Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-01

order and busted itself exceedingly
with the desultory Jobs which offered
to so many willing hands.
1t was now by the nautical almanac
dead low water on the reef, but the
strong south westerly wind hurting a
heavy sea completely over the rocks,
showed that the standards Of war and
peace differ as greatly in the matter Of
tides as in most other respects.
As the light increased it lost its first
warm tinge. steel gray wore sky and
water sombcr the iron bound land,
while the whereabouts of the sun be
came n scientific abstraction. There
fore the Photograph was useless and
Brand, helped by some Of the sailors,
commenced to faunt his flag signals TO
The watching telescopes on the faroff
promontory &C tha Lands End. The
Falcon, strong hearted trawler, was
plunging toward the rock when the
first line Of ray bunting swung clear
into the breeze. Aud what Il message
1t was-in rs jerkr rhrases-lts pro-
found uncertc inties-for communion
ton By Tag code Is slow work, and
Brand left much 10 an easier system OF
talk with the approaching steamer.
Chinook-New York TO Southampton
struck reef during hurricane propeller
shaft brohen-1s survivors in lighthouse
captain. col passengers, officers ana crew
lost with ship.
The awful significance of the words
sank into the hearts Of the signGlers
For the first time the disaster from
which, by Gods providence, they had
emerged safely became crystallized in
to set speech. Seventy eight living out
of 2s0 who might have lived, This was
the curt intelligence which le9ped the
waves to fly over the length and
breadth of tie land. which sped back
TO the States 10 replace the expected
news of a safe voyage, which thrilled
the civilized world rs it had not been
thrilled for many day.
Not soul in the lighthouse gave
thought TO this side of the affair. All
were anxious to reassure their loved
ones, but In their present moribund
condition they could not realize the
electric effect of the incident on the
wider world which read and he'd hearts
TO feel.
Even while Stephen Brand was sig
mailing to the Falcon with little white
flags quickly cXtemporizcd as soon as
she neared the Trinity buoy, news
paper correspondents ashore were busy
ut the telegraph Office and their asso-
rates on the travler We're eagerly
TRANSPORTING the lighthouse keeper
words wherewith TO feed to fever heat
the sensation which the night had pro
vided for the day.
Brand, foresoeing the Importance Of
clearness and brevity. had already
written out Il fun draft OF his detailed
message.
Faithful to his promise, Stapleton
was acting as signaler in chief on
board the Falcon, so Brand might ma
nipulate his fnss 40 quickly as lay In
his power, with Chief OHcer Emmett
reading the words at his elbow. There
was no fear that any mistake would he
made by the receiver.
The story. If condensed, was com.
plete. Beginning with an explanation
Of the liners disabement, it dealt with
her desperate but unavailing struggle
to weather the reef. described Pyne s
gallant and succcSrful effort to get in
touch with the lighthouse, the rescue OF
fourth Of those on board. the names
Of the survivors. and, finally, their pre-
dIcament in the matter OF food and
water
All this took long to tell,
Within the lantern. Charles A. Pyne
appointed supernumcrory assistant
Keeper, was furnishing brass work a:
per instructions received. He little
knew the use which was being made OF
his name by the tiny bits OF linen toss
Ing about on the exterior gallery. Ii
such wise, helped by compositor ant
dignifed by headlines, does a man be
come hero in these days of knight
hood conferred By the press.
Constance was scrutiniZing the Fal
con from the trimming stage. Hearing
Ends CHEEKY Good morning" to Pynt
whom that young lady raced upward
from the kitchen to catch glimpse o.
the reported vessel, she dropped he
glasses for moment.
Jack Is on board" she announced
"Of course no would be there. Ant
there is such lot of other men-hal
Psnzance, think"
Enid Joined her. Pyne, too, though
he could polish a burner up there a.
well as on the floor of the service room
Stanhope's stalwart figure. clad II
oilskins, WIS clearly defined as he stoot
llone on the port side OF the Falconi
smalI bridge, reading off the signal
and sending back spasmodic twiae
tngs Of the flags which he also had pr,
cured to indicate that each word wa
understood.
"Who IS the skipper Of the tugi
Inquired Pyne quietly
Both girls laughed.
"You mean Jack" cried Enid. 81
Ia not the captain. He is an officer {
the royal navy, our greatest friend"
"Jack is his front name. suppose
went on Pyne, breathing on the cope
disk In his hands 10 test its clearness
1--WE will introduce you, even at TIL
distance" said Constance airily. M
Pyne, this il Lieutenant John Perciva
Stanhope, only son of the late s
Charles and Lady Margaret Stanhol
bf Tregarthen Lodge Penzance, one {
the best and dearest fellows who eve
livodv