Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-22
l, ...s .tlsll chaos. The typhoon

uf1ttel hi ,--t su.l cHdOS, Iue lypuOOl had broken the lance
 But brave men, skillfully directed wrought hard to avert further disas- ter. After the first moment of StupOr gallant British sailors risked life and limb to bring the vessel under control
 By their calm courage they shamed the paralyzed Lascars into activity. A sail was ri9ged on the foremast and sea anchor hastily constructed as soon as it was discovered that the helm was useless. Rockets fared up into the sky at regular intervals in the faint hope that should they attract the at tention Of another vessel she would fol- low the disabled Sirdar and render help when tine weather moderated.
 When the captain ascertained that no water was being shipped, the dam- age being wholly external, the collision doors were opened and the passengers admitted to the saloon, brilliant pal ace, superbly indifferent to the wreck and ruin without.
 Captain Ross himself came down and Sl the quiet men and pallid women gath cred there. He told them exactly what had happened.
 The hours passed in tedious misery after Captain Ross visit. Every one was eager to get glimpse of the un- known terrors without from the deck This was out of the question, so peo- pie sat around the tables to listen eagerly to Experience and his wise saws on drifting ships and their pros poets.
 Some cautious persons visited their cabins to secure valuables in case of further disaster. A few hardy spirits returned to bed
 Meanwhile in the chart house the cap tain and chief officer were gravely pondering over an open chart and dis cussing fresh risk that loomed ominously before them The ship was long way out of her usual course when the accident happened. She was drifting now, they estimated, eleven knots an hour. with wind, sea and cur rent all forcing her in the same direc- tion, drifting into one of the most dan gerous places in the known world, the south China sea. with it's numberless reefs, shoals and isolated rocks and the great island of Borneo stretching right across the path of the cyclone.
 Still there was nothing to be done save to make a few unobtrusive prepa- rations and trust to idle chance. To attempt to anchor and ride out the gale in their present position was out of the question.
 Two. g. o'clock came and went Another half hour would witness the dawn and further clearing of the weather. The barometer was rapidly rising. The center of the cyclone had swept far ahead. There was only left the aftermath of heavy seas and furi- ous but steadier wind.
 Captain Ross entered the chart house for the twentieth time.
 He had aged many years in appear ance. The smiling. confident. debonair officer was changed into a stricken, mournfu man. He had altered with his ship. The Sirdar and her master could hardly be recognized, so cruel were the blows they had received. Tt is impossible to see yard ahead" he confded to his second in command. "I have never been so anx- ious before in my life. Thank God. the night is drawing to a close. Perhaps when day breaks
 His last words contained a prayer and hope. Even as he spoke the ship seemed to lift herself bodily with an unusual effort fora vessel moving be- fore the wind.
 The next instant there was horrible grinding crash forward Each person who did not chance to be holding fast to an upright was thrown violently down. The deck was tilted to a dan gerous angle and remained there. while the heavy buGeting of the sea. now raging afresh at this unlocked for re- sistance. drowned the despairing yells raised by the Lascars on duty.
 The Sirdar had completed her last voyage. She was now a battered wreck on barrier reef. She hung thus for one heartbreaking second. Then an- other wave. riding triumphantly through its fellows. caught the great steamer in its tremendous grasp, car ried her onward for half her length and smashed her down on the rocks. Her back was broken. She parted in two halves. Both sections turned com pletely over in the utter wantonness of destruction, and everything-masts. tunnels. boats. hull. with every living soul on board-was at once engulfed in a maelstrom of rushing water and far flung spray.
 (To be contiDaedJ
 ILLS OF