The Columbus journal., 1909-03-10

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 bacEed away from the en-
trance. and hesitated. 1t was plain
that he desired witnesses before in
vading the precincts of a stricken
craft, and in moment more he
stepped to the rail, held a short coz
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 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 were
shouted TO them from the shore.
The little boat swung of. turned her
nose out into the stream and steamed
sunmoning others of her service; and
in less than half an hour returned &C.
companied by small flotilla, which
spread out and stationed it's members
close up against the sides of the
stranded craft. Another officer of
higher authority joined those waiting
on the decks of the Dreadnought, and
led the way below. ready to learn the
worst. He went as into plague ship
manned by the dead expecting to meet
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 behind
when the echoes of their falling feet
dumped hollOwly through the steel
cavern. Once a weird shrek caused
them to spring toward each other with
nervous fright. and when the ships
cat came mewing up to them. begging
in its animal way for companionship;
they looked foolishly at one anothe:
like boys who had been startled in the
midst of ghost tales told by camp.
fire in the woods.
Cabin after cabin and wardroom aft.
er wardroom was opened and
searched; but nowhere could he found
sign of disturbance or conflict. There
was not another living being aboard
to greet them. nor did they find more
awful testimonials of war.
In the captains quarters, clean and
busi1ess-like the roll-topped desk was
closed. and the books on top of it were
in order as for inspection. At its side
stood typewriter with the tin resting
lightly upon it, and stenographer's
case notebook beside neatly checked
and showing that the last letter or
order had been completed. On the
wardrocm table lay a magazine open
and turned page downward as though
the reader had desired to keep his
place and had stepped away from it on
a sudden call. In the galleys of this
great floating home pots. pans and
kettles were placed in orderly array
in their racks-no thrifty housewife
state. In the chartroom the traced