The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-05


The shipmaster glanced up at the
tell-tale compass above his head. 'Offi-
Ger of the watch has changed the
course l see. We're heading for it.
eh?"
Yes, sir. The second mate told me
TO say So
quite right. Pass the word for the
carpenter. and tell him to get port and
starboard lifeboats ready for lowering
in case they're wanted I'll be on the
bridge in a minute"
AYE, aye, SIR" said the quartermas-
ter, and withdrew into the darkness
outside.
Kettle soon emerged attired in high
rubber thigh boots and leather-bound
black oilskins.
The night was black and thick with
a driZZie of rain, and a heavy breeze
snored through the Flamingo's scanty
rigging. The first mate and the third
had already turned out, and were on
the hoatskids helping the carpenter. On
that part of the horizon against which
the Flamingo's bows sawed with great
swooping dives, was a streaky, flicker
ing yellow glow.
Kettle went on to an end of the
bridge and peered ahead through the
bridge binoculars. a steamer" he
commented, "and a big one, too, and
she's finely ablaZe. Not much help we
shall be able to give 1t will be a case
II already cooked before we get there"
He looked over the side at the eddy Of
water that chung to the ships flank. Il
see you're showing her along,' he said
TO the second mate.
L sent word down to the engine room
TO give her all they knew the moment
we raised the glow. l thought you
wouldn't grudge the coal, sir.
No: quite right. Hope there aren't
too many of them to be picked off. or
we shall make a tight fit on board
here"
Funny we should be carrying the
biggest cargo the old boat ever had
packed into her. They won't mind
much where they stow as long as
they're picked up out of the wet.
Ber-rhit' shivered the second mate: II
shouldn't much fancy open-boat crus-
ing in the western ocean this weather"
Captain Kettle stared on through the
shiny brass binoculars: Call all
hands" he said, quickly. That's a big
ship ahead of us. God send she's only
an old tramp. At those lifeboats,
there," he shouted Swing the davits
cupboard, and pass your painters for
ward. Hump yourselves, now
There's lot of ice here. SIR came
a grumbling voice out of the darkness
land the boats are frozen onto the
checks. We've got to hammer it away
before they'll hoist
a masters ticket. and want to get
ship of your own''-Kettle vaulted over
the rail on to the top of the fiddley,
and made for his second in command
Here. my man, if your delicate fingers
can't do this bit of a job, give me that
marlinspike. By James, Do you hear
me? Give up the marlinspike. bod you
never see boat iced up before? Now
then, carpenter. Are you worth your
salt? Or am l to clear both ends in
this boat MYSELF"
So, by example and tongue. Captain
Kettle got his boats swung outboar1.
and the Flamingo. with her engines
working at an unusual strain. surgad
rapidly nearer and nearer to the blaze.
Wind, cold and breakdowns of ma
chinery the sailor accepts with dull in
difference; shipwrecks, STANDINGS and
disease he looks forward to as part of
an inevitable fate. but fire goes nearer
TO cowing him than all other disasters
put together, and arouses in him the
warmest sympathy and the full of his
resOurcefulnesS.
But meanwhile, as the FIamingo
made her way up-wind against the |
changing seas, a fear was beginning to |
grip the little shipmaster that was deep |
enough to cause him physical nausea. !
The burning steamer was on fire for !
ward. and she lay almost head-on !
towards them, keeping her stern to the |
help in driving the flames aft. AS her |
size became more apparent someone !
guessed her as a big cargo tramp from
New Orleans. with cotton that had |
overheated and fired. and Kettle took
comfort from the suggestion and tried |
to believe that it might come true
But as they closed with her, and
came within earshot of her syren,
which was sending frightened, useless
blares across the churning waters
there was no being blind to the true
facts any longer. This was no cargo
boat. but a passenger liner, outward
bound, too and populous. And as they
came still nearer, they saw her after
decks black and wriggling with people,
and Kettle got a glimpse of her struc-
ture and recognized the vessel herself
The Crosser Carl" he muttered.
'out of Hamburg for New York Next
TO frst-class, and she cuts rates for
third and gets the bulk of the German
emigrant traffic. She'll have 500 on her
this minute, and 100 of a crew. And
there's hell waiting for them over yon-
der, and getting worse every minute
oh, great James. wonder what's going
TO be done. 1 couldn't pack seventy of
them on the old Flam here if l filed
her to busting"
He clapped the binoculars to his eyes
again and stared diligently around the
rim of the night. If only he could
hurrying along her route, then these
people could be saved easily. He could {
drop his boats to take them till the ,
other passenger ship came up. But !
the Flamingo and the Crosser Carl had =
the stage severely to themselves, and 5
between them they had the making {
Of an .ntolerable weight of destiny. i
The second mate broke in upon his {
commanders broOding: Shall 1 be !
getting derricks rugged and the hatch I
covers OFF,
Kettle turned on him with a sudden
fierceness. DO you know you're ask =
ing me to ruin MYSELF" :
But if we jettison cargo to make !
room for these poor beggars, sir, the :
insurance viii pay" ..
You've got lot to learn, my lad. .
before you're fit TO take charge of a
ship, if you don't know any more than !
that about the responsibility for car =
60"
by jove. that's awkward. Birds
would look pretty blue if the bill was :,
handed in to them"
"Birds!' said Kettle. with contempt ,
'"They aren't liable for sixpence. Sup =
there was somebody else's portmanteau
In the carriage, and you flung it out 4
Of The window into a river, who do you :
suppose would have TO stand the I
racket" n
why, me. But then, sir. this is diff a
ferent" n
Not a bit. II we start it to jettison
cargo, it means I'm a ruined man.. !.