at Huntington, L. l. Tt
this stunning blow was added the fact that
his sister Alice, his sole remaining near
relative is icted with an incuTable dis
ease of the eyes, and that total blindness
for her is a condition Of the near future.
His boat wrecked and his savings gone,
his sister a icted, his mother dead. and
his wife in an unmarked ocean grave.
| small wonder that Captain Darling said,
| with fearful eyes and quivering voice:
Life in the future has nothing for me.
cannot live. I can only exist"
EIvin Darling was married seven years
! ago to Maggie Shea in New York City.
| She was twenty-five years old, and had
| been a resident of this city for eight
years. She was born in Potsdam, St. Law
| renee county.
She was handsome girl and had many
suitors From among them all she chose
Elvin Darling, the stalwart seaman, mas
ter of the schooner James E. Bayles, in
which craft he owned a fourth interest.
1t was engaged in the cOast-wise carry
ing trade, and was known in the principal
ports between Maine and Central America
And so the two were married and took
their honeymoon trip on the husbands
staunch schooner. When they returned
from the three months cruise CaDtain
Darling told his wife that he would find
home for her before he started again.
But his wife demurred. She loved her
husband and she loved the sea. She had
no wish to be separated from vssither Of
them and she sailed with him when he
next eft port.
She continued to accompany him on his
trips, and during his seven years Of mar
ried life he never went TO sea without her.
She studied navigation and became a help
mate in truth TO her husband. Possessed
Of a strong and sturdy physique, she was
Of much assistance in navigating tiie
schooner, and Captain Darling was often
heard to declare that his wife was bet
ter sailor than he.
But Captain Darling knew the dangers Of
the deep, and he did not wish that his wife
should share them. He often protested to
her that ne intended TO buy a house in
which she must stay and cake a nome.
while he continued TO follow the sea I'M
til such time as he had acquired compe-
tence that would permit him to retire ard
spend the rest of his days with her On
land. But while he made these protests
he was glad that his wife refused to stay
on shore. He enjoyed her company, and
when she was near him.
Last summer he fulfilled his oft-repeated
promise of building home. He bought a
lot in Huntington, L. /, and on it a neat
cottage was erected. 1t was partially fur
nished, and when the schooner next left
port it was agreed that it would be the
last voyage for Mrs. Darling.
The James f. Bayles sailed for Mexico
loaded with coal, carrying, besides Captain
Darling and his wife. First Mate Charles
Sodderman and crew of six men. After
The coal was unloaded the schooner was
loaded with mahogany and cedar ,ogs end
on Januady 23 she left the port of TEspau
Mexico, for New York. Besides the cargo
Captain Darling bought couple Of beau
tifuIy carved wooden antels which lie IL
tended 10 place in his Huntington hoe
Fro the day that the schooner left Tus-
pan rough weather was encountered. The
boat was a weIl-built craft. and Captain
Darling was a skilled navigator. and the
crew thought little of danger in spite of
the wind and The nigh seas. But on the
afternoon Of February 13. while at a point
Just of the Delaware capes-a rough bit
of sea, as any coaStwise seaan will tel
you-the hurricane that was destined TO
wreck the JamesE. Edyles was encoun-
tered.
The storm began at O'Clock in the after
noon, and within an hour the boat was
hove too as a easure Of safety. Before
y1riT71f,-l1- he f,-ss. mo- r..-1-s.-.--
the pumps could clear her. M2nfuHv the
men worked the pumps all day, though the
water steadily gained The waves were
tossing the craft as though she were
chip. and every tiber in her hull was
strained Finally the pumps we're broken
by the loosening frle ships framework
and the seamen huddled in the Goblin
where they could keep warm. and waited
for the end
Inc water steadily crept no. but the
men knew thar he boat would nor sink
The cargo e wood insured tha aoatinr IF
iae snip even If ehe en- ire bottom were
gone. Had the schooner been carrying Goa.
she would have gone to The bottom within
a few hours Of the time the hurricane
struck her. and a different tale from -b;s
would have 10 BE- told
When Captain Darling realized that his
boat was wreck and knew that the orlv
hope OF life lay in a possible ay e more
fortunate vessel. he ordered the s3s-s p,
be cut away. The wind had already car
ried away most OF the sails and some Of
The arms.
There is nothing more We can do"
Captain Darling told his men. The vbaer
had been dashed and ali she crew were in
the cabin Put on all the clothing IN,
can and he ready 70 50 on deck. T5s W
ter may reach the cabin al any tfne
Each man was furnished with nav
piece Of wrope fifteen feet long \ nos,
Vas maze in one end by the daft fingers
OF the sailors. and The loop was placed
around their bodies.
All hands on deck,' cried the cap,7f7
The onier vas uickly obeyed. Ropes had
been stretched across the quarter 5e-k
and the men chung TO these while irving
and the men chung 70 these While ty!ag /