Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-29
CHAPTER XIX.

1t was not until daybreak on the fol-
lowing morning that we reached the track
of ocean-bound ships: but our voyage was
altogether in favor of Black, for the sun
mad scarce risen when Doctor Osbart got
me from my bed to see what he called my
first Introduction to business.
There's the Red Cross Lines Bel
Ionic not mile off on the starboard
quarter" cried he exultingly, land we're
going to clear her."
l dressed anyhow, almost as excited as
he was, and stepped on to the gallery.
All eyes were turned to the north, where,
now almost abreast of us. there was the
long and magnificent hull of the great
liner. She went at a tremendous pace
and was rapidly leaving us, when the
great gun forward sent shell ploughing
the sea fifty yards ahead of the Bellonic.
The effect of the call was seen upon the
great vessel, whose decks were soon dot
ted with black objects. while three more
men appeared on the bridge, and the sig
nal flags ran up.
Give it him forard" roared Black
and the shot that answered his command
struck the quivering hull not twenty feet
from the windlass and you could see the
splinters carried fifty feet in the air. while
the shriekS of terror came over the sea
to us.
Screaming like wild beasts, the men
turned the handles of the Maxim guns;
the balls rained upon the defenseless liner
as hail upon a sheepfold. | saw strong
men reel and fall their length as death
took them; the breeze bore to me the
wailing of women, and the sobs of chill
dren.
The flag dropped and the signal was
made to US to come aboard.
Lower away the launch, you John !"
cried Black. land take every shilling you
can lay hands on. and hang up that skip
per for a thin-skinned fool"
You'd better go" said Osbart TO me,
you'll be amused" and suggested it to
Black
Yes, he shall GO he cried; "if we
swing. he shall swing. Let him get
aboard"
l might as we'll have put a pistol to my
head as TO have refused. They bundled
me into the launch; but they would not
leave me when they came alongside, and
Roaring John" himself drove me up the
ladder. Seven of us at last stood on the
bridge, and were face to face with the
captain of the Bellonic, and four of his
officers.
The deck was a very babel of sounds,
of groans, of weeping. The ships surgeon
himself seemed paralyzed before the sight
of the carnage around him. But above
all this terror, l know of nothing which
struck me with such fearful sorrow as the
sight of fair young English girl lying
by the door of the great saloon, her arms
extended, her nut-brown hair soaked in
her own blood, while man knelt over
her, and you could see his tears falling
upon her dead face, and his rawlings were
incoherent and almost those of a maniac
the bridge between the man John and
the captain of the Bellonic.
What do you want aboard OF my
ship?" cried the latter; and Roaring
John" answered him with a hooking
| leer:
We've come aboard to hang you, to
begin on"
The men with the young officer cooked
| their revolvers at this, and | said In a
mad frenzy which would not brook 81
| lence:
You scoundrel. if you touch another
soul here I'll shoot you myself" for |
had my revolver on me- DO you make
a business of killing children:" | cried
again, and pointed to the dead body of
the gir-child. l don't know who was
more surprised, the captain of the Bel
| Ionic, listening, or the man John.