The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-05-24
CHAPTER xxu.-tcsatinsesIl

No m&n has ever locked ca more aN-
Nj ssxhe. We had STRUCK the hattlesAip
isw amsdsAips-we had crashed through
tie tAinneSt coat Of her steel. She had
heeled rixht ever from the shock. % that
tie xuns bad cast free from the carriages
and the seas had filed her. Thus Tor
enc ferriAle minute she lay. and then.
with q heavy lurch, she rolled beneath
the waves and there WIS left bat thirty
sr fs-ty struggling souls, whe hattied tor
sheir lives with the great rollers Of the
Atlantic. OF these q few reached the side
e ear ship and were shot there e they
chung 70 the ladder.
Fer ourselves we lay, our bsws split
with the shock. eur engine room in fear
full disorder. The other warsaips were
yef some distance away: but they opened
fsre upon us at hazard. and. Of she first
three shells which fell, two cut eur decks
and sent clouds of splinters Of wood and
If human flesh flying in the sneke-iaden
air. AZ the fifth shot, gigantic crash
rcsounded from bsiow, and the Stokcrs
rushed ADORE with the news that the fore
stoke hold had three feet Of water In 4.
The hands received the news with q deep
rroan. They beloved like bulls At Black;
they refused all orders He shst down
man after man, while crouched Tor SAFE
IL IL the tower: and they became out
giercw. Orr end was evideatly near.
Anon they turned upon the captain and
myself. and fired veIleys upon the coming
tower. or, ID their terrible frenzy, they
pitched themselves into the sea.
Through Ell this our one engine work
ID; and 20 slowly did the great ironclad
draw upsn NJ that the end Of Il al came
before der could reach Is. Suddenly the
men rushed 70 the boats and cast them
Ieese. Fiehtfng with the dash Of mad
men. they crowded the launch. they
rwarned the joIIy-boat and the lifebcAt.
We watched their insane e6orts - boat
aftsr heat pat away and was Gwanped,
Iaavine IL men 70 drown. When .
D'elork eAne. BLACK and Kari and myself
were aIone npon the great ship. Black
pulIed me 81 fhe arm and said:
10y. they've ieft nothing bat ne
6inxhy. II ED ships done: and its
Iine yos left h<r.-
-And yeal~ ! asked.
He lcsked af me and at Kari. He
1ellowed me slowly. - one In dream. %
- 6syits 81, and freed the last Of the
bpnss. Then Ne went ID his cabin. and 70
- roems below; and helped him to put
] rsuple ct kegs Of water in de fraii
ernfx. r1kh psne biscuit. which ne Ashed
WAes I'll ms r~ady. the captain west
y IL enxine room and brought Kari 30
- TOO - IL ladder: hut there the Ger
nsn staysd. nor did threats Or entreaties
ncse him.
~He7I de With she skip said Black.
~and dou's knew that he Isn't wise"
~ Ne heId ont his hand to the genius Of
IL erine. and after ! crest Erir the two
sen partsd-
Fer ourselves. ne stepped On the frail-
II er1fk rim which wsa evsr faced the
kslantIe. and xt tisat sno<nsnt the hszt %
- ironciadx fred anstAer shell a. the
uameaese ship. X was crashing shot
Mt Il I'D ccns too late q serse jn*fies.
y - wreck fhe snip of naystery: fer Karl
"a ~ - hydrn<rn ints The syllAdsrs I'M
sh<r&el. Ara In = cascade 81 Gre. ii<i1s-
nx ~ - Tor many sxs1es. ard making
. 8ny - newiv hIies night. ne golden
.if.1es kissed es<r the water fer 60 -
nest. fhea plunged headiea<. - vas -
n1re.
4 nerc. Gs< II was. tisAting "a and
Ikv--a nlxAty hslsnnst: IL rsar Of
ueex cpn6skrsfios; fhe - ~ non-
xrsus dresn- Al ! tAsught u sDsther
IN an1 anotA<r farr--<1e FACE q Lar
h Han, Who bad seen the finger Of
Almixzsty CD In his missssx: end said.
-f1is work b done r
Nm niark, eiinxias 10 the dinghy, wept
i man strieken with great grief. and
= crfed - Inst the cpidesr heart might
hnve teen nsoved---
~ ship. NJ sh5pF