The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-27

mass Of black hung over him
There was a terrific crash. The Dunbar
ton stopped ard shivcred. Then, with many
a crunch ana rip and crack, and the
sphntering Of spars, the rendiug II cans
vas and the shouts of frightened men. the
good ship shook of her weighty adversary
and again plunged heavily on.
But at what a cost! Her mizzen top-gal-
liant mast and yards were trailing by the
backstays alongside, her starhoard mzEen
rigging, chainplatcs and raj had been
wrenchSd away, her Ss-jack was snap
ped al the crotch, her scanker hung In
tatters, and, on her quarSer cut clean TO
the Watcr-iine, was a Nawniug Nshaped
hole. Her mate had been swept OVERHEARD
by the coliiding veSsel's jibboom. and her
captain, though still in his bunk, lay crush
ed ana insensible.
Instantly the Dunbartons deck was a
scene of widest confusion, The boats!
| The boats" rolled in a hoarse chorus from
forward, and a dozen men hacked mAdly
at the lashIngs. while Others knocked the
checks out, cleared away the fans aud
dragged their chests from the foreeasue.
Abaft, the terror-strckt passengers, in
scant apparel rushed he plessly from side
to side, calling loudly for the captain. The
wheel spun round deserted, and the Grip
pied vessel having come up in the wind
and been caught abaclx, went wailowing TO
leeward-at every lurch Ship ug quantit Is
of water through her steven SIDE The
second mate, after discovering the cap
tain's plight, and searching Intellectually
for the chief officer, awoke TO a sense Of
responsibility, and hurried to take charge
on deck.
In vain he ordered. stormed and yelled
| Futilely he cursed. Impotently he be
! seeched. The men, frenzied by fear, way
ed him back with fierce looks and fiercer
oaths Catching at the arm Of the boat
swain, a big Liverpool freshman, he begged
him TO desist and help save the ship The
man flung him off savagely saying, GO
aft We damned whelp, or Ii dash your
brains out!'
Seeing that his efforts to control the
crew were useless, the second mate went
aft 10 The passengers. He found them
| gathered in a lttle group before the miz-
| zenmast old Mr.. Armstrong standing
erect in the center, with mis- arm aroun his
| daughter.
The officer explained the situation, and
| advised that they should themselves launch
! one of the boats
! Come on, them shouted Mr.. Angus.
| IF we've work to do, let us do it,"
! just at that time, however a tan figure
! cianbered nimbly over the vessels side,
and stood among them. II was as though
| ne had come from the sea for he was drip
/ ping wet and the nerVe-shocked pass M
! gers peered at him approhensiVely.
! Gentlemen" spoke the newcomer, in
strong, calm tone the ship is in no imme-
diate danger and by taking proper precau-
tons she may yet be saved
"Who is this?' exclaimed the second
mate, stepping closed to the man. But
before his words were wholly finished a
ray of moonlight slauting under the foot
of the maintopsail, lit UP his face, and sew
eral voices cried, "The stowawayr
This is no time for tomfColery, Haw-
kins," cried the officer, angtiiy. IF you're
not mad lend a hand to get this boat Off
/ the skids."
The stowaway. without noticing this re-
mark, turned TO the owner. Mr.. Arm
strong" he said, "as there seems to be
one else capable of restoring order, L
will take it upon myself to do so.' With
out waiting for reply he continued: 'If
you are a man MIR. Outram, you Will take
the wheel and keep the helm amidsnips
until l get the yards braced. And you,
Mr. Angus" he continued, will lie Of
much service, if, with Mr.. SWeeting, you
win secure what firearms there are in the
cabin and project the ladies'
The next instant Howkins bounded 10
| the poop ladder and disappeared. Then
above the cries, the oaths and the uproar
of the deck there rose the thunder of his
! mighty voice:
All hands on the port bracesW
His tones commanded attention. The
men looked around to see VINO gave the
order, and one or two of them, by force
Of habit, took few steps across the deck
At sight of the stowaway, however, a
shout half snarl, half jeer, went Up, and
| they fell back to their work.
Two OF the boats We're already along
! side and several Of the hands were in
them while the remainder were busy low
ering water, provisions and their dun
| mage"
IAN hands on the port bracesw again
! reared Hawkins.
/ The boatswain, al this, took turn
! with the fab he was holding, and, draw
/ ing his sheathknife, sprang at the stow
/ away. But the murderous onslaught OF
| the man was checked by a blow-a blow
! that struck him squarely on the chin
and felled him in the scupper An omi-
nous growl come from the men, and
| from the shadow of the house an iron
/ Delaying pin few wh.zzing past the Hot
spurs head.
Lets settle the bloody - and be done
with him" said one man.
20. be d. to him" answered the car
penter, who appeared to be leader Into
the boat, boys! It's time we were out O
thisr
Hawkins seeing that they were utter
ly unmanageable, and that singie-hand-
/ ed attack would be useless, changed his
tactics. Taking the oppos te side Of the
deck, he ran forward, diving first into the
! carpenters shop, ana then into the boat
/ SWANS locker. m a few moments he re-
/ turned. staggering under the weight of a
grindstone and an immense iron snatch
block. He deposited both on the topgal-
liant rail, and leaping beside Them, stood
poised above the humping, heaving boats
that swung at the vessels side.
Below there!" he baw.ed. There are
lines hanging over the side for those who
want 10 come aboard again!'
The howl OF derision that greeted this
Information was quickly changed to one
Of fury, then dsmay For, at that mo-
ment, the grlndstone was lift d high above
the undaunted stowaways heed, ana hurl-
ed crashing through The bolton Of the on -
er boat A wild scramble for the inner one
ensued, but that too was speedily rendered
| unseaworthy by the fan of the Donderous
block. Amid the snorts splashings and
curses of the outwitted crew, both boats
allied rapidly and sunk. score of hobbing
starbOard channels, and 20 pairs OF hands
ciawed at the barnacles as the vessel fel
and rose. Dripping, ike drowned rats,
tnas Ia1 fbfafr.