The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-01-01
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The DIRECTORS REPORT
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fog ike 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 fiuency, and
kept on the Qui vive. They knew they
were not a hundred miles from the
celebrated Barnacles - cruel reef,
cemetery of many stout ship. The
engine room was aware OF the fact
also, and babe no more rejoice.
In the salons. however. all went
merry as the marriage bell. The first
class men passengers had got TO the
coffee and cigar stage OF an excellent
dinner, and conversed among them
selves with the fine. full-blooded conf
dence of men who had done them
selves we'll
Septimus @. Browbetter. millionaire
ship-owner and director OF the Green
Anchor Line, sprawling In a big leath
er chair. chewed the end of his Ha-
vana contentedly. The world went
very well with him. He was strong
and florid and healthy. with a pulse
as reg lar as quarter day. sir. and a
digestion like sausage machine"
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. II 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 reso-
| luton. That's the recipe. determi-
nation never 10 let things stand in my
way. ! always settled the line would
take, and always settled anybody who
impeded my progress. They'd got 10
go. sir. every time. Push, hustle.
scrimmage. sir. Shove men and cir
cumstances over. Shoulder em out of
the way. That's my advice to a young
man starting in life. Make up your
mind, go for the goal and stamp on
opposition There's your chart for sue
cess in a nutshell. sir"
is that your advice TO every young
fellow" asked the quiet little man.
Certainly You can't beat it,"
"And YOU would like every man TO
follow it?"
I've said So
Doesn't it seem to you rather in
human"
do YOU'RE talkin' rot. Life's a
scrap a shindy. a Rugby scrimmage.
Every man for himself. is my motto.
an the devil take the hindmost' I've
taken care q SELF let others take
care Of themselves. Every tub on it's
own bottom. | say"
But that's rank anarchy" said the
little man. Society would break up If
everybody acted on those lines. There
would be no order-no method. If PEG
pie went about stamping on each other
with determined resolu ion-if they all
adopted your chart of success ~ the
present muddle of diluted bogus collec-
tivism and semi-anarchy in which we
live would be even more complicated
and impossible"
well. you've heard my game" said
Mr.. Browbetter, brutally Let them
play It as can. Them as 1t too weak
can 20 10 the wall-an' the"
The sentence was not completed. At
that moment Mr.. Browbetter and the
rest of the people on the Sirocco felt
terrific shock. There was a series OF
nerve-racking thuds and bumps. a hor-
rible cracking, grating noise. a splint-
ering and a crashing. shrieks and cries
of distress and loud wailing cry Of
THE ships struck"
The Sirocco was on the dreaded Bar
nacles.
Stewards ran about warning passen-
gers to get on deck with all speed The
well-trained, disciplined crew was mus
tered and took its allotted stations
The boats were got ready and lowered
and cody and calmly the captain
shouted his orders to his lieutenants.
who as calmly and coolly saw them
carried out
The ships officers busted themselves
forming the passengers into squads
The women and children gathered in
one pale. huddled group. Gained by the
steady, calm demeanor OF the steward
esses. The men. however were more
difficult TO handle and only the stern
determination OF the officers prevented
a number of them from rushing the
boats.
Septimus O. Browbetter was one OF
the ringleaders. His rudy face had
grown CHASTITY with terror. and in his
panic he was gesticulating and dashing
about the deck like a mailman.
Suddenly the vessels bow parted and
went down, and a shower OF spume and
spray broke over the company gath
cred in the waist and stern.
IL was more than Mr.. Browbetter
could stand. He made a rush toward
the boats. but was Immediately brought
up and checked.
do you know who I am?" he bel |
lowed. I'm a director of the Green
Anchor Line and I'm not going to be
drowned like a rat in trap for all the |
captains that ever sported gold braic"
'Mr, Browbetter," replied the cap
tain. steadily. you may be a director
on shore, but I'm director here. I've |
four hundred lives to save yours |
among them and I can save all. |
There are boats enough But you
can't go yet Women and children |
first Go back to your squad. sir. or |
I'll shoot youl"
The vessel began rapidly TO settle. |
Masts and tunnels went by the board. |
The effect on the millionaire was cleo |
trical.
"Stand aside, ! will get into boat.
To hell with your order and disci-
pline!"