New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

near the turn OF the Caicos bank
the hull OF the Stella Polare Law
~ high on the coral reef. She was a
Spanish steamship, built in Italy.
and made the run many times between
Har and the Mediterranean ports. She
l-l with an easy company, and many
uass had changed their countries N
her She had been crack packet IN her
day her day had passed, joining the vast
hos ultlesS time.
distance the black hull doomed
larca -i sinister, long iron mass standing
out --lv in the surrounding whiteness OF
co-.f ana foam. Closer observation showed
The -.v plates, the painless cabin houses.
and -. weather worn woodwork that still
rer Her two Tabish tunnels stood
slar.. holding their places by the aid
OF r guys, the chains and ali valuable
me 0rk having long ago been stripped
-rl r. And so she lay as the BuccaneeT,
sing schooner from Nassau, came
sll across the bank.
RAYS Of the setting sun shone strongly
upon the iron hull, and the crew OF the
schooner gazed at her from various positions
OF ee and lassitude; for the day had been
hCt and sultry and the air filed with a
bras-g colored humidity that was as thick
as s. heavy haze on the horizon. The master
OF The Wrecker was a Spaniard He was
good looking fellow, bronzed and fine
fea---ed and his black HAIR was streaked
wit gray. Heavy lines in his face suggested
suffering rather than exposure although his
Voca-on was rigorous enough.
The master had gazed for fully quarter
OF IN hour at the wreck as the vessel famed
alcr- before the light breeze, when his mate
addressed him.
all We get the gear ready, sir? l got
box @. Atlas powder and twenty fathom OF
fuse with eXploders
Yes get THAT YOU need in the small
boat said the master absently. You can
haul down the jib and let 60 when YOU re
ready GIVE her not more than four fathoIns.
tor ve won [ stay here lOng-loOks ike it
coming on bad, and the glass IS falling The
bank s-- Z safe this time Of year. We ought
70 FL Iuro some pocket and tie up" The
master spoke absently, still gazing al the
RrrlE and the mate noted It.
She doesn't look mucn Ike what she did
0her IA had her, sir, said he.
Hr.t the Stella Polare?
sir and it wasn't so long ago either.
hzl erday when you ran her into Havana
ior q last voyage under the old charter.
When you're ready with the small boat
V-- 1 said the Captain, still gazing at the
ar.ho-ing with the fore and mainsails ST
The mall boat went slowly into the bay.
was r--le OF no surf on the lee OF the bank, a
parts landed without difficulty. Then they
car Z their outfit 10 the wreck. They
h. her up stripping the plates from her ST
l-- % ana tearing Al part the most valuable
Of = engines 10 sell at Key West. 1t was
Oh The men who had been there before the
defined as improbable, for it required consid
v.. 10 strip the plates, and the engines we
ru-- ed in the half submerged hull. At high
-..rs was little OF value uncovered IN her holC
2. WTeckng crew had not been successful
ST. "a. and il was a case OF getting what they
Weeks had been few. and the sponging inc
q .h al Wreckers OF the bank usually follow
summer and hurricane season, had paid
rus. Dynamite was expensive TO use;
iust as well u explode part OF II as 10
Oh their hands. They could still keep {
few loads OF fish, for the law OF the re
hank was never enforced in regard to high
and they were far away from any pryin
The crew carried sledges and hydraulic
q pare tackle or TWO. and the mate earn
explosive They reached the high side whe
sand had banked against II. and one
rted 10 the deck, the Captain going al
-, Old hill in lc,arlf