Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-29

BY their calm courage they shamed
the paralyzed Lascars into activity. A
sail was rugged on the foremost and a
sea anchor hastily constructed as soon
as IL was discovered that the helm was
useless. Rockets Jared up into the
sky ar regular intervals I'm the faint
hope that should they attract the at
tentioD of another vessel she would fol-
low the disabled Sirdar and render
help when the weather moderated.
When the captain ascertained that
no water was being shipped the dam
age being wholly external. the collision
doors We're opened and the passengers
admitted TO the saloon, a brilliant pal
ace. superbly Indifferent to the wreck
and ruin without
Captain Ross himself came down and
addressed a few comforting words to
the quiet men aud 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 a glimpse OF the I'M
known terrors without from the deck.
/ This was out OF the question. 50 PEG
/ 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 10 bed.
Meanwhile IN the chart house the cap
! tain and chief officer were gravely
/ bordering over an open chart and dis
4 cussing a fresh risk that doomed
/ 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-
ton, drifting into one Of the most dan
gerous places in the known world. the
south China sea. with its 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 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. 3, 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 aud furi-
Gus but steadier wind.
Confofr Rne. .,r,.oro.T tE., .1,....t 49,.
for the twentieth time.
He had aged many years i'm appear
ance. The smiling. confident. debonair
officer was changed into stricken.
mournful man. He had altered with
his ship. The Sirdar and her master
could hardly be recognized. so cruel
were the blows they had received.
1T Is impossible 10 see yard
ahead" he confded 20 his second I'm
command Il have never been so anx-
ious before in my life. Thank God. the
, night IS drawing % close. PERHAPS
when day breaks
His last words contained n PRAYER
and a hone Even MS ne smoke the shin
seemed q m herself bodily with an
unusual Effort for vessel moving -.
f'rr t''e v-.uI
The ueyt ut t'.a~r wrs r ncrr'f's
srindi"- rr D f.-V-frl I.,h pe~s N
who did not % u,r Oh bc holding fast
/ % uu uur 100 WIS t.-,wu violently
down. The GecN wt, t.tr. to dam
gcrous angle aud s...i. .i.e4 H. 'yr. while
the heavy t-Ec,A- az tie sea. now
raging afreSh 90 t..s unl1oNeI for re-
sistance. drowned The d,> .il .ng wells
. raised 10y tie I.a-cIrS ora ,utv.
The Sirllr had comp,ct,l her last
voyage She was now 80 battered wreck
on a barrier reef. She hung thus FOR
one heartoreakiug second. Then an
other wave. riding triumphantly
through IT. fellows. caught the great
steamer in its tremen lous grasp. car
ried her onward for half her length
aud smaShcl her down ON the rocks
Her back was brosen she parted in
two halves. Both sections turned com
pletely over In the utter wantonness Of
destruction. and every -masts.
tunnels boats hull. with every living
soul on board -was $40 once engulfel
in "a M .estrom of rushing water and
iar ag spray.