The Detroit times., 1915-09-24
: j EA MO-

his fathers boat. the Princess. He
never ceased admiring her. There
was no part Of her he didn't love.
He was we'll assured that she must
hold the same fascination for other
people as she did for him. He con-
would fall desperately in love with
this huge boat and he escorted that
young lady to all parts OF the vessel
lin fact. he walked her little legs
They explored the iifeboats. the
forward quarters OF the crew; they
visited the pilot, they climbed the
bridge Finally, they Visited the
somsthing had happsned-and had
happened on the day before while the
Princess lay on MartiniQus- Cinders
had fallen by the undreds--a condf-
Hn Of r: s.s .. h.s ss :
had fought these cindsrs tooth and
nail-with tarpaulin and with hose.
They had fought successfully, 90 they
thought but . thousand things had
loaded. ovsrcrowded; disorder vac
prevalent; their unexpected cargo OF
passengers was hysterical and un-
manageable. II was impossible to
ss r.a a. Sns. Of sns
taken advantage Of this condition OF
Affairs, had woymsd its way un-
noticed into the cotton cargo, and
like a red-hot cancer mad eaten into
Look" said Annette Ellington. In
tsrsstsd for the nrst time in cotton.
'.its Are. Let's watch"
Neal Hardin, . perfectly trained
seamnn' snsss. !. ySIinfY Si. Yps as he "a'' put his
Don't tell anybody" he exclaimed.
Just come with me"
With Just the slightest trace Of ex-
deck and with her. at his SIDE sought
and found his father and whispered
to him.
The captain stirened as with
shock: hts face turned pale. He held
the the crew rushed to him, He gave
hasty. whispered orders. The three
men darted from his side-darted aft,
waylaying other members OF the
erf TN. aes Captain calm sns hs "S5H Objected
but pale faced. moved among his
passengers preparing them against
In ten minutes the IRE hose was
pumps. But In ten minutes some
thing else had happened-the hold
was nlled with smoke. Huge tongues
OF flame were ieaping heavenward.
took command-pandemonium reign
Captain Hardin tried In vain TO
calm his passengers. He might as
the frst instant that they scented
smoke they became maddened-whol-
iy unmanageable. The captain gave
up trying to calm them and turned
his attention to the IRE. He saw that
hts men were beaten back He seized
the hose himself and with II started
into the hold
He was too late. Step by step the
thick smoke drove him back A
huge burst OF fame sprang up.
Hardin. desperate, seized a mega
phone.
abandon ship he cried. All
dren .rst"
Two days later a boatIoad Of half
starved refugees parched with thirst
chilled by the cold night and baked
by the heat OF day. were sighted BY
a cruiser OF the navy. Half an hour
clambered wearily but gratefully up
the cruisers side.
The last Of the refugees TO leave
he lifeboat and last OF all save the
ifeboats crew to reach the cruisers
aeck was young Neal Hardin. Clutch.
ed In his arms was the recumbent
rieeping hgure of little Annette IL
iington. The commander OF the
..is, "a ~sS are 'SS '' young ''rr he
For the FIRST time young Neal Har-
din surrendered his precious burden
TO his mother. Then he straightened
up and saluted. His eyes flashed
81 am the son OF Capt. John Hardin
Of the steamship Princess" he re-
turned. MY father Ia hero, sir"
The commander bent down and
shook young Neal by the hand
You're a bit Of q hero yourself
young chap" he sasd. when you
grow up Join the navy. We need
your kind" He turned to Mrs. Har-
din and the other passengers
Come" he exclaimed, "come below
you need food and drink. Well take
care of you"
He did take care Of them. They
needed something else beside food
and drfnk--they needed sleep and
were not long seeking II. Mrs. Hardin
was offered the comma nder's cabin.
She accepted with gratitude. She
tucked Annette Ellington and Joey
Weicher into their berths, but when
she came TO look for Neal. he'