CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1903-08-27

l q
| formation
All day the '.brnve westeries."
which for the past week had followed
close at the heels OF the Dunlmrton.
slowly wuned Evening found her with
her fine weather kites spread to the
dying breeze. snuntering along with the
sluggish. flame lit waves and barely
making four kncts an hour. The wind
held at this throughout the first watch
Then from the ocean rim ahead the
great pale moon rose Ianguidly and
/ lighted a pathway Of shining steel TO
the east. The breeze fresbened at
once. and the sleepy mate. reused by
the change. shifted to windward and
whistled through his teeth for more
Of 1t
So bright and clear was the night
that the thrifty officer gave orders to
douse the sidelights The lookout man
relaxed his vigilance. and the watch OH
| deck sneaked into the forecastle and
stretched themselves upon their chests.
Mr. Calker was none too strict with his
men. and. like most OF their kind. they
took advantage of him.
II was getting on for four bells in
the middle watch when the drowsy
silence OF the ship was broken by n
sharp. alarming cry.
Vessel on the starboard bow! Hard
sstarboard"
lizard astarboardr' came in a half
shrek from the lookout.
With an oath the nate sprang to the
rail He began to give an order. but
the words died on his lips. for at that
| m ar,f a nv nf oh
blotted out the sky. red beam and a
green one danced before his eyes and
n hurtling mass OF black hung over
| him.
There was terrific crash The Dun
barton stopped and shvered Then
with many n crunch and rip and crack
amid the splinter!ng OF spnrs, the rend
ing of canvas and the shouts OF fright
ened men. the good ship shook on her
weighty adversary and again plunged
heavily on.
But Mt what a cost, Her mizzen top
gallant mast nAi yards were trailing
by the backstnys alongside. her star
board mizzen rigging. chain plates and
| rail- had been wrenched away. her
crossjack was snapped at the crotch
her spanker hung In tatters. and on
her quarter. cut clean to the water
line. was yawning v shaped hole
Her mate had been swept overheard
by the collidIpg vessels lib boom. and
her captain. though still In his bunk.
lay crushed and Insensible.
| insta ntiy the Dunbarton's deck was
!, . scene Of widest confusion. THE
boats. The boats- rolled In q hoarse
cborus from forward. and Q dozen
men backed madiy at the iashings.
while others knocked the chocks out,
ciearrd away the fails and dragged
their chests from the forecaHtle. Abaft
fhe terror stricken passengers. In scant
apparel. rushed heipiessiy from side to
side calling loudly for the captnin-
The wheel spun round deserted. and
the crippled vessel. having come up In
the wind and been caught aback. went
| wallowIng to ieeward. at every iurch
shipping quantities OF water through
her stoven side. The second mate. aft.
er discovering the cnptaIn's plight and
srsrchirx Intellectually for the chief
officer. awoke to q sense Of responsi-
biiIty and hurried to take charge on
deck 1Nstcs
In vain ne ordered. stormed and
yeiled. Futilely he cursed: impotently
be berought The men. frenxied BY
fear. waved him back with nerce looks
md aercer onths. Catching at the arm
u the boatswain. q big Liverpool man.
ne begRed him to desIst and help save
the ship The man nung him o6 sav.
i ageiy saying. 90 aft. you whelp. o.
IN dash your brains outi''
Seeing that his efforts 70 control the
crew were useless, the second mate
went aft to the passengers. He found
them gathered in little group before
| the mizzen mast. old SIR. Armstrong
standing erect in the center. with his
arm around his daughter.
The officer explained the situation
and advised that they should them
selves launch one OF the boats
-Come on. then." shouted Mr.. Angus.
"lf we've work to do. let us do It."
lust Mt that time however. n tnll ng-
u.e clambcred nimbiy over the vessels
side and stood among them. II was rs
though he had come from the sea. for
he was dripping wet. and the nerve
shocked passengers peered ut him ap
| prehensively. 10,
"Gcntlemen." spoke the newcomer In
q strong. calm tone. "the ship is In no
immediate danger. and by taking prop
er precautions she may yet be saved"
"Who is this? exclaimed the second
mate. stepping closer to the man. But
before his words were wholly finished
a ray OF moonlight slanting under the
foot of the main topsail 1T up his face
and several voices cried. ''The stow.
away
kins!' cried the officers angrily. '1f
you're not mad. lend hand to get this