The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-04-18


steering emergency wheel located in this
protected alcoye maintaining our cquili-
bnum thereon BY clinging to two iron up
rights supporting the overhead deck. one al
each side Of the wheel AS an amateur sea
man, | didnt mind having to do this, even
taking some pride in our seamanlike per
tormance; but il was hard on Smith, who
was not aware Of the frequency with which,
in seafarmg liie one must sacrifice one s
dignity On this FIRST occasion nc bias
phcmed quietly at the necessity.
Mind your eye, gentlemen came a
shrill voice from overhead
Aid looking up, Smith and I saw the
Sailor not the sailor Of song and story, but
slim doll-laced boy like the one who
abode in this house last night.
"Amidships, from the poop to the hyinp
bridge, spanning the exposed maindeck,
where the freeboard was very low, ran
slender bridge. | don't know yet what the
sailors call It; a landlubber would call it a
footway. There were protecting wire life
lines on each side, between which there was
barely room for two men to pass each other.
This bridge could only be reached from the
poop, which in turn was attained by an iron
ladder running up from the maindeck.
The bridge was comparatively safe place
in heavy sea, as the waves that deiuged
the maindeck were shattered in the assault,
and only their heavy spray, with now and
then a snarling comb, swept the footway 4
Captain sent me to guide you gentle
men to the pilot house, yelled the Sailor
through his cupped hands Stand by to
make a run for the poop ladder when /
holler for YOU to 90.
Pleased as a schoolboy playing pirates,
/ poised for the adventurous dash The
YdulbaH shivered and groaned, hung level
and stationary moment, on premonitory
balance, then rolled heavily TO starboard.
/ saw the great chasm coming, into which
she was plunging sidewise, and held my
breath. She went down and down and
down, scooped up an awful segment of the
tropic seas, and cast it roaring over her
breast into the opening hollow on the other
side. y n
Got shrieked the Sailor.
4 went, with no red tape to the order Of
my going, and presently, with chortle Of
relief, caught the hand Of the Sailor, who
jerked me- urgently but purposefulIy, on to
the footbridge, beyond the danger point
Then / turned solicitously to see how
Smith was faring. To my CONSERVATION,
saw him on the top Of the returning wave,
shooting splnter-like, feet first, across the
deck. +" -
The story-teler here paused while he
methodically, and vita deliberation, de-
tached the band from a cigar. He did not
light il, however,
You SCI" he resumed whimsically,
when the Sailor said go, Smith tarried 10
pull his cap down another inch over his
intellectual brow, and to adjust another
button OF his macintosh.
In a real agony Of appeal, being quite
helpless myself | turned to the Sailor to
find that he wasn't in sight But | dis
covered his legs. hooked at the knees about
one Of the stanchions supporting the life
lines, and bis body hanging head downward
under the bridge
Smiths feet struck the starboard rail,
and the subsding wave left him sprawlng
on the deck. Even in the tragedy Of the
moment, do you know, Margaret, I was
actually thinking what an ndigni6ed
spectacle Smith was making 81 himself our
Francis Weem Smith, you know Before
he could gel to his feet, the ship rolled
again, and another wave picked him up and
hurled him Is port As he shot across the
deck, the Sailor caught and clutched him
By the collar, lifting him clear Of the flood.
and with my help, quickly landed him on
the bridge Smith stood up lurchingly aud
shook himself expcrimentally
Now, I'm all wet, he announced.
owlishly uguhrious. J'll have to 60 back
to my room
Better come on TO the pilot house, sir.
suggested The Sailor II amt as il we
weren't in hot weather The captain viii
have brandy there for YOU. and I'll have
your messboy bring you up dry clothing
= expect that viii be the best plan,
Smith. | volunteered.
smith gave me an an n'-you-Brutus look,
ASH \ had Sided with an enemy il an assault
on his yeracity But he started forward
without saving anything the Sailor leading
and guarding him ia the rear
We entered the pilot house on the lee
side and Immediately the captain, who 1t
that moment was the busiest man ever
saw greeted Us sharply: Gentlemen, you
are here, and then, Wilson, do YOU think
We could gel d hawSer through the star
board gunport2 that's your gun, isn't it9
mot remembering n have met ar officcr
ca board the rdselban BY that name, was
wondering who Wilson was, when the Sailor
made reply.
Yes, sir, that's my station, he adj
mitted IN his squeaky voice But ]
wouldn't want 80 try to put 40 hawser
.sassssas sgsssssa- ,s--.4ss~e=A- a---