The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-03-14

oil steamship IN mld-ocean IN the win
ter of 1892. The vessel was subse-
quently thought to have been the
British oil steamship Loodiann. al
though no absolute proof of her
identity was ever obtained. Tho story
as told by the officers of the Egyptian
Prince, which arrived ct New York
with the news of the burning of the
oil ship, is often told even at this late
day in tho shipping offices along
South street, and no marine novelist
ever penned or imagined story
more pathetic or more dramatic in all
its details.
1t was midnight in December, 1892,
and the steamship Egyptian Prince,
bound from Newcastle for New York,
was in mid-ocean, plowing through
the waves at ten-knot clip. The
night was cold and dark and the wind
blew with hurricane force.
"Better keep good lookout to-
night" said Captain Coleman to Sec
ond Officer Jordan, cts going to be
nasty and no mistake"
"Aye, aye, it is that" came the re-
ply, and then the captain went below.
Jordan remained on the bridge ST.
lently gazing at the big combers roll
ing toward the vessel as though to en-
gulf it and then curling away on either
side of the bow with the force of u
mountain torrent. The wind was be-
ginning to shift to the northeast and
nothing could be heard above the
roar of the tempest but tho ceaseless
chug g-a-chug of the engines. Sudden
ly from the lookout in the bow there
came the hail:
'Light ho! two points Off the star
board bow"
Jordan looked up and sew, way off
on the horizon, faint glow of light.
"Ship ON fire." roared Jordan, "all
hands stand BY"
"God help that vessel tonight, "
said the members of the crew to one
another. And then the course was
altered and the vessel headed IN the
direction of the light. Meanwhile it
had begun to hail and the wind
screamed with increased fury. The
light came nearer and nearer and
finally the stgaining eyes of the ships
company made out great pillars of
flame and thousands of flying sparks.
That volume of flame in mid-ocean
meant but one thing, and full speed
ahead was sounded down in the en-
gine room. In response the powerful
chip bounded forward as though anx-
ious to bring speedy assistance to the
unfortunates aboard the distressed
vessel. The distance gradually les.
sened and in q short while the hull OF
the burning vessel-a seething, roar
ing mass of flames was sighted, roll
ing and pitching in the heavy sea.
From the interior of the vessel great
sheets OF flame shot q hundred feet in
the air; the smokestake and pole
masts were pillars of flame, while the
oil with which she was laden flowed
down over the side like cataracts of
fire. Blazing globules OF oil floated
away on the waves. The captain OF
the Egyptian Prince brought his YES
sci to within hundred yards of the
burning vessel. Faint cries which
were brought to him on the wind were
| inc only eVlueuC6 Luht SIG was NCt Vc
serted. 1t would have been tool
hardy to bring the Egyptian Prince
any closer to the burning oil ship,
but the crew was lined up along the
deck and Jordan called for volunteers
10 man O boat with him and go to the
rescue. The sea was running noun
tain high and only three men re-
sponded to the call. This was not q
sufficient number TO man the boat
and the attempt was given up. Not q
soul was to be seen on board Of the
oil ship, aud the Egyptian Prince be-
gan to circle around her in hopes OF
picking up some OF the boats. Sud.
denly there came cry from one oil
the officers OF the Egyptian Prince
and he pointed toward the jibboon ol
the vessel. Every eye followed his
finger and then there was o cry ol
horror; way out on the end of the jih
was o man and woman. They were
standing in the martingale nets. the
man supporting the woman with one