The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1905-03-25

The elder man answered his inquisitive
glance with q low, Il don't know what
the deck means" r
Before another word was said, there
came a slow, sticking lift; the Amphion
rolled over till the lanters dimmed. She
recovered with surge, and as the chief
engineer wrenched the steam valve shut,
the plates beneath their feet bulged up
ward A moment of tense straining in
the stilled machinery, and then, as IT.
freed from some elastic bond, the steam
er leaped forward again. There was the
sharp clang of door, and stoker
pushed his sweaty face above the graf
ing with a cry. But the old engineer
threw the steam into the cylinders again,
and the engines throbbed in response.
"The propellor's still there" he cried,
shutting of steam once more.
The third assistant was gazing at the
telegraph dial. The indicator had not
moved. With an oath he snatched a
pair of nippers from the rack and thrust
the claws up into the wires behind the
face. Then he turned in blazing tri-
umph to his superior. HE shan't put
her over at half speed now,' he shouted,
"and then tell the inspectors that it was
US that kept her driving.
Before the words were we'll out of his
mouth, jolt threw them to the plates,
and as they scrambled up again the
Amphion seem to crumple' up under
them. Then with the screeching of
riven plates and drawing rivets. the
steamer settled on the reef A breaker
flung itself in thunder against the side,
and the spray fell like rain through the
skylight. The sharp clang of the gong
filled the engine-room. 'That was the
half-speed BELL" said the chief, DULY.
in the lull that followed the rafting
boom. His assistant, while the awak-
ened engineers of the other watches
peered curiously through the darkness
with eyes still heavy from sleep, caught
up lantern that was still burning, and
threw its beam on the dial of the tele-
graph. 1t still pointed to full speed
ahead. II knew he'd try it, and fooled
him!" he cried.
stoker and oiler and engineer fed from
the water bubbling waist high, the chief
gathered up his own log-book, and care
fully tore it up The fragments he cast
on the foamy brine that rose about his
engines. Il amt going to fight unfair"
he muttered
On the bridge Of the wrecked Amphion
the crew huddled cheerlessly. The slow
streaming seas that emerged from the
fog and night to windward broke heavily
on the submerged hull, and the spume
ran in rivers from mast and stanchion.
II had the engine-room telegraph at half
speed" said the captain, whitefaced,
"and I've got it down in the log that we
slowed down as soon as we got into the
fog. guess that'll satisfy the inspectors
that I've done all right, and we'd not ha'
run out of our course unless the engine
room had disobeyed orders and kept her
full speed"
The third assistant pushed forward
and stared at the captain with open
| mouth. Then he shook his fist, wildly
"That amt so," he bawled. II knew yer
tricks! I got witness down below! We
don't lose ne my papers that way! ANY,
body with two grains of sense 'ull know
| this old hooker couldn't pile up this
high on an half speed. tell We, We don't
lose me my papers!" He turned round to
his fellows of the enginee-room. What
does the telegraph down there read?"
he yelled.
The old engineer, rubbing between his
palms the tmnipresent badge of his au-
thority, BIT of cotton waste, gazed at
the pallid master of the wreck, and
shared his lhame. With a gesture, he
| silenced his shrieking men, and bullied
the third mate with hi yes. II was on
watch to-nia1t with my assistant" he
commenced, larshly. Il am responsible
for this. I've lost my engine-room log,
but it was my orders that kept her driv-
Ing 1t was al my doings, and guess
I'm old enoug to stand by it. To hell
with the rules of the road! Let's play
this fair.
But" begA the third assistant with
cry.
Shut up!" hllowed his chief
The yellow laters on the tilted bridge
flickered in the bind, but their unsteady
flames we're nd more wavering than
the eyes of the &ptain. II put her over
to half speed" be said, shrilly, laying
his wet hand o. the brass, "but it
mightn't have r$istered in the engine
room. You see7'*$
We must plzytair," Interrupted the
chief engineer, lofly The men crowded
closer about him, their oilskins rustling
in the darkness. We must play fair"
said the old man, gPly. ''The Amphion's
piled up here, and pine ones got to lose
his papers. amt len friendly with the
skipper, and JUS naturally kept her
driving, boys. 1t'sny fault, my fault,
boys. and guess IN up against it. That
telegraph says halnkpeed, and / kept
her full speed, contAry to ORDERS"
The young skippe turned away his
face and picked up intern that swung
steaming from the raj Raising it I'D he
scanned the faces thasurrounded him.
S10wlv the lantern felkith hic OWN Ia