The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-08
On the WeSt Coast
OF South America

their tragic stories charged the scene
with romantic interest. while our
steamer. like a painted shin on a
painted ocean. glided along a track Of
gold n the sunset. About midnight
the blare OF the siren told US Of fog.
occasionally We caught answering
calls from other ships. A little after
uayllght We we're startled by the en-
slnes going full-steam astern. followed
IN a moment or two by a crash that
careened the ship and seemed to be
crushing in her side. That crunchinC.
rending. terror inspiring crash can
never be forgotten. was ON on decl,
IN time 10 see the black head of the
ship that had struck US. glide like a
hideOus monster back into the fog
whence Il had come TO smite us two
deadly blows. BY this time pandemon.
iuul reigned among the native crew.
ferdlta perdita, we are lost. We ara
lost, rang thro the vessel as the manic
stricken crew rushed about the decks.
Inc ship was Gillian. the crew Chill
IAN put happily for us the officers
we're European. Spanish blood and
nerve cannot be relied upon in emer
gencies demanding cool heads and
prompt action. Captain and matcs
were Swedes; engineers. Scotch
sparkle. the Marconiman. was a
Brltisher. Amid a crew mad with ter.
Tor. the officers were as as
if on parade.
realizing that a collision Was newt
apLe' the nan on the bridge rang Tor
!IIl steam astern. at the same time
throwing the helm hard aDort Tbus
We received only "a plancing bt,v
instead OF a direct thrust i'm the Yer,
Nlldls OF the ship. which wOuId cor.
AMY nave sent us to the bottom al.
u Vas Two decks were ripped up and
= uihEe Twelve feet wide and four foet
deCp made IN tho side OF the vessel
bolts were sheared of as if made of
putts' ratings and decks we're convert.
"a INTO kindung wood. The promptno-s
.. me men m command may be illus
lIated by the fact that within four
minutes after the accident. Sparks"
was getting responses TO his * d = DO
signals from other ships and the lie
boats were made ready for embarkIuR
lut passengers and crew Bv This
iltle me hrst officer. who had gone
over the side 20 examine the injury.
tported the damage vas above water
ilhe ana would not interfere with our
proceeding on our course The mas.
senEeFs IN all stages OF undress were
gathered ON the deck. but m~anffeetiue
no panlcky symptoms. Most Of them
NtI' Americans. tourists. business
men. miners. booked for the copper
mines OF Peru aud Chilli. a few bours
after the accident the passenger a..
sembled tn the saloon 90 render
thanks 10 God for their ~delfvcrauce
ana 10 pass resolutions OF commeuda-
you OF thc action OF the gallant Of
hcers VINO so s%plendldly played their
parts 10 the time Of our peril Had
We been compelled 10 take 10 the
boats. and the attempt been made TO
land. % probabilities are that many
ives would have been lost. 4 more
tafage coast can hardly be- IMAGINED
llht That or the Pacific shores Of
SCUM America for two thousand miles
though the ocean may De- calm "a fow
miles out. the surf that breaks ncrpot.
uaIir on the rrcl-hound coast makes
landing "a pcrllOus fhinc under the
most favorable conditions Only O.
ear before 20 experience. an Eng
lan ship was lost on this ronet on
o. uuiet night NI the passengers and
gov we're accommodated iu the life
boats buf more thar half wore
drowned ln attempting fo land
through The raging surf Those who
Nlcceeded in g@etting 10 shore we're
compelled fO tramp more Than twenty
miles Through the dessert before ffcv
found shelter. food or water one Of
.nc ~stranEcst phenomena Of the Pacific
i 1 stream Rowing from the Antarctic
ocean and washing Do west coast Of
south america Unlike our Atlantic
'fII ffrcam. tho humboldt river. AS
M if called. Of tlr Pacific ocean f. a
minister 81 d%osolatiou
Great Britain would DO a Labrador
huf for Tho Atlantic stream flowing
from The warm heart az fhr Gulf of
Mexico West South America. now n
sahara desert. would hp a paradise.
but Tor Tho Pacific -fream from ne
Antarctic region ~ nIrhf and frost Fnr
two thousand miles along fhIe cost
with n coil fertile aa tho garden Of
tho gods. moi q blade NJ grass grows
save where some 5000. r.rcnm Hrdr
ita way from Nudrau Ir.rIfs .1 the
sea. or irrigation Is developed Sun
and ocean Iu mo Pacific. load.
clouds with water. uraf eirIs h4r
unseef fo h aerial water WAGONS
hurry them fo fhr thirsty shores U.f
fnr deadly Humboldt stream sucks rt
cry drop ~ Iifo Swing rain from the.