The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-04-02

az NOiACSICuiy DIS IL the snip were
laid alongside Thames wharf. They
knew not the instant the Kansas might
lift again and turn turtle. vet thew did
not dream of deviating a hairs breadth
from their duties. The second officer
went aft to carry out the captains
instructions. Courtenay followed lit
Tie way, passing to leeward of the
chart house until he reached his own
quarters. There was no door on that
side, but light Streamed through n con-
pie of large portfolios across which the
curtains had not been drawn. He
looked In. Elsie was leaning against
the table to balance herself on the Sion
Ing deck. She held Joey in her arms.
she seemed to be talking to the dog,
who answered in his own way by try
Ing to lick her face. The glass was so
blurred that Courtenay could not see
that she was crying.
Better wait" he muttered and turn
ed his gaze seward again. Yes. there
could be no doubt that the almost IN
broken swell within half a cables
leagth of the ship promised a posi-
Dlllty OF escape. There was no tell
ing what dangers lay beyond. To his
reckoning, the nearest land was TWEEN
ty miles distant, but the shoal water
might extend all the way, and. with a
falling wind, waves once disintegrat-
ed would not regain any considerable
size. 1t was a throw Of the dice for
life, but it must be taken. He indulg-
ed in momentary thought as to his
own course. Would he leave the ship
in the last boat? Yes, If every wound
ed man on board were taken off first.
and how could he entertain even a
shred Of hope that his cowardly crew
would preserve such discipline to the
end as to permit of that being done?
The answer to his mute question
came sooner than he expected. He
had been standing there alone about
i've minutes, intently watching the set
OF the sea, so as to determine the best
time for lowering boat, when, amid
the sustained Shrek of the wind and
the flashing of the spray, he heard
sounds which told him that the for
ward port lifeboat was being swung
outward on the dayits. The hurricane
deck was mass of confused figures.
The two boats to starboard lifeboat
and the jolly boat, had been carried
across the deck IN readiness to take the
places of the port lifeboats. A lands
man might think that medley reigned
supreme, but it was not so. Sailor
like work was proceeding with the ut
most speed and system when an acct
dent happened. For some reason ney-
er ascertained, though it was believed
that the men in the leading boat were
too anxious to clear the falls and fail
ed to take the proper precautions, the
heavy craft pitched sternforemost in
to the sea. She sank like a stone. and
with her went number of Chileans.
Their despairing yells, coming I'D from
the churning froth, seemed to be a
signal for the demoniac passions latent
in the crew to burst forth again, this
time in q consuming blaze that would
not be stayed Each man fought blind
" for himself, needless now of all re-
The knowledge of this latest disavter
spread with amazing rapidity. Up
from the salon came a rush of stew
ards and others. Overcome in the pam
ic stricken fight, Gray. Tollemache,
Christobal, the French count and the
head steward, not knowing what new
catastrophe threatened, brought Mr..
Somerville and the almost inanimate
women with them. leaving to their
fate those who, like Boyle, were una
bic to move. Some of the mob rushed
lp the bridge companion; others made |
Sor the after ladders used only by sail
DTS; others again swung themselves to
he spar deck by the rails and awning
standards. Even before Courtenay
.ould reach the scene both the second |
md third officers were stabbed. this |
line mortally. He saw one of the in
'uriated mutineers heave the third Of
lcers body overheard, a final quit
-ance for some injury previously re-
'eived.
He emptied his revolver into the |
mass of men, but he was
swept aside by the fresh gang from |
~ S~eAOA ShA pCAAODS ONCA LIS
escape from instant death by falling |
N the slippery deck. He was up again, |
shouting, entreating, striking right and |
eft, but he felt bitterly that his eff |
'orts now were Of no avail, and he be- |
thought him that there was only one |
'esource left. These frenzied wretches |
would destroy themselves and all 9TH !
RS, so if he would save even a few |
II the lives intrusted to his care at |
east one of the boats must be pro-
ected. The struggle was fiercest for
he possession of the two lifeboats. By |
determined effort the jolly boat might
re secured
So he ran to obtain help from the
ew he could trust. from the tiny COM
'any or White men he had left in the |
alon. He met them, forlorn process
ion. coming up to the bridge The all |
powerful instinct of self preservation. |
lided, no doubt, by the singing, |
lrenching showers of spray. had gone |