The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-24


bridge, and 1 made my way to the
PROV OF the boat. Peering through the
fog in the failing light. I deserted low.
white line that looked like Ice, behind
which a great dark mass rose high IN
the air. We had not begun to slow
down yet. and almost instantly we
struck with terrific force, which threw
me to my knees. 1 scrambled to my
feet and peered over the rail. / saw
that the white line was not Ice, but
suef. and the dark object behind 1t was
a cliff which lowered hundreds of feet
in the air.
The utmost confusion prevailed
among the Chinese crew and the Ko-
rean steVedores. 1t looked as il there
would be serious trouble. / made my
way as rapidly as possible to my state
room and buckled on my reVolYers, tore
my valise open and stuffed a package
Of money into my pocket, and hurried
on deck to help put down any rush
that the Asiatics might make for the
boats The first officer was sounding
the forward we'll, and water was al
ready coming into the engine room.
The steamer, evidently was making wa
ter very fast. AS there We're so few
foreign officers, and as the Russians
were of no use, the captain ordered me
to get out the boats. Amid such con-
fusion this was no easy task but by
means Of the most sanguinary threats
and the show of my revolver, | got
enough men together to swing a boat
over the side.
Fortunately there was no sea run
ming at the time, and affairs began to
assume q more hopeful aspect when it
was found that we lay on shelving
beach and could not sink. We hurried
ly supplied the boats with casks of
water and bags of biscuits; but as
-
sinking the captain asked me to take
one of the boats and explore the shore
for a suitable landing place. With a
strong headlight in the PROV, We push
ed off in the fog, and within an hour
we were back with the news that half
a mile up the shore there was a good
landing place. The governor general
and his wife and staff We're, of course,
the first to be sent ashore. The lady
seemed to take 1t very coolly, even
more so than some of the staff. The
latter, as soon as the alarm sounded,
/ had fastened to their staterooms and
| put on their SWEETEST regimentals. Their
| gold lace, glittering swords and patent
leather boots seemed curiously out of
! place on board the wreck 1t reminded
| me OF the ancient Persian custom Of
! going into battle in full regalia. These
| Russians left everything but their fine
| clothes.
In due time they were landed. and
! then we came back and took off the
| crew. 1t was growing light and the sea
| was rising. The steamer began to
pound on the reef. and it was evident
! that she would not hold together long.
| The captain said he was going to stay
on her till she broke UP. AS was an
enthusiastic knight Of the camera, ]
| thought this would be a good opportu-
nifty to secure a picture of ship going
| to pieces, so / determined to stay with
| the captain as long as possible. We re-
manned on board all that day and the
next two, taking watch by turns, six
hours at a time. We determined to
rig a block and tackle over the after
hatch, and although this was under
water we managed to get hold of the
big Russian mall bags and haul them
| out. Among other things, they held
$4,000 roubles in notes.
During the second day Of our deten-
ton we sighted the British gunboat
Archer passing us to the southeast on
| her way to Kamchatka. We tried des-
| perately to attract her attention with
| bombs, but did not succeed. Mean
| while, the chief officer had taken the
long boat and part of the crew and
sailed back to Korsalkovsk with a fair
wind, to secure help. Three days later
! he returned with the steam launch and
two lighters, one of which was filled
with convicts who had been brought
to help in getting the steamer off the
rocks, if possible. If not, they were
to save what cargo they could. They
were put into the forward hold and a
! few cases We're gotten out, but all my
| provisions and outfit were lost except
| my tent, which had been sent ashore
| for the governor generals wife. This
| together with my Valise, camera, guns
and ammunition, was all that I had to