, 1904-02-09
A LESSON FROM A STORM

Editor Deming, of the Cheyenne
Tribune, draws a beautifullesson from
a recent occurrence on the Atlantic.
as follows:
On Wednesday a New York dis
patch carried the news I o all the
world that the great North German
Lloyd steamer, Kaiser Wilhelm Der
Crosse" had not arrived, and was for
ty-eight hours past due.
other steamers arriving during the
week had brought report of terrible
weather and trying experiences with
wind and wave.
Thousands OF passengers had sail
ed on the Kaiser Wilhelm and ev-
cry friend and every relative who
read Of the overdue steamer and med
itated over the dangers at sea in mid
winter, we're anxious to the point OF
grief and tears.
The office of the German-Lloyd com
pany was flooded with personal inqui-
rie" and telegraph messages, and to
one and all went, in effect. the reply:
The Kaiser Wilhelm is a gallant
ship. She has battled with many a
storm and lever met defeat. She may
be delayed. but she will not be
long stayed in her arrival at this
port. Do not be alarmed. Whatever
the weather the chances are in favor
of the safety of the ship
But a few hours and the statements
of the company were verified.
"A wireless message from Nantuck-
ct lightship carried the glad news that
the great ocean greyhound, covered
with ice and much the worse for the
wear. had come rolling into that sta
ton without a permanent mishap and
everybody we'll
But all had not been smooth sail
ing.
The story told may be likened
unto the movements of two great ar
mics.
In the roar and crash of battle the
outcome seems almost a matter of
chance. There is attack and %repulse;
rest and retreat; renewal and resist
ance, but at last the gallant forces OF
one ploughs through the strong line
of the other.
For more than a week the Kaiser
| Wilhelm fought for her life and the
well being of thousands on board.
Almost Immediately after she left
Cherbourg she encountered a heavy
southeastern which, shifting to the
west, raised a head sea, through
which the great ship reared, plunged,
ducked and swayed, as if in some SUI
p%ernatural pain or frenzy.
All through the two following days
a strong gale swept her decks, only
relieved occasionally by a lombard
ment of hail.
When another morning dawned,
instead OF calm. a seventy mile gale
was shrieking overhead and lashing
the abode Of Neptune into fray and
fury.
But down in the boiler room the
Stokers shoveled coal, the brave en-
gineer watched his steam gauge, the
pilot kept his eye on h compass and
the staunch captain remained on the
bridge.
When the gale broke it left a gi-
gantic swell, which carried the big
ship mountain high as it were and as
suddenly dropping it down into the
trough of the sea.
The passengers kept their state
rooms and had faith in the captain.
The day following the calm anoth-
err storm broke forth and blew itself
which developed into "a cyclone at
sea-"
Imagine its terrible sweep. if you
can. Ventilators. smokestacks, life
boats, iron pipes and cylinders, were
torn loose. and were hurled with ter
rible force about the deck and into the
raging water.
AT this point came II of those
magnificent climaxes frequently met
in mid-ocean.
THE storm had done its worst and
the ship had done its best, yet Meth
er was defeated.
The ship could not advance and the
could not recede.
Man and his skill were engaged in
a titanic struggle with nature as man
in an ocean storm.
The p%onderous engines were pound
ing in the hold and the big screws
we're spinning out of water.
at was then the captain swung the
,ow of his boat straight into the wind
his engines. and there she