Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08

oil aboard and passed like flying shadow
OF himself through the mist into the dark
ness
And that. was all the information that
Capt. Meaghan got of the cargo that was
smolderng in the Phoebe.
He leaped over the bulwarks of the de-
serted boat-a three-nasted sailing vessel
bark-rigged-tO find smoke curling up from
the covering of the after hatchway. There
was no other sign of fire to be seen. Get
her of, boys" he cried; and the men at
tackled the hatch with their hooks and axes.
He looked about him for his lieutenant
Gallagher" he called. He got no reply.
Where's Gallegher?" he cried. And there
was no answer
Now Lieut.. Gallagher at that moment was
coming at the double down the pier, having
been delayed at the truck by the third OFF,
Ger of the Phoebe. who had been standing
on the curbstone of the street, excitedly
warning the fremen that there was powder
aboard. He had fastened on Gallagher when
he heard the lieutenant giving orders there
And Gallegher-having learned in unneces-
sary detail that the boat was loading with
miscellaneous consignments of general mer-
chandise. cartridges and kerosene; that the
explosives were in the upper hold aft, and
the general merchandise below them: that
the oil was being put well forward and was
therefore not yet afire-had darted across
the foggy street that was swarming now
with police and firemen, and echoing with a
hubbub of officers voices, the whistles and
bells of fire apparatus and the clatter of
horses hOOfs. Just he had reached the
other side of the road Battalion Chief Tighe
had rushed out at him from the pier. had
swerved to avoid him. tripped over the curb
and fallen heavily on the paving stones.
Gallagher had stopped and run back, to find
another fireman raising the unconscious
chief; and then, without waiting to aid, he
had turned again and raced down the pier,
eager to TelOin his company, so that Capt.
Meaghan might not have any smallest ex-
cuse for finding fault with him.
They had not been getting on smoothly
together. Capt. Meaghan was of the old
school. gruff and unlettered. The Heuten-
ant. though he was black and burly man,
was as neat a barber in his person, and
officially careful in his speech. He had
stood high on his civil service examination
for promotion to a lieutenancy; and he knew
IT was the captains opinion that a civil
service examination for a fireman was as
absurd as preachers license" for har-
borpilOt.
He came breathless to the side of the
Phoebe. while Capt. Meaghan was still
standing on the bulwarks above his men,
giving them the light of his lantern on their
work. The smoke was bursting through the
broken hatch at every blow of the axes.
Get il off. boys! Get 1t off, Meaghan
coached them.
He turned anxlously to look for the
turn of Tighe. since, in the absence of the
battalion chief. he must rank in charge of
fire of which he knew nothing. And he saw
his lieutenant.
Tom" he cried to Long Tom Donnelly,
'go back an get twelve-foot ladder.
Gallagher" he greeted his assistant gruffiy,
when the hatch's off get out that powder
an throw il overheard.
He had understood from Tighe's brief d.
rectiOns to him, that the oil was burning
below the powder: and he knew that TO
Hood the boat in such conditions, would be
to float the flame up to the explosives.
Gallagher put down his lantern and went
back to the bulwarks. He supposed that
Capt Meaghan was afraid the engine COM
pany would be slow in coming UP. He
pointed to a squad of men dragging a line
of hose through the misty circle of an cleo
trio light. Here" he said. Here they
are now
Meaghan cried: "Eh? what! WHAT'S
that?"
Here's an engine company now" Gale
CHER repeated.
We'll? Supposin' It is?'
The lieutenant did not understand his
tone. Cant they flood 1t out Quicker?
What's thatY' Meaghan shouted.
Gallagher continued In his error. Cant
we flood 1t out? Do you need to risk the
menu
Meaghan jumped down at him. by
Godr' he said. Are yuh scared?" and
raised the lantern on him. He had been
wondering why Gallagher had hung behind
the men.
The hatch crashed and fell beneath the
shes loaded deep" Gallagher explained,
confusedy, blinking at the light. we can
sink her in no time-and the nreooats IL De
here to help What's the use
What's the use?'' Meaghan stormed.
Afraid of yer skin, are yuh? You're fire
man, eh?" He cursed in fury of con-
tempt Boys" he cried TO the men.
Gallagher put hand on mis- arm. Look
here sir" he said, thickly.
Meaghan shook him of Boys he
shouted. Hes a-scared to lead yfh down
that hatch
He threw the light on Gallagher. The
crew stared at him from the hatchway. The
men Of an engine company on the wharf
shouldered to the bulwarks, asking "Whats
up? What's the natter" Long Tom
Donnelly pushed his way through them with
the twelve-foot ladder.
It's a lie" Gallagher broke out. Il say
what's the use of riskin' your men when you
can"
Meaehan drowned his voice in the below
OF a maddened beast You take yer orders
from me! D'yuh hear? Lead the men down
that ladder, or I'll have yuh broke fer tn
oily-headed. bandy-legged coward y are!'
Gallagher threw out passionate hand at
him. I'm just that much coward, he
cried. that you can't scare me with any
threat OF gettin' me broke. I'd be d--n
leadln' men where they shouldn't ought to
have to gor'
Meaghan turned to the men. ~ hear
that PIN? Hear that. Donnelly? / want
Won fer witnesses. Now" he said.
fiercely, to Gallagher. get to HI out of
this"
Gallagher did not move. Meaghan swung
his lantern to the engine company on the
pier ''Volunteersr ne called. 81 want
eight men to bring UP this powder.
There were twenty men showing forward
before the words were we'll out of his
mouth; but his own crew were first. They
lowered the ladder into the smoking hatch
and. in the crowding and confusion that fol-
lowed. Gallagher slid down into the hold
unobserved by the captain. Sergt PIN,
Parr and Long Tom" Donnelly went after
him He began TO pass the cases Of car
tridges to Parr at the foot of the ladder;
from him they were handed to PIN and
Donnelly on the rungs. and from Donnelly
they reached the deck. to go from man TO
man and overheard with a splash
They worked with the quiet regularity OF
a trained bucket brigade. Gallagher stop
ped only once-to tie a handkerchief over
his mouth The other men had better air.
the engine company aiding them with the
shower OF a spray nozzle. which fought back
the smoke Nevertheless. Parr had to be
relieved and three fresh men were sent
down to fill the gap that was made In the
chain as Gallagher moved farther and far
Their into the hold.
There were exactly 2i6 packages of ex-
plosives IN the cargo; and Gallagher, while
he toiled over them with bruised hands,