The Washington times., 1912-03-03
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY
The Second Deluge
By GARRETT p SERVISS Til. t4 GSGysfa dn s Co.,
Copyright, 1911,
o Frank A. Munsey co.,

to burst simultaneously into activity.
probably through the effects of the IN
ranean fire, while the strain of the I'M
wontcd weight thrown upon the coasts
broke open the tectonic lines OF weak
ness In the earth's crust, causing the
most terrible earthquakes, which de-
stroyrd much that the water could not
reach.
From Alaska 20 Patagonia. from
kamchatka, through Japan, to the East
ITdies, frcm Mt. Hecla TO \esuvius.
Etna, and Teneriffc, the raging oceans
were bordered with pouring clouds o:
volcanic smoke, hurled upward in swift
succeeding pufts. as il every crater had
become the stack of stupondohS steam
engine driven at its maddcst speed:
while immense rivers Of lava famed
down the mountain TANKS ana plunged
into the invading waters with reVerbef-
ated roaIings. hissings, anil explosions
that seemed to shake the framework or
the globe.
During the second awful shoreward
neave on the Atlantic a scene occurred
est nerves culver. A great crowd hal
collected on the Highlands OF the Nave
sink to watch the ingress OF the tida
wave.
Suddenly. afar off, the smoke of an
approaching ocean liner was seen. 1t
needed but a glance TO show that she
was struggling with tremendous surges:
Sometimes che sank completely out Of
on the waves Those who had glassts
recognized her. Word ran from mouth
To mouth that X was the great Atlantis.
the mightiest Of the ocean monarchs. OF
hundred thousand tons register, com
ing from Europe, and bearing, without
question. many thousands of souls.
She was flying signals of distress. and
filling the ether with her inaruCuiate
calls for help, which uuavered into
every radiograp phi station within radius
: of hundreds Of miles.
But. at the same time. she was bat
! Ting nobly for herself and for the lives
main peak the Stars and Stripes
streameI in the tearing wind. There
were many In the watching thTongs who
personally knew her commander. Capt.
human being would bring the laborins
ship through safely ne could. Aid from
land was not to be thought Of.
| As she swiftly drew nearer, hurled
/ onward oy the reslstless surRes with tn :
speed Of an express train, the captain
| was recognized on his bridge, balancing
| himself amid the lurches of the vessel
and even at that distance, and in those
| terrible circumstances, there was some
thing in his bearing perceptible to those
who breathleSsly watched him through
p"werfnl glasses. which spoke of per-
fcct self-conmand. entire absence OF
| ship or lie with her under his feet
1t could be seen that he was issuing
| orders and watching their execution. hut
precisely what their nature was, OF
hope must be 20 keep the vessel from
being cast ashore There was no dan.
ger from the shoals. for they were by
this time deeply covered by the swelling
Slowly, slowly, with a terrific strain.
ling of mechanic energies, which
pressed the jaws of the watchers to-
gether with spasmodic sympathy, a:
operating in the struggle, the gallan
ship bore her head round to face tn,
driving waves. From the ten huge req
stacks columns of inky black smok,
poured out as the stokers crammet
the furnaces beneath. 1t was maj
against nature, human nerve and me
chanical science against blind force.
1t began to look as if the Atlanta
would win the battle. She was nov
fearfully close to the shore. but he
bow had been turned into the very ey
OF the sea, and one could almost fee
the tension of her steel muscles a
she seemed to spring to the encounter
The pillows that split themselves Ii
quick succession on her sharp sten
, burst into shooting geysers 800 fec
, high.
The hearts of the spectators almos
: ceased to beat. Their souls wer
! wrapped up with the fate of the brav
ship. They forgot the terrors of thei
: flood, and saw nothing but the agon
: lied struggle before their eyes. wit
all their inward strength theJ praye
against the ocean.
t Such contest could not last Ions
Y Suddenly, as the Atlantis sWerved
4 little aside, a surge that lowered abov
g her Hottest deck rushed upon her. Sh
n was lifted like a cockleshell upon II
n crest, her huge huh spun around, an
J. the next minute, with a crash that II
? sounded above the roar of the maddenG
d sea, she was dashed in pieces.
3 At the very last moment before I'll
vessel disappeared IN the whirlin
: breakers, TO be strewn in broken an
e twisted bits of battered metal upon ii
9 pounding sands, Capt. Basil Brown wa
g seen on the commanders bridge.
: No sooner had this tragedy passG
l. than the pent-up terror broke fort
: and men ran for their lives, ran Il
! their homes, ran to do something
Is something. but what?-to save then
selves and their dear ones.
For now, at last, they believed.
Continuation of This Story Wi