The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-02-25

his hamper had been 'feh;oved,, SO
hat no debris litteredN her deserted

accepted as a fact that nothing but
could account for the dis
appearance of the squadron which had
.,dQggedly sailed away Into the ,mys.-
FERROUS west to vanquish a terrible and
unknown enemy or meet a glorious.
death. little hope had been sustained
as the days of silence went by that
any explanation OF that defeat might
be forthcoming, or that any vessel
might, return; and now before Lon
don's. gathered populace was a grim
relic which only added to conjecture
From no source could the secret OF
this mysterious visitation be learned;
and SO the crowd watched and waited.
A boat, whose flag distinguished her
as being of the river patrol. oheyedla
hail from the shore, pulled noisily up
the stream against the outgoing tide,
and circled round the leViathan as
though, suspecting danger from within.
Her chief officer after due caution,
and receiving. no response, cautiously
directed her along side, and boarded
the Dreadnought over the starboard
H
along the embankment drew in its
breath in expectancy, waiting for a
revelation. 1t heard him shout BE
low, there!" and leaned forward
listening for whatever response might
be given but nothing was heard save
the steady lap of the water and the
farthest sounds of early river traffic
The officer advanced along the deck
to the companionway, and leaned GU.
riously into it repeating his hail, anG
once more there was a wait and no
reply. He backed away from the en-
trance, and hesitated. 1t was plain
that he desired witnesses. before lin,
vading the precincts of stricken
craft, and in a moment more he
stepped to the. rail, held short con
versation with those on the decks Of
his boat and then waited till he was
Joined by others of that force that
guards the Thames. Three men
clambered aboard and stood by him
until they were Joined by two others,
who, obeying a low.spoken order, sta.
toned themselves at the head of the
companionway. The officer and his
assistants advanced slowly, stepped
into the darkness and disappeared: into
the depths of the battle ship, while the
suspense along the embankment and
on the patrol became more intense. 1t
was several minutes before the inves.
| tigators reappeared, and then they
had gone only short way into the
vessel. They walked to the rail, and
the crowd remained waiting. With
British taciturnity they declined to an
swer any of the questions which werc
shouted to them from the shore.
The little boat swung off, turned her
nose out into the stream and steamed
hurriedly away at full speed, bent or
summoning others of her service; and
in less than half an hour returned &C
| companied by a small hotilla,, which
| spread cut and stationed it's members
close up against the sides of the
stranded craft. Another officer OIL
higher authority Joined those waiting
on the decks of the Dreadnought, anG
led the way below, ready to. learn the
worst. He went as into a plague shiI
manned by the dead expecting to NEE
nothing but 'grewsome relics of trag
edy, and prepared for shocking sights
From place to place he advanced al
most on tiptoe, and followed by his
companions who stared into darker
corners or glanced fearfully behin'
when the echoes of their falling fee
dumped holloway through the stee
cavern. Once weird Shrek cause'
them to spring toward each other will
nervous fright, and when the ship
cat came mewing up to them, begin;
in its animal way for companionship
they looked foolishly at one anothe
like boys who had been startled in thu
midst of ghost tales told by camp
fire in the woods.
Cabin after cabin and wardroom aft
err wardroom was opened an
searched; but nowhere could be fouu
sign of disturbance or conflict. Their
was not another living being aboar
to greet them, nor did they find NOR
awful testimonials of war. ......-..E
In the captains quarters, clean an
business-like, the roll-topped desk wa
closed, and the books on top of it wer
in order as for inspection. At Its sid
stood typewriter with the tin restih
" lightly upon it, and stenographer'
case notebook beside neatly checke
and showing that the last letter o
order had been completed. On tn
wardroom table lay magazine ope
and turned page downward as thong
the reader had desired to keep hi
place and had stepped away from it o