The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-04-16

any hlsbs OF TIRE were ttflhlt were tn'
, first 20 be lifted to the upper deck
The s,okehold was quickly efnpiicd oi
It's inanimaic occupants Living and
dead alike were carried to the un
ienanted second class salon forward
Then courtenay left Walker 10 solv,
the puzzle of the accident and report
on it's extent while he climbed back
% the bridge, there 10 tackle the far
more pressing problem Of the measures
TO be adopted II be would save his
ship
II was typical OF the man that his
first act was 10 wipe the CRIME OF the
stokehold otY his face and hands
Then he drew chart from the locker
In which be had placed II two hours
earlier. Mr., Boyle. who had been at
tending the signals both by siren and
rocket. Joined him Courtenny pointed
10 pin mark In the sheet.
I'VE were there at @ O'Clock" he
said. and his voice was so steady that
he seemed now TO be free from the
least touch OF anxiety. ''fhe course
was south-40-east, and against this
wind and sea. together with strong
current 10 the nor'east. we would make
eight knots under easy steam. There
fore by 8 o'clock, when the furnaces
blew out, we were here"
He jabbed In pin a little farther
down the chart Mr. Boyle grunted
agreement,
'HuhF' he said.
Courtenay glanced at chronometer.
"It is now quarter TO o." he went
on, "and ! reckon that since the ship
swung round we have been carried at
least six knots TO the nor'east."
"Huhw growled Mr.. Boyle again, but
he bent a trife nearer the chart. To
his sailors eyes the situation was quite
simple Unless by Gods providence
some miracle happened the Kansas
was a doomed ship. The pin stuck
where the admiralty chart recorded
soundings OF 100 fathoms with fine
sand bed. The longitude was 1850
west OF Greenwich and latitude 81 35
south. Staring at them from the 9th
srwise blank space which showed the
wide expanse of the Pacific was an
ominous note by the compilers Of the
chart:
"Seamen are cautioned not to make
free with these shores, as they are
very imperfectly known, and, from
their wild, desolate character, they
cannot be approached with safety"
Right In the track of the drifting
ship lay vaguely outlined trio OF
dread import--"Breakers Islet (coni-
cab. Duncan rock" Behind this sim
6ter barrier stood the more definite
White Horse island, while, running
due north and south few miles away
to the eastward, was wavering dot
ted line which professed to mark the
coast of Hanover island. Lending
fearful significance TO the unknown
character Of the region, printed COM
ment followed the dotted line, This
coast is laid down from distant OBJ
on board the Beagle SO
the sea face OF hanover island had not
been visited by civilized man for near
|y sixty years
Neither man spoke while their prac-
tlced scrutiny took In these details.
The roaring chaos Of the gale told
what fate awaited them. The elemen-
tai forces had donned the black cap OF
The Judge and sentenced them TO
speedy destruction.
Mr.. Boyle pursed his lips. He looked
Sideways at Courtenay.
Huh" he said. whats to be donef"
81 propose" answered the captain
,oolly, "to endeavor"-
It was then that the giant wave
eaped madly over the poop, as though |
he sea were resolved TO swallow its |
,rey without further warning. The
,econd officer, outside on the bridge, |
iad TO cling to stanchion for his life. |
Courtenay and Boyle saw two boats
1renched from their davits and car
led overheard, while bulkhead for
ward was smashed into matchwood.
rhe half caste quartermaster at the
Wheel muttered Madonna and tried
o remember prayer.
II propose" continued Courtenay,
,aising his voice SO that the other
night hear. ito give the ship steering