Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-12-06

ingly, at the same time listening atten-
lively to the familiar language.
But he broke off short in his comments,
and his face took on an expression OF
CONSERVATION as the sounds progressed.
what is the matterr demanded Cap
tain Boylston hurriedly.
The electrician tore off his connecting
wires and cried: "Ofticiai message going
over. IL it ever gets through with this
leak to weaken the current. | shall be as
tonished. Number has just gone with
the rest They're ordering another steam
er to help Us. The whole business now
depends upon this bruised cable. Mighty
lucky we caught II as we did"
Even while thus explaining Canon had
started his helpers to work at the patch.
ing. The captain, officers and all OF the
crew not actually upon duty were clus-
tered around the cable reparers watch
ing their skilled iabors with interest.
Murchisen. as we have said. had hidden
away in the bows OF the ship. He now
crawled forth, but still cherishing a GER
tain luminosity against the quick temper
ed skipper, carefully avoided the latter's
neighborhood. In spirit Of idle impulse
the young sailor clambered over the bows
and took up a position upon the recently
hoisted cable close alongside Of the chain
stopper. There. with every plunge OF the
craft sending him within a few feet OF
the tossing waves and every appearing
lifting him high above them, be curiously
watched the holding shackle.
Even the temporary patching Of an
ocean cable takes time. Moreover, in the
present instance il was necessary TO work
without interfering with the rush OF mes
sages from both directions. Scarcely had
the first layer % gutta percha been put
on when Murchison. in his ont OF the way
roost beneath the bows, saw something
that made his eyes open wide.
The chain stopper upon the cable close
beside him was working loose. Either II
had been clnmsily put on in the first
place or else the heavy p,uneinE OF the
ship was responsible. At any rate, the
binding claws most Enthusiastically were
relaxing, not enough to let the cable slip
as vet, but tbs WIS only matter OF sec
onds. Through Murchison's brain, In m
iusniteSimai portion ef tine. flashed the
probably consequences II tbs opening OF
The shackle VAS not promptly foVcstalled.
Losing the cable after the trouble Of
getting K Wa lad enough. bat would the
wounds vat not properly hanlased-
stand the nov strain Of being torn away
from the ships clutches? No, it would
snap asander and leave the great compa
ny without 4 single working line, humble
its pride TO the dust, and incidentally de-
stroy the high confidence which hitherto
had been rep5sed IN the CabIiana and her
crew.
Quick as a flash tho lads bare hands
dove fer the grinding stopper. while his
shrieks OF pain and alarm brought ness
mates harrying to his aid.
Pain? Well. the flesh Of fingers will
wedge even a slow looseuiug chain shack
le for few moments bur the eomhina-
ton OF crushing bones. squirting blood
and tortured nerves is more than aGaniz.
ing. II must have seemed like hours TO
the lad before those deft handed sailors
had elappcd another stopper on the cable
and carried him in triumph to the cap
taia's own statcyoom for the Doctors best
care.
Al this time the chict clerk in the met
ropolitan Office reported to the manager:
Wen pull through ali right now. Nun
Der . is in excellent working order again.
sir. They must hive commenced patch
ing it.''-New York Press