The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-22
THE WHITE GHOST
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boat, all right said Wylie.
They rowed straight for her as the
smoke Of the steamer rose in the
east Before they came within a mile,
they saw the steamer would reach
them before they could reach the
boat. They then rowed slowly, and
watched, waiting.
Something right ahead, sir" rallied
a man forward
Roberts looked over the side He
saw something floating
"Starboard, swing her over little,
he said to the chief mate.
Roberts leaned over the side. He
was nervous at what he saw. 1t had
the look of something he dreaded.
Then the object came drifting along,
and he reached for it, Long before he
grasped it. he saw It was the form
of g man holding to a cork jacket with
one hand and the collar of mans
coat with the other.
The old fellow floated high and
Smiths hand was clenched with a
death grip in his clothes. His left
hand was jammed through the life
jacket, and the fingers clutched the
STRAPS. His head lay face upwards,
and his teeth showed barred from his
gums.
Heavens! It's Smith himself" ex-
claimed Roberts, The life Jacket told
tale too plainly Wylie knew what
had happened.
IT'S just as well he didn't come
ashore. He was guilty, all right" said
Mr.. Roberts. "A man who wrecks
liner and kills hundreds of passengers
might just as well stay out here. Shall
we leave him."
"No, if know it," said Wylie, with
sudden heat.
Within fifteen minutes they were
picked ur by the steamer and were
SAFE The manager of the line well
gentleman came to seek him.
I'm sorry We didn't have you that
voyage, Mr.. Roberts," he said. 81
don't like to say anything against
dead man; but of course, Smith was
on duty when she struck-that is all
we know"
And l suppose you'll want me to
go into the other ship, now, sir?" ask
ed the officer.
yes, you can report to Captain |
Wilson any time this week. How is
your sister? Did she recover from the
boat ride?"
We'll in a way, but she's forever
talking about that blamed second
mate, Smith, who seemed to have
strange sort of influence over her
while she was with him in the boat. .
He struck her, too, the dog! It's just |
as well he didn't come back" said
Roberts.
well, she'll get over that all right.
Smith was rough sort of man; but
as we knew him, lie was a first-class
sailor, a splendid navigator; and no
one seeiG5 able 10 explain how he ran
the ship against an iceberg DURING
daylight. It's one of those things wei
never find out, The truth, you know,
is mighty hard to fathom in marine
disaster it must Lave been a terrible
blow to Brownson 10 have to kill him
self, unable to face the shame for a .
mates )ffon3e-bLt Brownson vas IA |
ways a sensitive man a splendid ie-
low. and I suppose he would not go
in a boat after what Smith had done.
Brownson was captain, and might /
come under some criticism. Some
of the men say he shot himself after
upbraiding Smith for his crime"
yes, My sister tells me they had
quite heoted words while the liner
was sinking" said the new second
mate.
And so William Smith passed out.
His name was never mentioned in .
shipping circles without reserve. But |
there are still some men who remem |
Der him, who knew plain "Bill' Smith, /
the fighting second officer of the liner
that went to the end that morning off
the Grand Banks. And those who .
knew Smith always think of that cork
Jacket. They made no comment.
They knew him. It is not necessary.
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