Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-04-23

the quarterback and from the fore
castle of the Missouri copper life.
buoys were hurled into the sea; these
bore cans of calcium chlorid which
burst into fame as they touched the
water-beacons for the lost sailor.
There was a patter of bare feet on
the superstrueture of the Missouri,
three or four sharp orders, a jangling
of tackle, and the life-boat, which
hangs ever ready on davits. swung
clear of the ships side, slipped into
the water. and was rowed swiftly into
the Overwhelming white circle made
by the neighboring men-of-war In
the stern-sheets Of each llfe-boat are
always provisions for two days and
a cask of fresh water, for frequently
in a storm the big ship loses the little
one for many hours, and it is always
a question with the officer of the deck
whether or not he should order away
the boat
At the same time similar boat
from the Kentucky, the eighth ship in
the line, had cast of These two
boats, each manned by six oars and
eoxswain. rapidly came together into
the region OF the life-buoys. which
could be seen like stars ieweling the
dusky sea.
The Missouri and the four ships in
her rear had veered out of column.
Presently the three ships ahead
veered, as well as the eight steaming
a mile away on the starboard beam.
For one man out of fifteen thousand
the whole feet was stopping. 1t
seemed unfair; some strain of mercy.
foreign TO the storied business of
war, was halting this world-tour.
Meanwhile. from all that two-mile
square expanse Of quiet sea clatter
piled on spectacle, spectacle on won
der. wonder on apprehension. appre-
hension on curiosity and curiosity on
laughter. Now ensued the quickest
job an-efiicer of the deck has to face
When a man falls overheard that
officer has seven separate and distinct
things to do, all at the same time
seven. count them.
Cd He flashes u" on the ardois;
(2) he throws his helm three points
and veers out of column: (3) he
stops his engines; 90 he fires a gun;
t5) he drops the life-buoys: CO. he
orders away the life-boat. and ca he
shifts the white truck light, which
has previously announced his peace
ful progress at standard speed. to a
red light, which says he has stopped
his engines, and then blinks it, which
declares feverishly that he is back
ing.
From all over the feet things were
doing. Three-pounders were barking
out rusty salute charges. Ardois rs
were caraeoling lusty staccato shrieks.
The creamy surge that had been
curving sea-shavings over direct bows
now ehurned under the propellors,
and Tipped up foam into the search
lights. The entire first squadron. ex-
eept the Connecticut. from the Kan
sas down the line. had come to a stop.
Finally, the Connecticut, too.
slowed her engines and hove to. The
captain came from his bunk, climbed
to the bridge, and asked many ques-
tions that nobody could answer. The
admiral was reused from his emer-
gency-cabin and hurried out, lacking
coat and in slippers. but not be-
fore he had paused to lift a stogy
from a drawer, had vieiously bit off
the end and thrust it into his mouth.
Then he went about, from flag-lieu-
tenant TO quartermaster from quar-
termaster 10 yeoman, from yeoman to
signalman, asking nothing abou. the
accident, imploring only for a light.
And between each irrelevant question
he looked aft over the rail of his
bridge upon rare sight,
There was no temper lost. Everyone
waited patiently. The life-saving
machinery was at work. as provided
in the regulations, There was no
need to worry; the incident would
take care of itself
We lay there beealmed. fumbling
in the tepid dark. The searchlights
played their stark wonder over the
dancing nightcaps where the silly
waves tried to hide their loquaeious
heads. Each described its twenty-de
gree arc or the circle and then began
over again. The life-boats wandered
aimlessly. The eoxswains blew their
whistles. The copper buoys were
gathered in. 40 answer, no sign of
life. The hops OF nation sat down
on its course; tho modern armada
waited. rut We were obeying the
law.
Finally the Connecticut grew petu-
liant, she began flashing her inter
rogatory And the Minnesota be-
came peevish; she blinked and sput-
tered with the ardois. The eomman-
der-in-ehief must have beea on the
bridge; the othe~ admirals, in their
isolated grandeur, must have been
aboard. When one of them talks it
is not with human kind; he chat
tiers with the elements, and gossips
BY electricity.
At length the Missouri's ardois
came to life. 1t began winking and