The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-29


| from IL to 4. and the moon was shin
ing brightly for the first hour of il. In
the early morning. however, il cloudsd
over. and the Golden Rod plunged in.
to one of those dim. ciammy mists
which lie on all that tract Of ocean
So thick was II that from the poop one
could Just make out the loom OF the
foresail. but could see nothing OF the
foretopmast staysail or the iib. The
wind was, northeast, with very keen
edge to il, and the dainty brigantine
lay over. scudding along with her les
rails within hands touch of the water
1t had suddenly turned very cold-sc
cold that the mate stamped up and
down the poop. and his four seamen
shivered together under the shelter of
the bulwarks. And then in q moment
one Of them was up. thrustins his fore
finger into the air and screaming,
while q huge white wall sprang out
of the darkness at the very end OF the
bowsprit. and the ship struck with y
force which snapped her two masts
like dried reeds in a wind and changed
her in an instant to a crushed and
shapeless heap of spars and wreckagc
The mate had shot the length of the
poop at the shock and had narrowly
escaped from the falling mast. while
OF his four men two had been hurled
through the huge gap which yawned
in the bows, while a third had dashed
his head to pieces against the stock
OF the anchor. Tomlinson staggered
forward to find the whole front part
OF the vessel driven inward and n sin
gle seaman sitting dazed amid spiin-
tered spars. tapping sails and with
ing. flashing cordage. 1t was still as
dark as pitch, and. save the white
crest OF leaping wave, nothing was
TO be seen beyond the side OF the YES.
sci. The mate was peering round him
in despair at the ruin which had come
so suddenly upon them. when he found
Captain Ephraim at his elbow. half
clad, but as wooden and serene as
ever.
AN iceberg" said he, snifiing at the
chill air. did you not smell it, friend
Tomlinson?"
Truly found it cold. Captain Saw
age. but / set il down TO the mist"
There is mist ever set around
them. though the Lord in his wisdom
hhoWS bCSA why, IVA ~ - a SpAS aAAci
to poor sailor men. She makes water
fast, Mr.. Tomlinson.''
The other watch had swarmed upon
deck, and one Of them was measuring
the well. There Is three feet OF wa
ter" he cried. "and the pumps sucked
dry yesterday"
Hiram jefferson and John Moreton.
to the pumps. cried the captain. "Mr.
Tomlinson. clear away the longboat
and let us see II we may set her
right"'
1.-THE longboat has stove two planks."
cried a seaman.
THE jolly boat, them"
"She is in three pieces"
where is Amos Greenr'
"Here. Captain Ephraim. What can
1 do:"
'And IT. asked De Catinat eagerly.
Adele and her father had been wrap
ped In nantes and placed for shelter
in the lee Of the roundhouse.
"Teli him that he can take his spell
at the pumps" said the captain to
Amos. "And you. Amos. You are 4
handy man with a tool Get into yon-
der longboat with q lantern"
For half an hour Amos Green ham,
mered and trimmed and calked.
you've not much time, Amos lad"
said the captain quietly.
"She'll float now, though she's not
quite water tight"
Every good. Lower away. Keep up
the pumping there. Mr.. Tomlinson see
that provisions and water are ready.
as much az she viii, hold. Come with
me. Hiram Jeferson."
The seaman and the captain swung
themselves down into the tossing boat,
the latter with a lantern strapped TO
his waist. Together they made their
way until they were under her man
gled bows. The captain shook his head
when he saw the extent OF the dam
age. ''Cut away the foresail and pass
it over" said ne.
Tomlinson and Amos Green cut
away the lashings with their knives
and lowered the corner OF the sail. Cap
tain Ephraim and the seaman seized II
and dragged 1t across the mouth OF the
huge gaping leak. How much I'm the
well?" he asked
Five and half feet"
'Then the ship is lost. could nut
my finger between her planks as far
as l can see back Keep the pumps
going there. Have you the food and
water, Mr.. Tomlinsonr
Here, SIR
Lower them over the bows. This
boat cannot live more than an hour or
two. Can you see anything of the
berg?,
The mist had thinned away suddenly.
and the moon glimmered through once
more upon the great lonely sea and
The stricken ship. There, like a huge
sail. was the monster piece Of ice upon
which they had shattered themselves.
You must make for her." said Cap
tain Ephraim. ''There is no other
chance. Lower the gal over the bows.
Well. then. her father first. IL she likes
{ better. Tell them to sit still, Amos
Ind that the Lord Will bear us up IL
we keep clear OF foolishness- SO.
You're a brave lass for all your MIN
ny piminy lingo. Now the keg and
he barrel and all the wraps and cloaks
-ou can find: now the other man, the
''renchman- Aye. aye. passengers first.
md you have got to come, Now Amos.
low the seamen, and you last. friend
Yt was we'll that they had mt vary