Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-03

he had been showing weakness, and pulled
himself together again smartly. Yes, there
is. my lad. I'm a disappointed man, and
We been talking lot more thans digni-
fed. You'll do me real kindness if you II
forget all that's been said. Away with
You on to the main deck, and get the
matches off, and whip the top tier of that
cargo over the side as fast as you can make
the winChes travel. If the old F1amingo is
going to serve out free hospitality, by
James, she shall do it full weight. I'd give
the beggars champagne and spring mat
tresses if I'd got en-"
Meanwhile those on the German emigrant
steamer had seen the coming of the shabby
little English trader with humping hearts
Till then the crew had fought the fire with
diligence, but when the nearness of a po-
tentidl rescuer was reported they discOv-
cred that the fire was beyond control and
made at once for the boats. oVerpoWering
passengers and officers who happened 10
come between them and their desires. Away
screamed out the davt tackles as the boats
| were lowered full of madiy frightened deck
| hands and 2rimy handlers of coal. Panic
! mad Slapped every trace of their manhood.
/ They had concern only for their own skins.
/ one boat, chiefly manned by the coal in
I tereSt, swamped alongside before ii could
( be showed clear; the forward davit fall Of
another damned, and let it dangie verti-
cduy up and down when the after fall over
/ hauled, and only one boat got away clear
! the reception which this small cargo of
/ worthless met with surprised them. They
/ pulled with terrified haste to the FlamingD
got under her lee. and chung desperately TO
! the line which was thrown to them. But to
/ the rail above them came the man who ex-
/ pected 10 be ruined by this nights work
/ Capt. Kettle, being human. had greatly
needed some one during the last half hour
( to ease his feelings on, and the boat came
| neatly to supply his want. 1t long
| enough since he had found occasion for
| such an outburst. Every biting insult in
/ his vocabulary, every lashing word that is
| used upon the seas, every gibe, national,
! personal or professional, that lifetime of
| ndrd language could teach. he poured out
| On that shivering boats crew then. Hs
| bad. Of course, many a time sailed with a
/ forecastle filled with Germans, and had
! acquired the special art Of adapting his
abuse to the 'Dutchman's sensibilities.
| And, as wind-up after having made them
| writhe sufficiently, he ordered them to go
| back whence they came and take u share
| in rescuing their fellows.
But we shall drown" shouted back one
| speaker from the wildly jumping boat
Then drown and be hanged to YOU"
shouted Kettle. I'm not going to have
| towards like you dirtying my deck planks."
( He cast off the line to which their boat
| rode. You go and do your whack get
| ting the people off that packet none of
| you shall ever see your happy Dutchland
| again"
| Meanwhile. the irony of the fates Or
| dered il, the two mates. each in charge of
/ one Of the FlamingO's lifeboats were COM
| handing crews made up entirely of Ger
| more careful sailormen could not have been
wished for. A heavy sea ran, and from its
| creSts a spindrift blew which cut the face
| like whips and numbed with its chill. The
| boats were tossed about like playthings,
and required constant baling. But Kettle
| had brought the Flamingo to windWard of
| the GrOsser Carl, and each boat carried
| line, so that the steam winches could help
| her with the return trips.
| Getting a cargo was, however. the chief
| difhculty. All vestige OF order was swamp
ed in unutterable panic. If boat had been
| brought alongside, they would have tum-
| bled into her like sheep, till their numbers
/ swamped her. They cursed the flames
| cursed the sea, cursed their own brothers
! and sisters who jostled them. They were
| the sweepings from half-fed middle Europe
/ born with raw nerves, and under the sud
| den stress OF danger, and in the absence of
| some strong man to thrust discipline on
| them, they became practically maniacs
| Now, the Flamingo's boats were differed
by two cool. profane mates, who had no
/ nerves themselves, and did not see the use
OF nerves in other people. Neither of them
spoke German, but presuming that some of
those who listened would understand Eng
/ fish they made proclamation in their own
| tongue 10 the effect that the women were
to be taken off first
| And If any of you rats of men shove
| your way down here said the chief mate
you'll Just get knocked on the head that 5
all Now, then, get some bow lines and
| sway out the ladies'"
As well might the order have been ad-
dressed 10 flock of sheep. Then each
poor soul there stretched out his arms or
hers, and clamored to be saved-and-neyer
mind the rest. And meanwhile the flames
bit deeper and deeper into the fabric of the
| steamer, and the breath of them grew more
| searching.
You rudy Dutchman." shouted the sec
ond mate. 1t would serve You bIoomins