Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-13

AhS'SSo Whdil, cdu L iuhSASSo,
swinging with the ebb and
flow of the tide, but the chains groan
wearily in the hawser holes, the orders
of the mates are for once low toned,
and the men move about the decks
with softer tread, for in his cabin is
the cold form of Captain Laurie, the
weighty responsibility Of the master
mariner lifted from his shoulders by
the hand of death.
1t had been rather uneventful pas
. sage from Iquique, whence the vessel
cleared with 600 tons of nitrates, eigh-
ty-nine days ago. Honolulu was NEIL
toned In the charter as port Of call,
=. and it was sixteen days ago that de-
parture was taken from Koko Head,
the paradise of the Pacific dipped be-
low the horizon and the course of the
sturdy British ship was laid for the
Golden Gate.
For once the captains eye failed to
brighten as the spread of canvas
swelled with the wind which drove his
craft on toward its destination. He
was Indifferent to the record of the
log, and often when working out his
reckoning he would drop his pencil
and clutch his breast in a spasm of
pain. Stubbornly he fought against
the physical weakness, but at length
it conquered him, and long before the
Farallones were sighted he lay groan-
ing on his bunk. The simple remedies
carried in the medicine chest of sail
ing vessel he knew would be of no SER
vice to him, and the only hope for re-
lief lay in reaching port and medical
aid
The ship was in sympathy with her
master, factor in speed which the
first mate. on whom the responsibility
lof command fell, had not realized; she
had cheated the log, and when the fog
rolled thick yesterday afternoon the
mate felt sure that he was safely off
: soundings. for sixteen days was a short
passage from port to port.
The wind was stiff, but shifty, and
its very uncertainty seemed to commu-
nicate itself to the mate and urge him
to caution. He had just given the or
der to stand by to heave the lead, that
eye of the seaman which tells him Of
the approach of lee shore, when
sailor lounging idly on the forecastle
head sent thrill of horror through
his shipmates by calling out as he
strained his eyes through the thickness
Breakers aheadr' 1t was the shore
seven miles south of Cliff House.
There We're hurried orders, as hur
riedly obeyed, but the wind did not
serve. and to bring the craft about
seemed an impossibility. The dying
xeaptain was consulted, and his orders
+ 1lSbeyed. Signals for assistance were
hoisted, and the tug Relief, which was
returning to port, headed to the rescue.
Just then the manoeuvre which the
mate had been attempting was fav
ored by shift of the breeze, and the
Gantock Rock turned ON her heel and
surged away from the threatening
coast and into deep water.
After hurried consultation with the
captain, who had been aroused by the
hustle on deck, the mate negotiated
with the Relief's captain for tow into
port. and the quarantine ground was
reached Just before s o'clock.
Here DR.. Whiteman, of the Marine
Hospital service, boarded the ship, and
found that the cabin contained all that
demanded his attention. But even here
his services were useless, the sturdy
Glasgow captain was past human aid.
He was dying with heart disease, and
as the anchors sank to their holding
!. ground he, too, ended his voyage.