Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-08
ALI TIE MANS FAULT
BY GERTRUDE MlLLETT..

too vivid recollection of M last
lake trip. Mrs. Clark invited rie 70
go to Escanaba with her ard e." Or
freight boat I was delighted Fay
had been on the trip befcre and she
reported that she had the time of
her life.
The trip TO EscaE2ba was : dream.
The captain and sailors eculd nct 10.
enough for us. It T.as moonlight and
the lake looked beautiful. ici5 as
if was on a private yacht It vas
perfect till We started back.
at Escanaba they loaded the beat
with tons of iron ere. Tie vessel sank
deeper and deeper into the water, ur-
til it began to look like 2 submarine.
Then when we started for Chicago we
were towing a barge loaded With
more tons and tons Of ore.
I'VE had been OH our way day,
when I saw that the sky looked like
lead, with ugly yellow streaks across
it. | said to Mrs Clark, I think we
shall have storm.
You know how optimistic She is!
With that sky above us, she gayly
remarked, oh, do you think so?'
1T was not long before the storm
broke. The wind came suddenly and
the rain came down like an overturned
sea. We hurried into the protection
of the cabin and watched the storm.
II
creaked. I will say nothing about
the way it rocked. TIE rope which
pulled the barge broke like thread.
In few minutes it seemed miles
away.
presently I saw a sailor make his
way 10 the lifeboat watched him
,anxiously. He was working at the
ropes.
7 said to Mrs. Clark, He is going
to lower the liieboat and you must
know what that, means
she did not answer ME, but pushed
the screen door OPEN ard rushed up
to the man, pulled his sleeve and
asked, Are You going to lower the
| lifeboar?' He paid no attention 10
/ her.
she came back, threw herself into
a seat and sobbed. I shall! never see
my husband again.
Tables and chairs we're sliding
about. In despair dropped upon the
floor. Oh. why did ever come!
| Tons of iron below me! l could see
the beat go down into the lake like
cannon ball.
81 know when strike the water
I cried I'll go straight 70 the bottom
Fay answered, GospGiringly, We
all will. There'll be 10 other place
to co.
Like Q fash al the mean things
I had ever done rushed through my
mind. never knew before that crisis
on the lake that there were so many
of them.
Suddenly Fay jumped up. I an
going to put on life preserver, she
/ exclaimed.
There was none in sight. We be-
gan to hunt frantica!ly. The boat
pitched us in every direction.
We looked on the ceiling, OH tie
walls and even tore the cushions from
the chairs. There Was 10 sign OF life
preservers. Where could those men
have put them? Al last Mrs. Clark
found them in 4 closet, covered Wit!
insect powder. We pulled them Gut
and each grabbed ore.
Fay was wriggling into hcrs-it
looked like a douchnut. 1 had on a
cork Jacket with the back to the front.
Tie IT, l kept on screaming to them.
Mrs. Clark had one on and was
trying to get into another. We were
all sneeziug because Of the insect
powder.
Mrs. Clark ran to the door for
fresh air oh, girls she called
There is the steward bringing Us tea.
And the lifeboat is still in its place!
Fay and l made dive for tho
door. Yes, there was the lifcboat!
could hardly believe it.
by this time the steward came up
Is the boat going to sink?' cried Mrs.
| Clark.
"'Sink? No, everything is ali right,
he said.
why, that sailor was lowering the
lifeboat, shrieiled Fay.
The captain came in at that Ea:H'
ute. He was sent to fasten it more
securely said the captain.
"'Then why couldn't he say SC?
cried Mrs. Clark.
'I never could tell YOU how these
men laughed. We began to pull at
those life preservers. When mine
came off l looked as if l had bee;:
relied in insect powder. 1t was a
comfort to see the other two look as
if they had just escaped from an H.
sane asylum.
My puffs are gone!' cried Fay,
feeling her flattened head. They
were brand newt
1T won't matter said Mrs. Clark.
Brown puffs do not match yellow
hair
Insect powder in my hair
screamed Fay. It's all that mans