Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-12

w here are you running to-!
"Firer@ whispered the ulaa hoarseiy
Fire in the forehoIdw
/ Suppose there Is. Is il your duty {
| rush on deck and alarm the passenger
| or get buckets and try 10 put out tn
| fref Back. there. all OF you. for ! vii
| brain the man who dares to fiinch :
hair now. Stand back. I sayT'
The men cowed before bis superio
viii and sa " that they might Yet d
| something 10 save the steamer
| y guard was placed at the hatch. 81
| that no one could come down. and tbs
| scuttIe which led into the forehold wa:
/ opened. No sooner was this Gcne thar
| dense volume OF black smoke ROLLED
| out, aud the scuttle was closed again
| for VIII saw that nothing could bt
| done in that way. The men ran for
| ward with axes. but had scarcely gone
dozen steps when they fell the deck
| tremLle under their feet and "a y small
| Jets Of tame shooting up through the
planks, moment more and there was
A sort of explosion. and the red flame
leaped up suddenly and caught the
plaDks above.
There was no hope OF conceaIing the
danger from the passengers now, for
the steamer was full of smoke. and
wild cries from the deck announced
that the danger was known They
must face the most terrible situation
known 10 the sea. the one OF all others
the most feared-fire, Women shrek
ed and tainted. strong men trembled
and could not move hand or foot. ana
dering no assistance. Mabel Nane. ct
terly bewildered by the sudden horru..
felt a strong hand Gluten her arm and
saw VIII Clay. blackened by smoke
and singed by flame.
Go aft he said hOarsely. stand
on the port quarter and wait for me.
and | will save you or die trying. Obey
me, girl; | am your master now"
She looked at him in mute wonder
and obeyed him in silence. He sprang
away and began 10 tight the fire as he
could. aided by the officers and crew
and some few Of the passengers who
kept their heads. Among these was
Arthur Vane, handsome old gentle
man with an engaging face.
You are a man. William Clay" he
said as the two hurled the contents Of
a great water cask down the open
hatch. IF we ever escape. the com
pany shall know that they have man
in,their employment. If we don't, it is
all the same. Have you seen my
daughter"
Il sent her aft just now and told her
that l would save her or lose my life
and I'll do it, too, because | love her"
Love her-you"'
Just now you said | was a man,
said VIII quietly Lay hold on that
cask. you. What are you Sinking
for? Can't we talk and work too?''
A strange smile came over the face
of the old merchant. and they hurled
the cask into the water and assisted
the man working at the fail in raising
il.
Don't think I'm a fool Mr.. yane.
said VIII. IF | lived thousand years
and saw her every day, wouldn't tell
her as much as I've told you. and
what's more, you wouldn't have heard
me say il if Il had not come out before
thought
Mr.. Vane said not word. and VIII
Clay was silent. They worked hard
TO save the steamer. but the fiames
gained upon them inch by inch and
drove them aft.
Give ii up. captain Whispered
Will Get out the boats and provisions
them Take time for all you want.
and we Will fight the fire"
The sailors worked with a will until
they saw the boats drawing up to the
gangway and the passengers taking
places, when they left their work and
sprang for the boats. The passengers
made rush at the same moment but
as they neared the gangway they met
VIII Clay, a pistol in each hand and
his eyes flashing fire.
stand back. therer' he cried do
you call yourselves menT DO you want
TO swamp the boats and spoil your only
CHANGER
"Get out of the wayr' Kissed a gigan-
tic Swede, raising his heavy hard.
"Out of the way or will crush you
with a single blow"
A pistol cracked. and the man fell
back. shot through the shoulder. The
crowd recolled before this determined
young man. for even in an hour like
this men fear sudden death.
Keep back. | say" repeated the
young mate. Pass along those ladies
first. for they go in the first boat"
The order was promptly obeyed. and
then six Of the crew, called out hy
name, went into the boat and pulled Il
away from the @angway under com
mand of the first mate. Boat after boat
pulled up to the gangway, received It's
load and DIIfpd n way There was nQ
more rushing. for there was death IN
the eyes of the young man and the cap
tain. who had taken his place by his
side
My daughter il not IN the boats
young man, said Aurthur Naae
hoarsely.
Miss yane." cried VIII, you can
come now
Mabel who had been standing apa i.
hurried forward. Mr.. Nane stepped in
TO the boat. and the last of the crew
followed Then panic seemed to