Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-04-30

officer of higher life. only his were
not affected by the false and artificial
training He was not of the upper
class, and recognized nothing bat
personal worth. That's the reason he
went aboard disguised. and with a
fixed and resolute mind"
DO you mean you know the man
who torpedoed that ship" I asked. in
derision.
DO 1 often talk, sir. to enjoy the
music OF my own voice?" and he
looked at me.
Go on" said.
There's nothing more to tell.
There's nothing for me to tell. sir.
You know We are governed or re-
strained only by that intangible
/ something that"
He stopped and looked over the
moonlit ocean. The night was beau
uful and the moon caused the lumpy
trade-clouds to cast shadows on the
sea.
Yes" said the sailor, there's the
restraining force. the consciousness;
but when one has suffered much he
either exhausts himself in the wild
passion Of pain and indignation or
becomes coldly fierce to visit the
pain upon those who cause it. We
are all little bad. The weaker-o.
maybe it is the stronger who suffer
/ for our sins"
Did you know it all the time?" I
asked.
No, didn't recognize him until
the hiring began; but he made it plain
to many of us that the ship was going
to her end. Stop him? Do you sup
pose you could stop a man who has
studied and planned for ten years how
to send his foe to? Many of us rec
ognized him and wondered at his be-
ing aboard that ship Then he went
slowly back into the harbor. and he
cried out to me to go on deck. be-
gan to realize his meaning. and
rushed aft, climbing. struggling.
gasping, knowing then that what he
said was true. He wasSan expert in
electricity and had invented one or
two remarkable machines. / fed from
/ a terror that was all-absorbing. 1t was
because OF his staring bright eyes,
flushed face and smile OF peculiar tri-
umph. 1t was the smile of a man who
wild, unfeigned, truly hysterical and
then l knew the end was near and I
New from him as from hell itself. I
reached the upper deck at last. The
men we're at their stations. The
fighting was over. and the poor fell
lows looked relieved. plunged
among them as one demented. Then
breathed and looked about me for
something to float on. My heart was
humping under my ribs. and my
nerves were strung as one has them
when the lock-string of a great rifle
is drawn taut and he waits the crash
| Up and down the deck l tore. until I
could stand 1t no longer and rushed to
the taffrail At that instant there was
terrific shock. a deafening concus-
sion from below and forward
looked and saw a great column Of
water arise alongside us. The battle
ship stopped and rolled heavily.
while dense cloud OF yellow smoke
and steam enveloped her. Then she
began to list rapidly Men called out
hoarsely and rushed about. picked
up piece Of wood which fell near me
and l remember wondering where II
came from. 1t seemed to be either
the bottom-board or thwart OF a cut
ter. Then l suddenly overcame the
paralyzing effect of the scene around
me and plunged over the stern as 1t
rose higher and higher in the air.
1T was long leap to the sea be-
low. The rush through the air took
my breath and the smash upon the
surface knocked me insensible for a
moment Then I was aware l must
swim and ! arose TO the surface, gasp
ing and struggling. My hand struck
the piece of wood l had leaped with.
and I made my way out from that
steel coffin just as 1t began to slip
under. Steam and smoke poured from
the openings, gun-ports, ventilators
and bull's-eyes. There was a low,
deep, smothering roar, and down She
went, rising almost perpendicular and
diving bow first to the bottom, carry
ing nearly every one OF the 600 men
in her
"A huge sea rushed into the tremen-
dous hole she made. 1t sucked me into
the swirling eddies, and pieces of
wood, rope and other floating things
struck me with force, cutting me
sorely. But l held to the piece OF
wood and they picked me up with a
few others. all cut and bleeding from
that swirl OF death"
He shook with a nervous trembling
while he spoke, and when he stopped
his voice was so low I coeld hardly
hear him. Gazing over the ocean into
the path OF the moon he sat there
silent and thoughtful for nearly half
an hour
leaned upon the rail and smoked.
Suddenly he turned to me.
you've been very kind, sir" he
said.
Then he swung his legs over the
rail and slipped on deck
The bells struck and I went aft,
meeting the second officer coming out
to relieve me.
IT'S almost too fine to turn in. I
reckon I'll sit up and smoke awhile"
| I said