The Columbus journal., 1910-04-13

beneath white sheets. were silently
borne forth from cabin and forecastle
and placed reverently upon planks
balanced across the rail.
should greatly have preferred
Lady Darlington to remain below dur
ing the ceremonies. There Is much de-
preston about such burial scenes at
sea. especially SO in our circumstances
aud surroundings. But she insisted
upon being present. and SO at the last
moment l returned to the cabin and
escorted both her and Celeste to the
deck. 1t was a dismal. melancholy
scene. and l did not wonder at the
slight shiver with which her ladyship
glanced about. The swiftly descending
SNOW. the whitened decks. trampled
beneath the feet of the men. the bare
spars overhead: the low-fiyins. dun
colored clouds; the gray. tumbling
waters: the low growl of the ice as
the waves battered its front; the ST.
lent semicircle Of men standing mo-
:ionless except for their shufIling feet:
and those two white-draped figures ly-
Ing extended across the rail-all COM
b!ned to form a grim sea-picture the
memory of which can never dissolve.
Protected somewhat from the sharp
wind b. the cabin the men had flung
aside their mufilers, SO that their
weather beaten faces, most Of them
heavily bearded. were plainly revealed.
l could not but be impressed with the
motley crowd. as the lineaments of
negro. kanaka. and every variety of
white degenerate were thus exposed.
Their uneasy. shuffling feet. and the
Impotence depicted on their faces.
aroused me to the requirements of the
moment. l advanced to the rail. stand
lug beside the corpse of the mate.
Lads" I said. soberly. when We
bury shipmates at sea there Is a
soiemnity about the simple ceremon.
unknown to the land. Far away from
friends and home We give the body W.
to the great ocean to keep for eterai
~. Yet we are sailors, long accus
toned to the vicissitudcs and perils OF
the deep: We have parted with ship
q
few among you look forward to the
time when comrades will be called
upon to perform a similar service OF
respect over your bodies. Even now
We sail forward into great danger.
and none among US can prophesy what
The morrow may bring of either life
or death. Yet the sea Is the sailors
sepulcher. the roar of the great waves
his requiem. 1 am no sea preacher.
able to address you upon the here
after. or fitted to eulogize the spirits
of those whose bodies We are about to
bury. You desire nothing of the kind.
Neither can l read over these forms
the usual burial service, for can find
no book containing ii on board. Is
there any one among you. mates. who
will voice a prayer before We drop
these bodies overheard"
l looked along the semi-circle of
faces. expecting nothing from the
members of the crew. yet family hope
full that some one or two might be led
to respond. No one stirred. however.
the only sound on board the wind
whistling through the rigging and the
heavy breathing of the men.
We'll. then" l added, regretfully.
nothing remains but to commit their
bodies to the deep. and may God have
mercy on their souls!"
lifted ny hand in signal. but even
as did SO Lady Darlington spoke. the
men who we're about to tilt the planks
pausing in wonderment.
Wait. Mr.. Stephens: not without
one word of prayer. Let me speak II, II
no one else will"
She came forward. throwing hack
her veil. and grasping my sleeve to
retain steady footing on the heaving