El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-15
By George E. Winter.

THE new wireless telegraph sta
ton on the summit of Snowdor
was at last completed, and the
marvellous results predicted had beer
Imore than realized; for the instruments
| within the little building had been
equipped with such potency that COM
munication could be established with
| the uttermost parts Of the earth.
Within the station Frank Curwen
the senior operator, sat before one OF
| the instruments, an expectant smile
| on his handsome face. awaiting a mes
sage from the girl he ioved. They were
nearly 5000 miles apart. but the
| bridging of the vast space by the cleo
| trio waves was now a mere common
place, and he could talk to her as
easily as If she sat in the same room.
The girls health had broken down.
and she had been ordered an immediate
sea voyage, so Curwen had taken ad-
vantage Of the fact that the vessel be-
longed to his uncle to supply it. at his
own expense, with wireless outfit.
The Ball was a small tramp steamer,
bound for the far east to pick up tea,
silk and other products of China in
exchange for its own cargo of west
-ern manufactures. It was. scarcely a
suitable vessel. perhaps, for lady
passenger. but the case demanded i'm
mediate action.
Only II hours before he had received
a message from her brim full of hope
and happiness; her returning health
and the joy her artistic nature expe-
rienced by the constant feast of
form and color that met her eyes on
every side had raised her to the high
est pitch of contentmentt, and con-
firmed in every way the wisdom of
their hasty choice.
A. ~
monitory click, and the girl began to
talk to him in the language of the
telegraphic code.
MY love. my love-" the message
ran. "a dreadful thing has happened,
and we are in terrible danger. How
can I tell you? And yet I must: 1 am
trying so hard to be brave.
Last night was awakened by a
terrible scream on deck. I sat up in
my bunk and listened; then followed
shouts, the report Of firearms, and
the rush of many feet. 1 hurried
into my clothes and stood shaking
with fear, uncertain what to do. Again
the borrid death scream and the fiend-
.ish yelling of voices speaking an un-
known tongue. The next instant my
cabin door was flung open. Capt. Hop
kins entered, and SEEING me by the
arm dragged me out without a word.
ne was pcl6, anu MS ndlT
was dripping with blood knew
something dreadful had happened. but
unable to utter a word, 1 was hurried
along by the captain till we reached
his cabin, where he pushed me inside
and closed and barricaded the door,
not before Y had caught a glimpse of
a fiendish yellow face glaring down
the hatchway-a cruel, murderous
face. with an expression that froze my
blood.
Within the cabin were two others of
the crew, both badly wounded. and
then 1 learnt what had happened |
During the night, as we lay at anchor, |
two boats came alongside without be- /
ing noticed-for the watch were |
asleep, poor fellows-and about 80 |
half-naked wretches clambered on |
board. They cut the threats of the |
sleeping seamen and quickly murdered |
the rest of the crew, as they rushed |
on deck, with the exception Of the cap |
tain and two of the men who man
aged to escape below after being bad !
Iy wounded. and here we four are, the
sole survivors, as we believe, barri-
caded in the captains cabin. which |
contains the telegraphic in
struments. expecting every moment to
be our last; can you"
Here the instrument became unin-
telligible. but resumed a little later,
at much slower speed with
frequent stops and false letters
Il am Capt. Hopkins, it continued;
I an working the instrument by Miss
Cartons instructions, she, poor girl,
s too faint to proceed. The ship has
aeen taken by Chinese pirates, and
Unless we receive ASSISTANCE in a few
hours time we are as good as muir
Tered. They are even now battering at
he door, but the cabin is sort of
strong and is built of steel. so
we can hold out for some time. Can