Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-21
CHAPTER VII
TEMPEST AND PANIC,


TNHB storm that struck the Halfmoon
i took her entirely unawares. 1t had
sprung apparently out of a perfectly clear
sky Both tho lookout and the man at the
wheel were ready to take oath that they
had scanned the horizon not half minute
before Second Mate Theriere had come rae
ing forward believing for "all hands on
deck and ordering a sailor below to report
the menacing conditions to Captain Simms.
Before that officer reached the deck
Theriere had the entire crew aloft taking In
SAL; but though they worked with the des-
peration of doomed men, they we're only
partially successful in their efforts.
The sky and sea had assumed sIclsly
yelowish color. except for the mighty black
cloud that raced toward them low over
the water. The low-moaning sound that
had followed the first appearance of the
storm gave place to n sullen roar.
Then, of sudden, the thing struck the
Halfmoon, ripping her remaining canvas
from her as though 1t had been wrought
from tissue paper and with the flying can
vas, spars and cordage went the main mast
swapping ten feet above the deck and crash
ing over the starboard bow with a noise
and jar that rose above the believing of
the typhoon.
Fully half the crew of the Halfmoon
either went down with the falling rigging
or were crushed by the crashing weight. of
the mast as II hurled against the deck
Skipper Smms rushed back and forth
screaming out curses that no one needed
and orders that there were none to FILL
Theriere on his own responsibility. looked
to the matches. Ward, with a handful of
men armed with axes attempted to chop
away the wreckage for the Jagged butt of
the fallen mast was dashlng against the
ships side with such vicious blows that 1t
seemed but a matter of seconds before It
would stave hole in her.
With the utmost difficulty a sea anchor
was rigged and tumbled over the Half
moons pitching bow into the angry sea that
was rising to more gigantic proportions
with each succeeding minute.
The fral makeshift, which at best could
but keep the vessels bow into the wind
saving her from instant engulfment in the
seas trough seemed to Theriere but a
sorry means of prolonging the agony of
suspense preceding the inevitable end
That nothing could save them was the
second officers firm belief, nor was he
alone In his conviction, Not only Slmms
and Ward but every experienced sailor on
the ship, felt that the life of the Halfmoon
was now but matter of hours, possibly
minutes. while those OF lesser experience
were equally positive that each succeeding
wave must mark the termination of the
lives OF the vessel and her company
The deck, washed now almost contin.
uously by hurtlng tons of storm-mad water
as one mountainous wave followed another
the length of the ship, had become entirely
impossible. With difficulty the men were
attempting to get below between waves.
All semblance of discipline had vanished.
For the most part they were a pack of
bowling. cursing, terror-ridden casts. fight
ing at the matches with those who would
4, N.a1I all
assault of the sea.
Ward and Skipper Simms had been
among the first to seek precarious safety
below deck. Therlere alone of the officers
had remained on duty until the last, and
now he Yves exerting his every effort to
save as many OF the men as possible with
out losing the ship in doing, It,
Only between the waveI was the entrance
to the main cabins negotiable. while the
forecastle hatch had been abandoned en-
tirely after 1t had been with difficulty re-
placed following the retreat of three of the
crew 20 that part of the ship
The mucker stood beside Therere as
the later beat back the men when the seas
It was the mans first expert
ence of the kind Never had he faced !
death in the couTage-blghting form which !
the grim harvester assumes when he calls |
unbridled nature to do his CHASTITY bidding
The mucker saw the rough, brawling |
faced, gibbering towards, clawlng and !
hghting to climb over one another toward |
the lesser danger of the cabins while the |
mate fought them off, except as he found |
It expedlent to let them pass him. he alone |
being cool and fearless.
Byrne stood as one apart from the dan |
gers and hysteric strivings of his fellows, |
Once when Theriere happened to glance in |
his direction the Frenchman mentally as |
scribed the mucker's seeming lethargy 10 |
the paralysis of abjeet cowardlce.
"The fellow is in blue funk" thought |
the second mate. II did not msjudge him /
like all his kind, he is coward at heart"
Then a great wave came following unex-
close upon the heels OF lesser one.
II took Therlere of his guard, threw him
down and hurled him across the deck, land
ing him in the scuppers bleeding and
stunned.
The next wave would carry him over
board.
Released from surveillance. the remainder
of thee rev pushed and fought their way
INTO the cabln-zonly the mucker remained
without staring first at the PROSTATE form
. nd ~