The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-11-26
THE SHIP OF DEATH.

o nth In couple OF hours, WHICH euo"'J
my back tire punctured.
Twas on the crest of small hill, and
half a mile in the distance gllmmered
the lights of small Devonshire hamlet.
Plymouth was out of the question now.
l trudged along, pushing my crippled
steed, hoping to find decent place where
could spend the night. A fine. drizzling
rain had commenced as l halted, outside
a comfortable-lo choking inn, and the stiff
breeze which had been blowing in my
face had freshened into half gale.
Having put my machine into shed,
was shown into the cozy parlor, where
| soon disposed of an excellent meal.
Lighting my pipe, settled myself snug
ly before the fire. Outside the wind
Mustered, and congratulated myself on
finding such pleasant surroundings.
Presently mine host entered. There
was "Royal Navy written all over him,
from his bronzed, clear-cut face to the
tin of his boots, and soon settled down
for chat with him before retiring
eyes," he said in answer to my query,
81 have been in the Navy. | entered as
bow and finished as warrant officer.
Ever been shipwrecked?" | asked.
His handsome face became somewhat
grave.
mo" he said, 'but l went through
an experience which was infinitely worse,
in my opinion. Perhaps you would like
to hear the story?'
/ nodded.
Settling his broad shoulders more com
fortaby in the chair, he gazed meolta-
w fold
the following story:
At the time it happened was an able
seaman on board second class cruiser.
We were fifty miles west of Waltisch
Bay. having received orders to keep
look out for a water logged dereilct
which had been reported by Union boat
at Cape Town, Our instructions We're
to cruise round and if we met it, to de-
stroy it as danger TO shipping.
Well, was look man at the mast
head. 1t was September, and close or
six bells in the middle watch (about 8 a.
n.y. | was anXiously waiting for eight
bells "a a. M } when | should be relieved
TO snatch short sleep in my hammock
until guard and "steerage" sounded
1t was dark night, without breath OF
wind. and my watch from midnight hac
been uneventful. Suddenly out of the
darkness, there doomed a big dark mass
and l promptly focused it through the
glasses.
At first l thought my imagination mus
be plaving me tricks, for had 1t been {
ship she should have been showing lights
and the nearest land was fifty mile
astern of US. Slowly, at about ter
knots, we forged ahead toward the black
ness.
NV heart almost stopped as l recogniz
ed what it was-a big barque, barely
half a cables length ahead! Instant.
| found my voice and roared out:
Barque ahead! Starboard! Star
board! Hard starboard!' Back came
the answer from the bridge, "Starboarf
it is!''
gr!pped the edge of the crow 's-nes
hard and peered ahead The strange
vessel doomed nearer, and l could JUS
make out the tapering masts and big
square sails of the stranger, but never {
light. | heard the clang of the engine
room telegraph, and felt the heavy vibra
tomas our screws churned "full speed
astern." Too late! held my breath as
we struck with grinding crash. felt
our ship heel slightly over and, look
ing below, saw the strangers Jlbboon
sweep our port bow, carrying away oul
boats and davits, until, foulmg the por
six-inch gun, the boom bent like bow
and then snapped with loud report
Blocks and tackle fell with an indescrlb
able rattle as we sheered off, slowly re
gaining an even keel.
Collision quarters were Immediately
sounded, and we lay-to to ascertain the
damage.
The dawn was Just breaking, and
eyerv moment we could see the strange
baroue-now a cables length astern Of
us-more distinctly. All hands were
now mustered, After the damage hae
been inspected, l was ordered to fall il
on the quarterback, where the captain
paced up and down with a ''come-to-be
court-martialed' look on his face. The
officer of the watch was also there.
went up, saluted, and told my story
After hearing my version and that OF the
navigator, the captain pulled his beare
and said:
Every peculiar! You said she carried
no ligbts?" he asked, turning to me.
mo, SIR" replied.
"Never hailed us or anything! sup
plemented the lieutenant.
"What do you make of it, Mr.. Pow
ell?" asked the captain, addressing the
Powell shrugged his shoulders. "1t''
beyond me-" he replied. "Let US hal
her again!'
Suiting the action to his words. hi
picked up the megaphone and bawled
''Braque ahoy Ahoy!" Only silence
greeted his stentorian hail.
Cant see a soul, said the skipper
who had been looking the stranger ovel
carefully through the glasses. 1t was
quite light; beautiful calm morning
with slight haze.
All eyes were turned towards the
barque as she foated peacefully on thu
quiet sea. rising and falling gently in thu
long, oily SWELL All sails were set, ane
save for the damage we had inflicted OF
her bowsprlt and jib she might JUS
have been delivered from the shipbuild
ers' yard AS spick and span as man
o'-war, she was certainly not the water
logged derelict for which we were search
ing.
As for ourselves, we were sorry
sight. The gig and whaler were smash
ee and hanging from confused medley
of ropes, blocks and falls. Both sets o.
davits were bent and twisted out Of
recognition, and the patchwork all along
the port side was ruined. Below the
water-line, fortunately, we were un
damaged.
- Iof