Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

moment Of tense straining in the stun
ed machinery, and then. as if freed
from some elastic bond, the steamer
leaped forward again. There was tht
sharp clang of a door, and stokel
pushed his sweaty face above the graf
ing with cry. But the old engineer
threw the steam into the cylinders
again, and the engines throbbed in re-
Spouse. THE propeller's still there,
he cried, shutting off steam once
more
The third assistant was gazing a,
the telegraph dial. The indicator had
not moved. With an oath ne snatched
a pair of nippers from the rack and
thrust the claws up into the wires
behind the face. Then he turned In
blazing triumph to his superior. "He
shan't put her over at half speed
now" he shouted. "and then tell the
inspectors that it was us that kept
ner driving"
Before the words were we'll out of
his mouth, a jolt threw them to the
plates. and as they scrambled UP
again the Amphion seemed to crumple
up under them. Then with the screech-
| ing of riven plates and drawing rivets,
the steamer settled on the reef. A
breaker flung itself in thunder against
the side. and the sprayfell like rain
through the skylight. The sharp clang
of the gong filed the engine room.
THAT was the half speed BELL" said
the chief, DULY, in the lull that fol-
lowed the rafting boom. His assist.
ant, while the awakened engineers of
the other watches peered curiously
through the darkness with eyes still
heavy from sleep, caught up lantern
that was still burning, and threw its
beam on the dial of the telegraph. 1t
still pointed to full speed ahead. II
knew he'd try it, and I fooled him!"
he cried.
In the turmoil that followed, while
stoker and oiler and engineer fled
from the water babbling waist high,
the chief gathered up his own log
book, and carefully tore it up The
fragments he cast on the foamy brine
that rose about his engines. 81 amt
going to fight unfair" ne muttered.
On the bridge of the wrecked Am.
phion the crew huddled cheerlessly.
The slow streaming seas that emerged
from the fog and night to windward
broke heavily on the submerged hull,
and the spume ran in rivers from
mast and stanchion. ~ had the en-.
CINE room telegraph at half speed"
said the captain, white faced, "and
I've got 1t down in the log that we
slowed down as soon as we got into
the fog. l guess thatll satisfy the
inspectors that I've done all right, and
i we'd not ha' run out Of our course un
less the engine room had disobeyed
orders and kept her full speed"
4 the third assistant pushed forward
and stared at the captain with oper
mouth. Then he shook his fist wildly
THAI amt So" he bawled. 81 knew
yer tricks! got witness down be
low! Ye don't lose me my papers thai
way! Anybody with two grains Of
sense'ull know this old hooker could
not pile up this high on any half speed
| tell We, We don't lose me my papers!'
He turned round to his fellows of the
engine room. What does the tele.
graph down there read?" he yelled.
The old engineer, rubbing between
his palms the omnipresent badge OF
his authority, bit of cotton waste
gazed at the pallid master of the
wreck, and shared his shame. With
a gesture, he silenced mis- shriekine
men, and bullied the third mate with
his eyes. II was on watch tonight
witA my assistan;>, he commenced.
\ harshly. Il anu Responsible for this,
I've lost my engine room log, but it
was my orders that kept her driving.
1t was all my doings, and 1 guess I'm
old enough to stand by it. To thunder
with the rules of the read! Let's play
this fair"
"But-" began the third assistant
with cry.
Shut up!" beloved his chief.
The yellsw lanterns on the tilted
bridge fiickered in the wind, but their
unsteady flames were not more wayer.
ing than the eyes of the captain. 81
put her over to half speed" he said,
shrilly. laying his wet hand on the
brass, but it mightn't have registered
In the engine room. You see"
I'VE must play fair" INTERRUPTED
the chief engineer, loudly The men
crowded closer about him, their oil.
skins rustling in the darkness. 1--WE
must play fair" said the old man, glib.
ly. The Amphion's piled up here
and some ones got to lose his papers
amt been friendly with the skipper
and Just naturally kept her driving.
boys. It's my fault, my fault, bows.
and | guess I'm up against it. That
telegraph says half speed, and kent
her full speed, contrary to orders"
The young skipper turned away his
face and picked up lantern that
swung steaming from the rail. Rails.
ing 1t up ne scanned the faces that
surrounded him. Slowly the lantern
fell with his arm. He threw ont b;s
hand and caught the lever of the tel.
esraph With a jerk he threw it back
ana then forward to full speed ahead
me clang of the bell came up from
the half drowned engine room and
tinkled, fading echo, in the fog =
San Francisco Argonaut.