Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-28

of me. "ina on
The Humahuma had hit the s..,
square, and she had cut us half 1, "a. y
But she backed out so quickly ,s.I sso
fore could get to my feet ~ 49, %
driving both engines astern 49, vac
was already clear Of us soc
Just moment later she d,ssr..
In the fog, but 1 saw, nevar,Sss'a
that her bow was stove in ana
tured and that on deck there -.
barndoor Of a woman's fgure 49,
had In its arms a child.
felt sure from their shapes ,b...
woman and child would be NJ. -, -
dons and 81. so
Would the Humahuma SIM,
! was sure she would. from -.
had seen. And then 1 noticed tb,, ~ :.
own ship, the old Stalwart, was 49,
ing too. What to do? '1A'
ran to the splintered hole. ~, !,
heard the water whistling as n rnss.,
in, like wind in the treetops. o-,. 4
sharper notes.
WnaC TO DO!
Jumped and rang the alarm call :,
the bell, and the ships ahead pasxsd !.
along. I rang it again and again 80
then a frail skiff with a half rror,
boy in it appeared alongside an, !.
the fog.
"I'Il take you of. uncler said IN.
boy.
told him not to be familiar ths,
wasn't his uncle at all and that AZ "a,
going Off with him in bis skin I
couldn't.
"I'm sort of captain" said I. and I
can't leave. You know yourself a sb,n
keeper can't go without being relieved.
his job is to stay with his ship. Bu,
I'm much obliged to you, and I'd 40
preciate 1t more yet II you'd run down
to the Humahuma and pick up soma
friends of mine"
The boy hollered, "Aw, come on, you
nutty old devil; she's sinkin'"
But I said. 'No; I'm staying, thoun
I'd like well to see how ST and bis ma
are getting along, and wish you'd 70
down for me and see."
But just then another skin came out
Of the silvery fog, and it carried the
long old admiral himself. going IN a
wherry, with two bluejackets histing
him along.
"Oarsr he cried. abreast the gang
way, and then he called to me: why
don't you get off the ship? She's sink,
ing"
I saluted him Just as I'd saluted
Thomas at Chickamauga and says:
Cant till I'm relieved"
And do you know he seemed to get
real mad. He says:
You're relieved now. Haven't you
got any sense in your head? Get out Of
that into the skiffi Give way, lads"
IAN right, sir" says 1. If she's or.
ders she goes, and I'm much obliged to
you"
And I jumped into the skiff with the
boy. and we followed the admirsls
boat through the fog toward where We
could hear muffied shouts and cries
The Humahuma sank before we ar.
rived, and we were soon in the midst
OF floating buckets, boards and articles
of clothing. But there were good
many shore boats already there, and
the survivors were all picked up 50 far
as could be seen.
So we started looking in the variou
boats for 81 and his ma. but we couldn't
find them, though we rowed around and
around and around.
Finally the other boats commencm
to go in shore, one by one. but we Eepl
on rowing until no one was there e.
cept the pale faced boy and me-
We'd row a few strokes, then stop 20
listen and see If the heavy. leadeh
foggy silence wouldn't be broken.
Finally the silence was broken
faint moaning noise came from OUT u
the white fog some place.
We pulled for it; then we pause'
and listened, hoping to hear 1t agaih-
When we did hear it again l climDea
to the bow, and we pulled and pausea
and pulled and paused.
Sometimes it seemed far on, sous
times close. But presently saw
shadow on the water.
way ,nuffr' 1 cried. "Give me ~
BAR. I'll paddle"
And so I came to the SHADOW, ess
ly and carefully, and it was 81 ana w
ma that had made the shadow. 81 was
Iii right
He was wrapped in life preSers.
md he was unframed, except tnat IN
Jack was wet and that he was hunep
md sleepy. But his ma lay race COVE
ward, dead-drowned in some mys's
,us fashion by the very ouoyanc'
he life preserver she wore
called loudly. and some boats ca
nut and helped me with Mrs. siou0'e
,ody. But l took 81 myself.
1 wrapped him up in my new Graz
Army coat. and l took him strais.
lome. and, though some women sa
n. I fixed for his comfort mysen'
I cave him some milk and
poonful of brandy. and then ! WIZ i
ed him in my army coat AGAIN.
10 went TO sleep chewing his 6nueA
rhich shows that he was periec''
SIZED.
And 7 hereby state that SIS tilis
hat Grand Army coat is good
aking care of 81. and l guess -
erve VIII help in that just as IL w
d everything else