Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
THE SMOKE-EATERS
BY HARVEY J. OFHGGINS.
A CHARGE OF COWARDICE.
Copyright. 1904, 1905, by the Century Coz

orders but the shame of Il all persisted the
light of the lantern was eye of flaming
contempt on him, and Meaghans great voice
rang out his infamy with Coward. Cow
ard. that was a bell booming in his ears.
he struggled with the cases of cartridges,
muttering to himself. sick and dizzy.
And every minute that he worked was a
minute wasted That was apparent now to
battalion Chief Tighe, who had come back
To the boat. with his head bandaged, and
who was Storming about on the deck above
ordering squad after squad down the ladder
TO a1d and relieve those below. 1t was i'm
possible to turn a full stream into the burn
ing vessel while the men were in the hold.
1t was equally impossible to recall them and
attempt a redistribution for a new attack;
Tor the fire had gained such Roadway that
Ii could not be drowned out, now, before IT
would reach the explosives. 1t was plain,
from the lightness of the smoke, that the
merchandise was afire, and not the oil; and
Tighe, chatting at the situation censured
Meaghan for his misjudgment in volley of
oaths that drove the 'old captain, smarting
and Inundated into the file with his men.
TO work there like a private, passing car
tridgeS across the deck.
The crew of hook and ladder truck were
opening the forward hatch second crew
had been ordered into the captains saloon
to open the hold from the stern. Line after
line of hose had been laid along the pier.
The New Yorker had come up whistling
through the fog and was fighting with a
wrecking tug TO get alongside the Phoebe.
Everything was ready-everything seemed
to pause and take breath-for the attack
that should drown the fire in deluge from
a score of pipes.
And then, suddenly from the bow of the
boat, came cry of alarm. A squirt of fame
shot up a rudy reflection on burst of
smoke. The thud of small explosion shook
the decks. There was a ringing shout of
oils afre! Oirs afire!' and a second can
burst like bomb. Tighe roared: Get the
men out! All ashore!' And the fremen
who had swarmed like pirates from peak to
poop went over the sides to the wharf as If
from sinking ship.
At the first word of danger Capt. Meaghan
had dropped into the after hatch and called
to the men there to save themselves. Four
dashed up the ladder from the smoke; but
the smothered voice of Gallagher cried back
tn him: There's only three cases" and
Meaghan CROPPED his way forward to see
Sergt. PIN and the lieutenant getting out
the last package by the light of a dim Ian
tern.
The captain shouted "Oil's loose!' PIN
took case of cartridges and ran to the lad
der with it. Before he could get back the
flames burst In on Gallagher in a gush of
burning kerosene that lit up the hold like a
bonfire in a cave Meaghan sprang to his
leutenant's aid. Gallagher passed him d
box. He hurried back with it to PIN. The
sergeant caught it from him and started up
the ladder. And Meaghan turned to see
Gallagher staggering from the flames, with
the last package of explosives in his hands
and the burning oil blazing around his feet.
A report behind the lieutenant filed the
air with fire and threw him forward Mea-
CHAN caught him as he fell and dragged
him to the ladder There, having passed the
case of cartridges to PIN, he raised the I'M
conscious Gallagher to his shoulders and
climbed heavily to the deck.
But quick as they had been the fire had
been quicker. From the forward hatch the
flames had leaped into the shrouds and the
rigging. and from there had reached the
ten-gallon tins of oil, lying. ready for load
ing on the pier The heat of midsummer
had dried the planks of the wharf, and they
f1ared up with the oil like a laid fire. On
the other side of the pier, and nearer the
street, tramp freighter from the southern
coast had been discharging cargo of cot
ton; and when Meaghan reached the deck a
pile of these cotton bales was blazing and
the pier between him and the shore seemed
to be flaming in smother of smoke.
He could see the men running and shout
ing hither and thither In the road. The
fireboat had backed away from the Phoebe
and had trained its big monitor on the
bales and oil cans; and the powerful stream
scattered and swept them across the pier
in torrent. 1t was impossible to run that
gantlet of smoke. fire and water. and
Meaghan knew Ii.
He laid Gallagher on the deck, stripped
the smoking outer clothing off him. tore the
handkerchief from his mouth. and began to
fan air into his lungs with his helmet 1t
was air as hot as the stifle of an oven.
I'VE can't spend the night here, 1 guess"
PIN said, as he tossed the last box of pow
der overheard.
Take him to the poop deck" Meaghan
replied.
A choking cloud blew over them from the
glow in the after hatch. They carried Gal
legher up the companion ladder to stretch
him out beside the skylight of the saloon;
and they were met there by three fremen
who had been cut off at their work in the
stern, and who came cropping up the stairs
from the saloon to the poop deck. to ask,
What's up? Eth? What's up?''
"All his up" PIN said. We'll have
to swim out l guess
Meaghan looked around him. Where's
that wrecking tug?"
They We're shut off from the sight of
shore now, by the thick oil smoke that
rolled up like the belch of a liners stack.
shot with flame at its base-a running cur
tain of smoke from which a furnace heat
was blown in scorching puffs into their
faces. They could hear ony that pulse of
lndistinguishable noises - the roar and
crackle of fire, the hiss of water and the
throbing of steam pumps-which shakes
the air in a dull tremble that deafens the
ear too great glare of light blinds the
eye. Behind them a glowing haze of smoke
and fog hung down to the water.
THE N Yorker ought to be over there"
one of the firemen said.
They planned to swim to her
Meaghan said, Get me some water
Pim," and began to work over the limp
body of his lieutenant.
The glass in the saloon skylight cracked
and fell tinkling. Smoke began to curl up
through the vents.
Getting too hot fer me-" a fireman said
kicking off his rubber boots
Me. too" another agreed following his
example.
The third stripped to his Undertaking
and walked aft
And then PIN, at the rail- yelled hoarsely
"Oils afoati We're cut off from the fire.
boat!' And the three men-knowng that
IL they delayed until the burning OIL sur
rounded them. they would be beyond hope
ran to the stern and dived overheard.
PIN threw of his coat He and Capt
Meaghan dragged Gallagher TO the taffrail
They tore loose life buoy that hung there.
They leaped with the unconscious man into
the water.
The shock and GOODNESS brought the lieu
tenant to his senses. He came up, choking
and splitting, with Meaghans fingers twist
ed in his collar: and he splashed and beat
the water wildly with his hands. PIN
thrust the buoy at him.
Get hold of that he shouted, and Gal
legher chung to 1t.
The captain had been compelled to Jump
overheard with his boots on, and for q time
he was busy trying to get free OF Them
while PIN kept him afioat.
Where am I?' Gallagher gasped
''Yuh're In the bay PIN answered. Can
yuh SWIM
Yes" Gallagher said.
We'll, kick out then" PIN advised him