The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-07
CHAPTER XIV.

shrouded Pacific. In less than ten min
utes from the moment of the crash the
Idaho's stern was lifted high, then down
she diyed for her hnal berth, untold
fathoms underneath. her steadfast cap
tain standing to his post tiil the last soul
left the doomed and deserted wreck
II was Gods mercy that limited the
passenger list to a mere dozen in the first
cabin and less than 20 In the second. The
boat. with all the women, was pushed OH
from the side the first officer taking
Charge. Through the fog they could DIM
~ see the others lowered. then manned
and laden. Discipline had been restored.
Water and bread and blankets had been
hastily passed to the longboat The pur
ser had found time TO dive into his safe
and load up with some at least OF the
valuable contents. There was even
faint cheer when the steamer TOOK the
1naI plunge.
Huddled together. many OF the wom-
en- were weeping. all were pale with
dread, but Loring and the ships omceI
bade them be OF good cheer Even ii
they were not found by the Santiago
~ were but a few miles from shore
20 sea. though rolling heavily, was not
dangerous They were sure OF making
land by morning But there were women
who could not be comforted. Their hus-
hands or brothers were In the TWO
smaller boats. perhaps. paddiing ABOUT
IN the darkness In vain seach for the
steamer that cut them down. For WINE
there were answering shouts across tne
.heavinQ waters. Then for half an hour
the boat with the second offcer. crammeo
with male passengers and members OF the
crew. kept close alongside-too close. Tor
some of the former scrambled into the
bigger craft and others tried to FOLLOW.
20 close that its young commander couid
mutter to his mate:
..The captains boat Is even fuller than
mime Cant you take of half a dozenE
But the first officer shook his head.
.If the worst comes. they've got life
preseryers and can swim, said nc
.These women would be helpless. ex-
cept for what we can do for EN-.
For a time they shouted In hopes OF
being heard aboard the Santiago, but
only those who have tried IL know that
a Is a matter of merest luck when a
steamer rounding to In fog succeeds In
finding or even coming anywhere near
the spot where she was In collision not
ten minutes before.
The Santiagos captain swore stoutly
that. though badly damaged and com
peIled 10 put back to San Francisco, Tor
three mortal hours they crused about the
scene setting of rockets. firing guns,
sounding the whistle. listening intently
with lowered boat but never heard a
sound from the wreck. never until two
day after knew the fate OF the vessel
they had cut down.
At last the first officer. fearful for his
precious freight bade his four oarsmen
To pull for shore, his little pocket com
macs pointing the way. At dawn they
hear, the signals OF n steamer through
the dripping mist and raised their voices
in prolonged shout An hour or more
and they were lifted, numb and wea'
ried. but oh so thankful to the deck o.
a coaster creeping up from Wilmington
aud Santa Barbara and were comtorte'
with chocolate and coffee. while for long
Iore hours the steamer cruised up an
down. 10 and fro seeking for their com
panions and never desisting until agail
the pail of night spread over the leader
sea.
Late the following morning the fol
rolled back before the waking breeze
and the Broderick steamed hopefully o.
for the Golden Gate. and by nightfaii wa
moored at her accustomed dock, ther
10 be met by the tidings that while IN
second officer managed to beach his boa
in safety, the captains overloaded Graz
was swamped In the breakers OF FOR
Pinos. and that brave old Turnhuli ma
lost his life. dragged under by drownin
the lorgboat too. must have overturne'
and that all the women had perished. III
Santiago. nearly sinking. had only Ju
reached port The beach above foil
Pinos was thronged with people searchir
in the surf for the bodies of the victim
and the captain OF the Idaho was brok'
hearted n not well nigh crazed
The news OF the safety OF the wom'
few from street to street, fast as q
papers could speed their extras. Lovii
friends came pouring down TO meet al
caro- for the survivors on the Broderic
The owners of the Idaho nastened to co
graduate and commend their first ofhc
and praise his seamanship and wisdo
The women were conveyed In carriages
the homes OF friends or cared for by I
company. and after a brief hand ella
and parting word with Pancha, who
nathetic eyes haunted him for days. n
Ixprfna took a cab and drove alone
headquarters. Evidently the story OF
panic and Its prompt suppression had T
yet been told
And then for at least nve days the 7
pers teemcd with details OF that mari
disaster. and public-spirited citise
started a subscription for prcsentat'
TO the first officer, through whose herot
and determination was checked WI
promised 10 be a mad scene OF disort
and dismay, such as ensued when
ArCtlc went uoNu anu Sttihs We
mate. Gouriay, whom the sailors w
won't 10 obey" was not there 10 che
the undisciplined rush 20 the boats.
For 4s hours and thereafter the n
officer modestiy declared he had mer
done his duty. SIR. and no good sean
would have done less. The public d
ner 20 be given In his honor. howe'
languished as a project on the later
rival OF survivors from Monterey,
= then inquiries began 10 be made
Lieutenant Loring and new stories
appear In payers that had not alrel
committeed themselves 20 other verei
OF the affair. and then IL transpired
something had gone arniss at departm
headquarters
Lieutenant Loring after an intsrv
= with the commanding general had
tened 20 Monterey IN search Of the cap
and purseY. The former he found a
prostrafe and actually fighty. so m
20 that ne could give no coherent ans
20 questions propounded 10 him. In
maripe hospital. suffering from a guns
wound. was the huge sailor who
f~l,ed the commander TO the deck In
rush for the remaining boats. a rusl
which he was rfngseadsr. anc a pit