The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-02-19
A TALE OF THE SEA
(BY E. w. SPENCER)

(BY E. w. SPENCER)
Twas mid winter night on the far distant ocean,
The night of day we lost there at sea, ##
And the Doric, with scarcely perceptible motion,
Was steamng toward Frisco from the Country of Tea.
In the moonlight the swelling and foamng
Widespread with haze that had darkened the air.
When the voice of siren out of the cleaning
lie voice OF some lost 0'eroOme with despair.
Captain Smith was informed by his officer Rawlin
lThe passengers, also, had heard and descried,)
That the blast of siren on the portbow had fallen
And wreckage was floating against the ships side.
An attempt made by the of the steamer
To rescue the wreckage before it passed by,
But it foated away like the dream of dreamer
And nothing remained but the and the sky.
Then around the Ship with her blue lights aburning
And sounding her whistle she doubled her track;
But no answering signal rewarded her turning
NO voice OF the siren came cchong back
Every passenger now excited and nervous
ana crowded the deck the dateline crossed;
Every glass on the vessel pressed into service
ana swept the dark waves for glimpse Of the lost
While the mystical gloom had enshrouded our vision
The vessel returned something than a knot
When 1t came to halt, as if lacking decision,
And hove to for an hour the spot
But her waiting resulted in no explanation
1 he voices from the sea- which had caused the delays
80 the Captain resolved, after some hesitation
10 abandon the search and proceed OH his way.
He explained to the passengers crowlng about him 49,
mat fancy perhaps, would account for the voice,
And while some who had heard certainly doubt him.
This view of the case he would leave to their choice
Ivy iSActdHtiy ylelued 10 What mad been spoken,
mo ar from convinced that their deceived;
And they tarried above await further token
Confirming their faith in what all had believed
Scarcely half an hour had the vessel proceeded
When out OF the darkness came means of distress
So distinct and SO thrilling that nothing was needed
10 force zen the Captain to frankly confess
ihat sure there was something that needed explaining
"A mysterious something he could make out.
80 without any coaxing OF further consraining,
lie ordered once more his good vessel about
tha hts
LIS calls to the wrecked ones, again and again;
But the waves and the mist the mystery secreed
While tense We're the faces of women and men,
Now an object at last dscerned a distance
Approaching the ship the waves of the sea-
And the vessel stopped quickly render assistance
1t lost ones there should be among the debris
When the object came up the side of the vessel
Our third mate O'Neil as far aft was meet
Ran down the ships ladder. prepared for a wrestle
ana touched the grim wreckage with Of his feet
1t resembed the planking and ribs of a lifeboat
But shot from his touch like fish from a seine
And the Doric went backward away from shy float
AS a boat from the portside lowered in vain
For the wash of the steamers propeller was driving
The wreckage away from the side of the Ship
While all at the rail were most eagerly striving
10 keep it in sight lest it give them the slip
When the porboa the stern the vessel had rounded
The wreckage had vanished naught was in sight:
But the search continued and the whistle lesounded
And the blue lights burning the rest of the night
But when daylight revealed speck on the ocean
Fhe Doric started d her way:
But it had been night of fearful comnorion
And what were the voices mortal can say