Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10

was fight for life, In which even the cap
tain's daughter was obliged to take part.
On the third day the storm abated, and
the crew gained on the rising water In the
hold. Then they reSted-rested one whole
day, lying almost senseless about the decks,
while the old ship rolled aim1essly in the
Subsfding seas.
Finally the men were able to resume their
labors the pumps were put in order, wreck
age cleared away, the furnaces rekindled
and the engines again started going. The
Balkan resumed her course.
Seven days later crowd of citizens OF
Ragusa stood watching the sea from the
walls of the town. News had reached them
by telegraph that their argosy would come
that morning. When the sun rose. the tur-
baned and gaily robed throngs on the stone
quays. the roofs of the citadel and the ad-
jacent cliffs made out the incoming
steamer. She limped into the harbor, the
first steamship to put in there in many a
year. -Intermingling with the enthusiastic
cheers of the multitudes ashore the new
argosy's anchor cable ratified through her
hawse pipes. The little harbor which in
early days had sheltered fleets, was scarce
ly large enough for the big steamer to
swing in.
An Old-Time Welcome.
The crew aboard caught the enthusiasm
of the masses ashore, who had planned
such a welcome as was given to the ar
gosies of old. Flags and banners flew to
all the masts, cannons were fired, and the
harbor echoed the cheers of sailors and
populace in turn. The bells of the ancient
monastery on the rocky ledge jutting out
into the sea changed a wild chorus of metal
lie peals and the old abbot. in white cos
sack. blessed them all from the walls of the
monastery.
Soon the harbor was dotted with small
boats covered with colored awnings and
loaded with stalwart men and exception
ally beautiful women of the Spanish blonde
type. with golden hair, blue eyes and
creamy brown skins. all going out to OBJ
tain closer view of the big steamer, the
first many had seen. The foreign sailors,
few of whom had ever heard of Ragusa be-
fore shipping, answered every cheer from
the rails
That day great celebrati ton was held
aboard the old Balkan Wine fruits, music
and flowers were brought aboard by the
prettiest girls of the town, who afterward
danced on the decks with the sailors The
men who had safely navigated the ship
home were as highly honored and as much
feted as were the ancient mariners of the
middle ages
An Historical Ball.
In the evening a ball was given to which
came all the city officials sons Of the old
ar1stocracy that governed a hundred years
ago. The granddaughter of the last rector,
who was elected monthly to govern the
town when Ragusa was a republic, and
whose power Napoleon crushed, danced
with a common sailor. Each member of
the crew. confirmed vagabonds most Of
them. will ever remember when he came to
Ragusa on the first Of her new argosies
Since then the same firm that bought the
Balkan has added several more steamers to
its fleet. The old Balkan still sails the
Mediterranean, nosing into all sorts of out
of-the-way ports with odd cargoes Her
official flag is the Austrian, but her house
nag is the little old banner of ancient
Ragusa: She has been much repaired and
tinkered with, but it is only a question of a
few more years before she, too, will join
that old fleet Of the past, the ancient ar
gosies.
But at present the Ragusans are ex-
tremeiy proud or her-almost proud as
they are In their knowledge that in all that
region which the Turk once overran they
are his one unconquered foe
ALBERT SONNICHSEN