The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-07-30


the result. He had chosen sailors
vocation aud would spend his life OF
the water.
Ben also refralned from writing his
little sweetheart TIL he had made nj
his mind that he would carry out biz
Intentions in going to sea. This was
when he had been anoat a year. and
the letter he received in reply gave him
the most delicious sensation he had ex-
| perenced since leaving home.
When Ben had been ut sea five years
he found himself. at the age of twenty
one. FIRST mate OF the ship Northern
Star. Holilngsworth master, bringing a
load OF cotton and a large number OF
passengers from Bombay westward
The captain had contracted fever
while In Bombay and was unable TO
leave his cabin. Consequently Lara
way was in command. One morning
the third mate came to him with the
news that the cotton was smoldering.
The first officer did not turn pale. but
he had received the shock OF his life.
He dare not even report the threatened
calamity to the captain The ship wa9
800 or 600 miles from any port. Should
the knowledge that the cargo was on
fire reach the passengers panic would
ensue. Here was problem calculated
to shake the strongest nerve and one
who had but just reached the age of
manhood was called upon to meet It.
Laraway went at once to inspect
the fire and made up his mind that wa
ter poured on II would only produce
smoke and steam without having any
other effect. The ship was doomed
and that at no distant time. Directing
that the patches be as closely secured
as possible that smoke might not es-
cape, the young commander returned |
to the deck. The morning was sunny
and the ocean comparatively calm. A |
number of the passengers were play |
Ing that game peculiarly adapted to |
ships deck. Switchboard. Laraway
sauntered up to the party and stood
locking at the game. 1t was known
that he was in command of the YES
sel-the commander of ship is al
ways an object Of interest to the pas.
Laraway's overlooking
a game Of Switchboard was considered
a condescension. especially as he never
before had been known to leave his
post while on duty. When the game
was finished he said:
81 should think you people would get
tired of Switchboard"
Tired of it, replied a lady. "Sup-
pose we are; we've nothing else to do"
How would you like to take hand
at one of our ships drills?"
"What drill?"
"Well. we might try taking to the
boats. in case OF collision or any other
accident. from sinking ship"
Tn in for that" said one. and he
was followed by others.
There's great advantage in IT,"
said Laraway. "You see, in case of
emergency the main difficulty is with
he passengers, and by going through
he drill, in case anything should hap
zen. you would be prepared for it,"
Good idea" exclaimed one.
"Splendidr' said another.
Anything to break the monotony"
a THIRD
Larawuy stood among them explain
ne just how they We're to proceed. He
would FIRST give orders for the collec-
ion of provisions. They would be
eady In half an hour. Meanwhile to
AIRY out the idea properly let each
a g ~
rom his baggage as would be needed
n case he must live for several days
n an open boat. This in itself was a
cry important matter. When all were :.
eady let them come on deck. and he
would tell them Off into parties to fill
he boats.
All went below except a few ladies'. ,
Tho did not seem inclined to join In :
he drill. Laraway did not urge them
} do so, though he told them that it
'as practice for the common good. ,
Don passengers began to come up the
ompanionway carrying various arti- :
es. some of them joking each other !
n what they had selected. A thin =
I'm of smoke began to issue from a
'rward hatch. One of the ladies ask a
! the captain what 1t meant. ana he :,
I'D her that the men We're drying r
leir clothes. !,
When the boats We're well stocked 1,
18th provisions and water and the n
ew, who had been coached by the u
nior officers to keep cool and say u
'thing, had swung them on their n
wits. Laraway filed them with pas O.
myers one after another. When all r,
ere filed he ordered the boats low Il
ed. II,
Good gracious, captain" cried a b.
fy. you're not going to let us down p'
to the water. are you? Let me get re
T." Il
Stay where you are. madam. The SC
ip is on Ore and viii soon be ablaze" d.
Scarcely any one of the passengers
lieved Laraway to be i'm earnest. M
me tried to get back on to the deck.
I We're prevented by the crew. One 81
ter another the boats were lowered
d pushed of. Then all invalids. in
ding the captain and those belong hs
, to the ship, were put In boat: In
an fhn araw aud IacfIv / 4.