Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-11-17

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ough had made no progress in his love
affairs. He had too much tact and del
icacy to press his suit under the pres
ent untoward circumstances and in
deed had been too necessarily occupied
with the pressing exigencies Of the
shattered ship and the duties Of his
responsible position thereon TO have
any time to spare for more than the
common courtesies.
The awful storm was at last upon
them. A sudden change in its direc-
ton caused the first fierce blow to fall
fairly upon the starboard side of the
ship. 1t pressed her down On her
beam ends. over and over she went,
down, down. Would she ever right
again? All, the spliced shrouds and
stays on the weather side, which had
been that attacked by the Randolph.
finally gave way, the mainmast went
by the board about half way below the
top, the foremost at the cap and the
mizzen topmast too. Relieved OF this
mass of heavy top hamper.
the ship slowly righted herself. The
immense mass of wreckage beat and
Numbered against the port side. 1t
was a fearful situation. but all was
not yet lost.
Calamity led by Desborough himself,
who saw In one sweeping glance that
Katharine was still safe, the g
with axes and knives, hacked through
the rigging which held the wreck of
the giant spars to the ship, and after a
few moments of sickening suspense
she drifted clear. A bit Of storm can
vas was spread forward on the wreck
Of the foremost, and the ship got be-
fore the wind and drove IN, laboring
and pitching In the heavy sea
The decks were cleared, and indeed
there was little left to clear. the waves
having broken over her several times
when she lay In the trough Of the sea.
sweeping everything out with them,
and the vessel was a total wreck. the
spars gone, rails and bulwarks batter
ed In and smashed, boats lost, the bat
tie having destroyed those on the star
board side and the wreck and the sea
the others. Stop! There was one boat
left amidships, a launch capable Of
holding about forty persons in a pinch.
and still seaworthy. 1t was, by the
captains order, promptly made as serv-
iceable as possible In view Of the prob
able emergency.
About 4 o'clock In the afternoon the
carpenter came aft with the sounding
rod Of the well I'm his hand. The strain
had been too much for her; some of
the weakened timbers had given away.
or some Of the seams had opened, or
perhaps a butt had started, for the ship
was leaking badly. Still those daunt-
less men did no despair. The crew
were told off in gangs to work, and all
night the clank, clank Of the pumps
was heard. Katharine dutifully laid
down as she was hidden. But there
was no sleep for her nor any one else
or the ship that long night. The day
broke again finally, but brought them
no cheer. Their labor had been I'M
availing; the leak had gained on them
SO rapidly that the ship lay low In the
water, listless and inert, rolling In a
sick, sluggish, helpless way in the
trough Of the sea. The wind had abat-
ed somewhat, and a boat well handled
might live In the water now.
BY Captain Vincent's direction the
men were sent to their stations on the
spar, OF upper, deck. The boats crew
was chosen by selecting every fifteenth
man In the long lines, the division of
icers doing the counting. The boat
was launched without tackles, by main
strength, sliding on rollers over the
side through the broken bulwarks.
Katharine, listless and Indifferent, still
attended by Chloe, was put aboard.
Captain Vincent looked about among
his officers. Whom should he put in
charge? They all looked deprecatingly
and entreatingly at him. None desired
to go; no IN wished to be singled out
to abandon the ship and his brother Of
ficers. His glance fell on Desborough.
1.-THE duty Is yours. You are the first
officer Of the ship"
"oh, Captain Vincent, do not send
me, / beg you. My place surely is on
the ship with you. Cannot some one
else
mo, you must go. My last command
to you. my lord" he said, smiling faint
ly and extending his hand. Desbor-
ough, seeing the futility Of further ap-
peal. grasped It warmly in both his
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