The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-02-28


had backed off the reef ON which sns
had struck and was foundering In deep
water. 1t was indeed time for hurry.
1t was pain she had very few more
minutes to swim.
Each sea now made Il clean breach
over her, and passage about the
decks was a thing Of infinite danger.
but Kettle was resourceful and strong.
and he had grip round Miss Carnegie
and hold OH something solid when
the waters wrenched him, and he con.
trived never to be wrested entirely
from his hold.
But when he had worked his way
aft disappointment was there ready
for him. The quarter boat was gone.
McTodd stood against one Of the dav.
its cool and philosophical as ever.
"You internal Scotchman, you've let
them take away the boat from your
Kettle snarled. 81 should have thought
you could have kept your end up with
a NANCY crowd like that.">
"Usc your eyes," said the engineer
'The boats I'm the wash below there,
ut the end Of the tackles, with her side
stove in. She drowned the three men
that were lowered In her because
they'd no. sense enough to fend off,"
"That comes Of setting lot Of farm.
ers to work Il steamboat"
"Aweel," said McTodd, "steamers
have been lost before, and have 1t IN
mind, captain, that you've helped"
'By James, IL you don't carry Il civil
tongue, you drunken Geordie, I'll knock
you some teeth down to cover itl'
"Oh, l owed you that" said Nc.
Todd. But now we're quits. bdcd
here. Captain Kettle, because thought
you'd maybe like to swim the Teddy of
to the shore. and at that | can bear a
useful hand"
"Mac," said Kettle, 81 take bacl;
what l said about you're being Scotch
You're Il good sonl'-- He turned to
the girl. still shouting to make his
voice carry above the clash OF the seas
and the below Of the siren and the
noises Of the dying ship: ITS our only
chance, miss, swimming. The life
buoys from the bridge are all gone.
looked. The hands will have taken
them. There'll be lot Of timber float.
Ing about when she goes down, and
we'll be best clear Of that. VIII YOU
trust to usY'
81 trust you in everything" she said
Deeper and deeper the steamer sank
In her wallow. The lower decks were
swampcd by this. and the miserable
cattle were either drowned In their
stalls or washed out Of her. There
In fn
They just let 90 their hold, and tho
next incoming wave swept them clcai
of the steamers spar deck and spurncd
them 100 yards from her side.
They found themselves among q
herd Of floating cattle, some drowned
some swimming frenziedly, and With
the inspiration Of the moment laid hold
of couple Of beasts and 50 supported
themselves without further exertion
1t was no use swimming for the pres.
cnt. They could not tell which way
the shore lay. And it behooved them to
reserve all their energies for the morn
ing, SO we'll as the numbing cold and
the water would let them.
or sudden the below Of the steam.
er's siren ceased, and pnng went
through them as though they had lost
friend. Then came dull, muflled
explosion. and then huge, ragged
shape loomed up through the night
like some vast monument and sank
swiftly straight downward out Of sight
beneath the black, tumbled sea.
"Poor old girl" said McTodd. spit.
ting out the sen water. "They'd fine
keg Of whisky down In her messroom.'
"Poor devil Of skipper" said Kct
tie. ITS to be hoped he's drowned out
Of harms way or It'll take lying to
keep him any rags Of his ticket"
The talk died out Of them after that
and the miseries OF the situation closed
In. The water was cold. but the air
was piercing. and so they kept their
bodies submerged. each holding on to
the bovine raft and each man sparing
few fingers to keep grip on the girl