The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-03

were helpless, like rats in a trap. and
they screamed.
The horror Of 1t drove me out on
deck. | was feeling sick and squeam'
ish. and sat down on a bench. In a
haZy way ! saw and heard men rush
ing and shouting as they strove to
lower the boats. II wac just as | had
read descriptions of such scenes In
books. The tackles damned. Nothing
worked. One boat lowered away with
the plugs out filled with women and
children and then with water. and cap
sized. Another boat had been lowered
by one end. and still hung in the tackle
by the other end, where 1t bad been
abandoned. Nothing was to be seen
of the strange steamboat which had
caused the disaster, though ] heard
men saying that she would undoubt.
edly send boats to our assistance.
| descended to the lower deck The
Martinez was sinking fast, for the wa
ter was very near. Numbers Of the
passengers were leaping overheard
Others. in the water were clamoring
to be taken aboard again. No, one
needed them. A cry arose that we
were sinking. | was seized by the con-
seQuent panic, and went over the side
in a surge of bodies How went over
! do not know, though | did know. and
instantly. why those in the water were
so DESTROYS of getting back on the
steamer. The water was cold-so cold
that it was painful. The pang, as
plunged into it, was as quick and
sharp as that of fire. II bit to the mar
row. 1t was like the grip of death.
gasped with the anguish and shock
of it. filling my lungs before the life
preserver popped me to the surface.
The taste of the salt water was strong
in my mouth, and | was strangling
with the acrid stuff in my throat and
lungs.
How long this lasted have no con-
ception, for a Darkness interviewed,
of which remember no more than one
remembers of troubled and painful
sleep. When aroused, it was as after
centuries of time; and ] saw. almost
above me and emerging from the fog.
the bow of vessel, and three triangu
lar sails each shrewdly tapping the
other and filled with wind. Where the
bow cut the water there was a great
foaming and gurgling. and | seemed
directly in its path. tried to cry
out, but was too exhausted. The bow
plunged down, just missing me and
sending a swash of water clear over
my head Then the long black side
of the vessel began slipping past, so
near that could have touched 1t with
my hands. | tried to reach it, by my
arms were heavy and lifeless. Again
strove to call out, but made no sound
The stern of the vessel shot by
dropping. as it did so. into a hollow
between the waves; and ] caught
glimpse of a man standing at the
wheel, and Of another man who
seemed to be doing little else than
smoke a cigar. He slowly turned his
head and glanced out over the water
in my direction.
Life and death were in that glance.
His face wore an absent expression
as of deep thought, and became
afraid that If his eyes did light upon
me he would not see me. But he did
see me, for he sprang to the wheel
thrusting the other man aside, and
whirled it round and round, hand over
hand, at the same time shouting or
ders of some sort. The vessel seemed
to go off at tangent to its former
course and leapt almost instantly from
view into the fog.
felt myself slipping into uncon-
seriousness, and tried with all the
power of my will to fight above the
suffocating Darkness and darkness
that was rising around me. A little
later heard the stroke of oars. grow
ing nearer and nearer. and the calls
Of a man. When he was very near /
heard him crying. in vexed fashion,
why in hell don't you sing out?"
This meant me, | thought, and then
the darkness and darkness rose over
me.
HLApTER N