The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-06-05
Aufher Of -Cap'n Err

ped upon the bulwark and stood there,
turning white face first toward the
shore and then back at his companion.
There was a muf1ied rumble from the
hold. The bulkhead had fallen.
Jump shouted Bradley. Jump
Sam threw up his arms and leaped
from the stern Bradley cast one
glance over the poor Diving Belle, ran
to the rail by the foremost and Owed
into the water.
At that moment, before his head ap-
peared above the surface, there came
dull roar from the schooner's hold.
She rocked like a rowboat among
breakers. A fame burst from her
matches and fo'castle and streamed to
the top of her foremost. every rope Of
which caught fire. Her entire bow
was a great torch that dipped now this
way. now that.
Hammond. swimming for his life,
yelled with fright. Bradley. caught in
the waves made by the rocking of the
Diving Belle. was for moment I'M
able to make any Roadway. Vaguely
he wondered why he had not been
killed. And then the foremost swung
above his head and the noisy hosting
block In the forerigging snapped from
its burning tackle, shot out into the
air and fell, striking him on the fore
head
He remembered almost nothing Of
what happened after that-nothing ex-
cept fighting to keep afioat and the in
tense cold Of the water.
Captain Titcomb on the hill had
fought and struggled and pleaded to
be allowed to go to his partners aid.
But Captain Taylor said, Better one
than two." and most of the others
agreed with him. "Squealer" Wixon
was going through the crowd, stelling
all who would listen that If he had
not had some fellows at his house ''set-
tin up playing cards the fire would
not have been discovered. As the
blaze grew brighter and Bradley could
be seen running about the schooner's
deck, Alvin Bearse volunteered to go
with his skipper and attempt rescue.
but they would not let him try. In
whispers people were asking one an
other how long it would last.
When Hammond appeared on deck
there was great commotion. No one
knew who it was. But when he stood
upon the rail. with the fire behind him.
a dozen shouted his name. Captain
Titcomb shouted it and swore a mo-
ment later came the explosion.
Fifty men started for the wharf then.
but the captain was far in the lead.
He leaped into dory and pushed OF.
The harbor was almost as light as day
In the center Of the light the two fig
ures In the water were splashing sill
|ghouettes. ess
And suddenly the captain, rowing
frantically, was aware that another
boat was nearer the schooner than his
own. A small skiff, rowed by a bare
headed gitl. had come from behind the
point and was speeding with long, sure
strokes toward the swimmers
Hammond saw it. "Helpr' he shout
ed. waving one arm. Help! I'm
drowning! Save mey'
The skiff was almost upon him. He
reached out to grasp its side. But the
rover. though she turned and looked
directly into his face, did not stop.
She kept straight on. past him.
And Captain Titcomb as he seized
Sam Hammond by the coat collar saw
Gus Baker lean from her skiff and
drag to It's low gunwale the helpless
form of Bradley Nickerson.
Then. with hiss and wrapped in a
great white robe of steam. the Diving
Belle diyed to the bottom of the har-
hnr.