The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-02-23

own inNperious question sounded abrupt
almost to the point of harsnness.
"You have a lady upon this ship
where is she?"
"She has gone, sir"
"Gone-good God! how can she be
gomez
1--WE knew what you would ask and
sent down to her cabin a quarter OF
an hour ago. sir. She was not there.
Mr.. Colin Ross, him that commands for
Mr.. Imroth, he says he knows nothing
Of 1t. It's true as heaven, sir, the
lady's come to no harm by us, nor
would have done IL she had been
aboard here 20 years. There wasn't q
man that wouldn't have given his life
for her. We don't know where she is,
sir. and that's gospel truth"
Imagine the scene. stood upon the
open deck of the strangest steamer
have yet set foot upon--a steamer so
splendidly fitted and furnished, as one
glance told me, that no Atlantic liner.
whatever company floated her, could
have claimed a greater elegance. The
bridge above me had the neatness. the
shining brass, the white ladders OF a
man. Of warsman. The guns were pol
ished to the last possibility. Every cab
boast the luxury and equipment of a
state saloon on passage boat. l per-
ceived an immense dining hall aft and
a companionway not unsuited to q TO-
000-ton steamer. There were boats
abundantly, safely rafts-the usual
equipment of an going vessel,
and yet. in the strongest contrast,
ship from any other had ever visited
and placed her at once in a category
apart. This was nothing more nor less
than screen Of solid steel bars, 10
feet high. perhaps, and defended by
forbidding spikes sharp as swords and
impossible to fend, a screen cutting the
vessel into two clear divisions, and OBJ
viously Imroth's protection against all
others who sailed with him. judged
at once that the men lived forward Of
this Green: Imroth and his chosen COM
pany, aft. A wicket gate, just large
enough to admit the body of a man,
permitted communication between the
divisions; but the steelwork itself ap-
peared to be carrier cunningly over
the bulwarks In a manner that must
have rendered the aft cabins absolutely
secure, not only against the seamen col
lectively, but against any spy among
them.
This wicket gatae, be 1t said, stood
open when l climed to the main deck,
and the men now passed to and fro at
their will. The more horrible aspect
of the picture did not Immediately pre-
sent itself to my notice. was some min
utes abroad before my eyes S.scerned the
huddled figures of men, some propped
in bent attitudes against the bulwarks,
some already dead, few crying hor-
riply in the agony Of mutilation AS the
scene unfolded itself, the woe of it be-
came more terrible to witness There
ca nf to-, L.
chiefly, l perceived, from South Euro
pean and Mediterranean ports, Turks
in their native dress. sturdy Greeks,
Tunfsians, seamen from Algiers and the
Adrfatic OF those who crowded about
me uOwounded, two were American,
one negro, third little Frenchman,
who gabbled to the point of delirium.
me appeal, however, was common to
ALL
Help our friends, doctor-save them,
for Gods sake! We have no doctor on
board. Herr Klein sailed with Mr.
lmroth. We can do nothing for our
selves"
The woe Of it appalled, me: I knew
neither what to answer them or how
best to help them. Many a day had
passed since l practiced my own pro-
fession. And to be called upon as a
surgeon upon battlefield!
Have you stores?" l asked "Is there
a surgery on board?"
They shouted an affirmative alto
gether. Half dozen among them were
ready to lead me below. Hesitating an
instant to give my Command to Okyada
/ went with them as they desired.
Miss Joan is on the ship" 1 said
to the faithful fellow; find her and
take her to the yacht"
Okyada looked at me with one swift
almost wistful, glance and disappeared
Immediately from my sight. The burly
American who posed as my guide
pushing his comrads aside, led me
through the wicket gate, and we de-
scended the great companionway. we
passed by a boudoir furnished with
such elegance that Paris alone could
have commanded its ensemble. There
was card room not unlike that of a
great London club. Crossing this room
and leaving 1t by a door toward the
center OF the ship, found myself i'm
mediately in broad corridor lighted
from above. and the walls of this ap.
peared to be of steel Had been In
doubt as to the meaning of 1t, the Am
orleans candor would have settled the
matter without question.
"Old Five AS strong box" said he
that's where he keeps what isn't goo6
to eat. I guess the best Of the stuff',
landed by this time. 1t went off in
COIN Ross,s ship. You might buy
yourself gold brick out Of what's lief,
and not be much poorer. We share ant
share IN that now. There used to be :
guard down here night and day wher
old Isaac was abroad / guess yor
scared him pretty badly. Ha ran fol
the Brazils the day after we sighted
YOU"
asked him but one question IL
turn.