Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-07
By LOUIS TRACY,

cd his gaze seaward again. Yes, there
 could be no doubt that the almost un-
 broken swell within half cables
 length of the ship promised a possi-
 bility of escape There was no tell
 Ing what dangers lay beyond. To his
 reckoning, the nearest land was twen-
 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. It was throw of the dice for
 life, but 1t 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
 five minutes, intently watching the set
 of the sea, so as to determine the best
 time for lowering a boat, when, amid
 the sustained shriek 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 davits. The hurricane
 deck was mass of confused figures
 The two boats to starboard, a lifeboat
 and the jolly boat, had been carried
 across the deck fin 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 acci- dent happened. For some reason nev- CT ascertained. though 1t 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 a number of Chileans. Their despairing yells, coming up from the churning froth, seemed to be signal for the demoniac passions latent | in the crew to burst forth again. this | time in a consuming blaze that would | not be stayed. Each man fought blind ly for himself, needless now of all re- strictions.
 The knowledge of this latest disaster spread with amazing rapidity. Up from the salon came a rush of stew ards and others. Overborne in the pan. ic stricken flight, Gray, Tollemache, Christobal, the French count and the head steward not knowing what new threatened, brought MT. 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 up the bridge companion; others made for the after ladders used only by sail. ors; others again swung themselves to the spar deck by the rails and awning standards. Even before Courtenay could reach the scene both the second and third officers were stabbed, this time mortally. He saw one of the in. furiated mutineers heave the third of. ficers body overheard, a final quit. tance for some injury previously re. ceived.
 He emptied his revolver into the tumbling mass of men. but he was swept aside by the fresh gang from the salon and perhaps owed his escape from instant death by falling on the slippery deck. He was up agair entreating. striking right anu left, but he felt bitterly that his ef- forts now were of DO avail and he be. thought him that there was only one resource left. These frenzied wretches would destroy themselves and all oth. CTS, so If he would save even a few of the lives intrusted to his care at least one of the boats must be pro- tected The struggle was flercest for the possession of the two llfeboats. By a determined effort the jolly boat might be secured.
 So he ran to obtain help from ths oxr ba ro,t1a fr,rzs Frn,,, ,bo .s-,.- -.