Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-28

" II
TAI heralded chilly dawn. The
III little world of the Gulf Rock
bestirred itself in Its damp
misery ut the news. The fresh watch,
delighted by the prospect Of activity,
clattered up and down the iron stairs,
opened all available windows, I'M
clamped the door when Brand gave the
order and busted itself exceedingly
with the desultory Jobs which offered
to SO many willing hands.
It was now by the nautical almanac
dead low water on the reef, but the
strong southwesterly 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 1t lost its first
warm tinge. Steel gray were sky and
water, somber the iron bound land,
while the whereabouts Of the sun be-
came a scientific abstraction. There
fore the heliograph was useless, and
Brand, helped by some Of the sailors,
commenced to Aaunt his flag signals to
the watching telescopes on the faroh
promontory Of the Lands End. The
Falcon, strong hearted trawler, was
plunging toward the rock when the
frst line of gay bunting swung clear
Into the breeze. And what a message
1t was-in its jerky phrases-its pro-
found uncertainties communica-
ton by flag code is slow work, and
Brand left much to an easier system Of
talk with the approaching steamer.
Chinook-New York to Southampton
struck reef during hurricane propeller
shaft broken-D survivors in lighthouse
captain. 901 passengers. officers and crew
lost with ship.
The awful significance of the words
sank into the hearts Of the signalers.
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 280 who might have lived! This was
the curt intelligence which leaped the
waves to fly over the length and
breadth Of the land. which sped back
to the States to replace the expected
news Of a safe voyage. which thrilled
the civilized world as It had not been
thrilled for many a day.
Not q 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 had hearts
to feel.
Even while Stephen Brand was sig
mailing to the Falcon with little white
fags quickly extemporized as soon as
she neared the Trinity buoy, news
paper correspondents ashore were busy.
ct the telegraph Office and their asso-
ciates on the trawler were eagerly
transcribing the lighthouse keepers
words wherewith to feed to fever heat
the sensation which the night had pro-
vided for the day.
Brand, foreseeing the importance Of
clearness and brevity, had already
written out full draft Of his detailed
message.
Faithful to his promise, Stapleton
was acting as signaler In chief on
board the Falcon, 50 Brand might ma
nipulate his fags as quickly as lay in
bis power. with Chief Officer Emmett
reading the words at his elbow. There
was no fear that any mistake would be
made by the receiver.
The story, II condensed, was com.
plete. Beginning with an explanation
Of the liners d6ablement, It dealt with
her desperate but unavailing struggle
to weather the reef, described Pyne's
gallant and successful effort to get In
touch with the lighthouse, the rescue of
a 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 supernumerary assistant
keeper, was Furnishing brass work as
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. In
such wise. helped by a compositor and,
dignifed by headlines, does a man be-
come a 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 Pyne