River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-06

er leaped forward again. There was the
sharp clang of a door, and stoker
pushed his sweaty face above the graf
ing with a cry. But the old engineer
threw the steam into the cylinders again.
and the engines throbbed in response.
"The propellor's still there he cried,
shutting off steam once more.
The third assistant was gazing at the
telegraph dial The indicator had not
moved. With an oath he snatched a
pair of nippers from the rack and thrust
the claws up into the wires behind the
face. Then he turned in blazing trl-
umph to his superior. He shan't put
her over at half speed now,' he shouted,
land then tell the inspectors that it war
us that kept her driving.
Before the words were well out OF his
mouth, jolt threw them to the plates,
and as they scrambled up again the
Amphion seem to crumple up under
them. Then with the screening of
riven plates and drawing rivets, the
steamer settled on the reef. A breaker
flung itself in thunder against the side,
and the spray fell like rain through the
skylight The sharp clang of the gong
filled the engine-room. THAT was the
half-speed BELL" said the chief, DULY
in the lull that followed the rafting
boom. His assistant, while the awak-
ened engineers of the other watches
peered curiously through the darkness
with eyes still heavy from sleep, caught
up a lantern that was still burning, and
threw its beam on the dial OF the tele-
graph. It still pointed to full speed
ahead 81 knew he'd try it, and fooled
him!" he cried.
In the turmoil that followed. while
stoker and oiler and engineer fed from
the water bubbling waist high, the chief
gathered up his own log-book, and care
fully tore it up. The fragments he cast
On the foamy brine that rose about his
engines. 81 amt going to fight unfair,
he muttered.
On the bridge of the wrecked Amphion
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.
II had the engine-room telegrapha at hals
speed" said the captain, whitefaced
land I've got it down in the log that We
slowed down as soon as we got into the
fog. l guess that'll satisfy the inspectors
that I've done all right, and we'd not ha
run out of our course unless the engine
room had disobeyed orders and kept her
full speed"
The third assistant pushed forward
and stared at the captain with open
mouth. Then he shook his fist, wildly
THAT amt so," he bawled. II knew yer
tricks! | got witness down below! We
don't lose me ray papers that way! Any
body with two grains of sense 'ull know
this old hooker couldn't 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 enginee-room. What
does the telegraph down there read?'
he yelled.
The old engineer, rubbing between his
palms the omnipresent badge of his au-
thority, a bit of cotton waste, gaZed at
the pallid master of the wreck, and
shared his shame. With a gesture, he
silenced his shrieking men, and bullied
the third mate with his eyes. Il was on
watch tonight with my assistant" he
commenced, harshly. Il am responsible
for this I've lost my engine-room log,
but it was my orders that kept her driv-
ing. 1t was all my doings, and l guess
I'm old enough to stand by it. To hell
with the rules of the road! Let's play
this fair.
But began the third assistant with
a cry.
Shut up!" beloved his chief.
The yellow lanters on the tilted bridge
f1ickered in the wind, but their unsteady
flames were not more wavering than
the eyes of the captain. II put her over
to half speed" he said, shriIly, laying
his wet hand on the brass "but 1t
mightn't have registered in the engine
room You see"
We must play fair" interrupted the
chief engineer, loudly. The men crowded
closer about him, their oilskins rustline
in the darkness. eve must play fair, -
said the old man, glibly. "The Amphion' s
piled up here, and some ones got to lose
his papers amt been friendly with the
skipper, and l just naturally kept her
driving, boys. It's my fault, my fault,
boys, and 1 guess I'm up against it. That
telegraph says half speed, and / kept
her full speed, contrary to orders"
The young skipper turned away his
face and picked up lantern that swung
steaming from the rail. Raising it up he
scanned the faces that surrounded him.
Slowly the lantern fell with his arm. He
threw out his hand and caught the lever
of the telegraph. With jerk he threw
it back and then forward to full speed
ahead. The clang of the bell came up
from the half-drowned engine-room and
tinkled, fading echo, in the fog.-San
Francisco Argonant