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

which enhanced the melancholy dark
ness Of the gale.
For many minutes together the bows
or the ship were not visible Masthead
and side lights were obscured by the
pelting scud. The engines thrust the
vessel forward like a lance into the
vitals Of the storm. Wind and wave
gushed out of the vortex with impo-
tent fury
At last soon after midnight the ba-
rometer showed slight upward move
ment. At i 80 a. IN. the change became
pronounced. simultaneously the wind
swung round a point TO the westward.
Then Captain Ross smiled YEARLY.
His face frightened He opened his
oilskin coat. glanced at the compass
and nodded approval. Then he turned
20 consult 4 chart. He was joined by
the chief officer Both men examined
the chart in silence
Captain Ross finally took a pencil.
He stabbed its point on the paper in
the neighborhood of II degrees north
and 112 degrees east.
'We are about there. think"
The chief agreed. THAT was the To-
cality 1 had in my mind" lie bent
closer over the sheet.
Nothing in the way tonight. sir" he
added
Nothing whatever. 1t is bit OF
good luck 10 meet such weather here.
We can keep as far south as we like
until daybreak. and by that time
How did it look when you came imp
a tribe better. think"
Il have sent for some refreshments.
Let us have another look before we
tackle them.''
The two officers passed out into the
hurricane. Instantly the wind endeav-
ored TO tear the chart house from or
the deck. They looked aloft and ahead.
The officer on duty saw them and nod
ded silent comprehension. 1t was use
less 10 attempt 70 speak. The weather
was perceptibiy clearer.
Then all three peerel ahead again.
They stood. pressing against the wind.
seeking TO penetrate the murliness i'm
front. Suddenly they were galvanized
into strenuous activity.
\ wild howl came from the lookout
forward. The eyes Of the three men
glared at a huge dismasted Chinese
junk wallowing helplessly in the
trough Of the sea dead under the bows.
The captain sprang TO the chart house
and sigualed I'm fierce pantomime that
the wheel should be put hard over.
The officer in charge Of the bridge
pressed the telegraph lever TO stop
and full speed astern." while with his
disengaged hand he pulled hard at the
/ siren cord. and q raucous warning sent
stewards flying through the ship to
close collision bulkhead doors. The
/ CHIEF Carted 10 the port rail. FOR the
/ Sirdar's instant response 10 the helm
seemed 10 clear her nose from the
/ junk as II by magic.
/ IL all happened so quickly that while
the hoarse signal was still vibrating
through the ship the junk swept past
her quarter. The chief officer Joined
now by the commander. looked down
into the wretched craft They could
see her crew dashed in a bunch around
the capstan on her elevated poop. She
was laden with timber. Although wa.
terlogged. she could not sink n she
held together.
a great wave sucked her away from
the steamer and then hurled her bacl,
with irresistible force. The Sirdar
I was Just completing her turning move
ment. and she heeled over yielding TO
/ the mighty power Of the gale For an
appreciable instant her engines stop
ped. The mass OF water that swayed
/ the Junk like cork lifted the great
/ ship high by the stern. The propeller
4 began 10 revolve in air. for the third Of
fcer had corrected his signal TO full
/ speed ahead" again. and the cumbrous
| Chinese vessel struck the Sirdar a ter
| rible blow I'm the counter smashing on
| the screw close 10 the thrust block and
wrenching the rudder from its hearings
There was an awful race by the en-.
gines before the engineers could shut
of steam. The junk vanished into the
wilderness of noise and tumbling seas
beyond, and the fine steamer Of a few
seconds ago. replete with magnificent
energy, struggled like wounded levia-
than In the grasp Of vengeful foe.
She swung around as If in wrath 10
/ pursue the puny assailant which had
/ 1ealt her this mortal stroke. No longer
breasting the storm with stubborn per-
sistency, she now drifted aimlessly
/ before wind and wave. She was mere
I ly larger plaything tossed about by
/ titanic gambois. The junk was burst
asunder by the collision. Her planks
end cargo Uttered the waves, were
even tossed in derision on TO the decks
or the Sirdar. or what avail was
strong timber or bolted iron against
/ the spleen OF the unclaimed and form
less monster who loudly proclaimed
his triumph? The great steamship
drifted on through chaos. The typhoon
had broken the lance.
But brave men, skillfully directed,
wrought hard TO avert further disas-
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