Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-06-07
while we've got boatsw responded a

SulleE Chorus.
"Avast. there, you cussed cowards!'
growled our old friend, Bill. :'Do you
forget the women and children we've
got aboard9'
"Aye, aye! mnttered the other; ssbut
the women and children can take their
chances with Davy Jones as we'll as
we can. There-good heavens! what
was that?"
For. with a sudden jar, that made
every boat and timber in her thrill, the
Ocean Queen seemed to- sink in the
trough of the sea.
Its the engine that has stopped, you
fools" growled old Bill, laying his
brawny hand on the shoulder of man
who would have fled from his post.
eve amt none the worse for the loss
of 'em. If it warn't for all the pipes
and b'ilers we have in our hold we
wouldn't be in this fix now. Never did
believe in this ERE tea-kettle sailing.
Give me Il stout, live-oak bottom, and
wouldn't think twice of a gale like
this. These iron-pot ships is all agin
natur'. Cheer up, my Eearties. Don't
knock under to capful of wind like
this"
''Man the boats!' came the hoarse
command from the quarterback. as
loud shrieks from the Storage passen-
gers told that the alarm had reached
there at last. MAN the boats! Stand
back. We cowards!" continued the cap
tain. in stentorian tones, as the firemen
rushed up f1ercely for the first chance
of life. women and children first!
I'll blow out the brains of the man
that steps beyond the liner
| ~ s. ~,
exclaimed Herbert to the old sailor be-
side him.
"Capt. Knox amt one to give up
easy" was the meaning reply. 'The
ships a-settling fast, sir We amt got
II UGH chance
| Then ensued a scene of confusion
| terrible to witnesS-terrible to remem-
Der.
Wild shrieks and cries blended with
the voices of the tempest, as the terri
fed passengers thronged up on the
deck. falling over and crushing each
other in their mad rush for safety.
In vain the brave and seIf-devoted
officers stood manfully at their posts,
striving to keep order-in vain the bet
ter portion of the sailors exerted them
selves to save the helpless and weak.
The panic-stricken crowd surged to and
fro. crushed by falling spars or washed
off by the pillows that swept up on the
deck of the lifeless, helpless steamer,
now mere hulk at the mercy Of the
winds and waves.
For moment it seemed as if the
tenderest ties Of nature were forgotten,
and only the animal instinct of self
preservation reigned supreme. In the
first madness of terror, brothers de-
serted their sisters. husbands their
wives. Only the mothers, true at this
supreme honr to their hottest instinct.
gathered their frightened little ones to
their breasts. and struggled for them
and with them for life.
The darkness was intense. The red
glare of the ships lanterns, held by the
officers, only flung titful lurid CLEAN
upon the maddened crowd. who were
pressing forward, blindly and desper-
ately to the bulwarks, where the cap
tain stood. firm and immovable as
rock. his drawn revolver in his hand
and Herbert Give at his side.
The first boat was filled and lowered.
and went down under the very eyes Of
those left behind. the despairing cries
Of the drowning mingling with the ago
nizing walls Of those still OH deck.
The second boat was more success
full. 1t breasted the pillows for mo-
ment. and then was lost to sight in the
darkness; but it awoke faint hope in
the breasts of those who had yet to
make the desperate attempt. They
might even vet be saved!
A third. a fourth. fifth. each with
it's wailing trembling, terrified freight,
were sent off in the midnight darkness,
and then the fierce instincts of the
rougher men. who had hitherto been
controlled by their officers, burst all re
straint.
Life was too dear for them to sacr-
flee it to chivalrous chimeras!
Rushing forward, they took posses
sion of the remaining boats, regardless
of the captain, who, pistol in hand,
fought like lion for the defenseless
ones left in his charge: But all in
vain.
The revolver was wrested from his,
hand by brawny fireman, and he was
flung aside while. with curses and yells
of triumph. the remaining boats were
seized by the desperate men, whom
neither menaces nor violence could any
longer control.
The last boats. filled with struggling,
shriel;ing madmen, pushed off into the
foaming waves, and the Ocean Queen,
with four hundred souls still on board,
was left to her fate.
Herbert had done a mans work man.
fully during these terrible hours. He
had lost sight of self entirely in his eff
forts to save the helpless and the weak.
He had stood by the captains side
until hope was gone; but now-now
that the time for action had passed,
and he stood face to face with dark
and terrible death-life that he. had
thought so worthless, grew suddenly
precious to him.
He thought Of his home and Give
Towers seemed to rise before him.
grand and stately, bathed in the glad
sunshine of early spring. Fannie's
sweet face looked out at him from her
e-wreathed windows; his fathers
smile. grave, yet tender, beamed upon
him from the open door; Laurence
Grey's faithful hand was upon his
shoulder. Fenton's merry greeting
echoed in his ear. He was home again.
All. tossed upon angry waves in mid
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