Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-09-30
The Directors
Report

York, was feeling her way in the thick
fog like blind man without guide.
On the bridge the captain and chief
officer compared anxious notes; for
ward the men discharged profanity
and tobacco juice with equal fluency,
and kept on the qui vive. They knew
they were not hundred miles from
the celebrated "Barnacles"-a cruel
reef, cemetery of many stout ship.
The engine room was aware of the
fact also, and babe no more rejoice.
In the saloons, however, all went
merry as the marriage bell. The first
class gentlemen passengers had got to
the coffee and cigars stage of an ex-
cellent dinner, and conversed with
themselves with the fine, full-blooded
confidence of men who had done them
selves we'll.
Mr.. Septimus @. Browbetter, mil
lionaire, shipowner, and director of
the Green Anchor Line" sprawling
in big leather chair, chewed the end
of his Havana contentedly. The world
went very we'll with him. He was
strong and fiorid and healthy, with a
pulse as 'reg'lar as quarter day, sir,
and digestion like a sausage-ma-
| chine"
A little, quiet man had just asked
Mr.. Browbetter what was the secret
of his success in life. Here was a
theme which the millionaire loved. 1t
lent itself to post-prandial eloquence.
He settled the bulk of his double chin
in his capacious collar, took long
puff at his cigar and sip at his green
Chartreuse, and replied, in loud mas
terful voice:
Resolution, sir-iron will and res
olution. That's the recipe A deter
mination never to let things stand in
my way. l always settled the line l
would take, and l always settled any
body who impeded my progress.
They'd got to go. sir, every time.
Push hustle-scrimmage sir. Shoulder
EN- out of the way. That's my advice
to young man starting in life Make
up your mind, go for the goal and
stamp on opposition. There's your
chart for success in nuts shell, sir!"
At that moment Mr.. Browbetter and
the rest of the people on the Sirocco
felt a terrific shock. There was a
series of nerve-racking thuds and
bumps, horrible cracking, grating
noise, splintering and a crashing and
a loud cry of The ships struck"
The Sirocco was on the dreaded
''Barnacles."
| Stewards ran about warning passen-
gers to get on deck with all speed.
The well-trained, disciplined crew
We're mustered and took their allotted
stations. The boats were got ready
and lowered, and coolly and calmly
the captain shouted his orders to his
lieutenants, who as coolly and calmly
saw them carried out.
The ships officers busted them
selves forming the. passengers into
squads. The women and children,
gathered in one pale, huddled group,
Gained by the steady, calm demeanor
OF the stewardess. The men, however,
We're more difficult to handle, and only
the stern determination of the Off
GERS prevented number of them
from rushing the boats.
Mr.. Septimus @. Browbetter was
one of the ringleaders. His ruddy
face had grown CHASTITY with terror,
and in his panic he was gesticulating
and dashing along the deck like a
mailman.
Suddenly the vessels bows parted
and went down, and a shower of
spume and spray broke over the COM
pany gathered in the waist and stern.
/ 1t was more than Mr.. Browbetter
could stand. He made rush toward
the boats, but was Immediately
brought up and checked.
DO you know who l am?" he bel
lowed. I'm director of the Green
Anchor line, and, by Gravy, I'm not
going to be drowned like a rat in a
trap for all the captains that ever
sported gold braid
Mr.. Browbetter," replied the cap
tain, steadily. you may be director
on shore, but Pm director here. I've
4OO lives to save-yours among them
and | can save ALL There are boats
enough. But you can't go yet. Won
en- and children first Go back to
your squad, sir, or by the living God
I'll shoot you!"
The vessel began rapidly to settle.
Masts and tunnels went by the board.
The effect on the millionaire was cleo
trical.
D you!" he shrieked. STAND
aside. will get into boat. To h
with your order and disciplined"
II He made bull-like rush forward.
The captains pistol cracked and the
man of wealth fell fainting to the
deck with groan His right arm
was shattered
What was that?" called the ship's
surgeon, rushing forward from the
spot where he had been attending a
couple of seamen wounded by the fall.
ing spars.
That" quoth the captain, was the
directors report, l guess. Let this
wounded skunk be dumped into the
next boat with the first mems batch.
VF