The Arvada enterprise., 1916-07-27

screaming Ih"y wanted to i've. they
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
hazy way | saw and heard men rush
ing and shouting as they strove TO
lower the boats. 1t was Just as had
read descriptions OF such scenes In
books. The tackles TANNED. 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 It had been
abandoned. Nothing was to be seen
OF the strange steamboat which had
caused the disaster. though | heard
men saying that she would undoubt-
eddy 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
scquent 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. It bit to the mar.
row 1t was like the grip Of death
| gaspcd with the anguish and shock
OF 1t. filing my lungs before the life
prcscrver popped me to the surface.
The taste OF the salt water was strong
In my mouth. and | was strangling
with the acrd stun in my throat and
lungs.
How long this lasted have no con
ception. for Darkness interviewed.
OF which | remember no more than one
remembers OF troubled and painful
sleep. When | aroused 1t 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 filed with wind. Where the
bow cut the water there was a great
fOaming and gurglng. and | seemed
directly in its path. tried to cry
out, but was too exhausted. The bow
plunged down. just missing me and
NJ ~
my head Then the long, black side
OF the vessel began slipping past. so
near that | could have touched It with
my hands | tried to reach It. by my
arms were heavy and llfcless Again
stroyc to call out. but made no sound
The stern OF the vessel shot by.
dropping, as 1t did so. into a hollow
between the waves. and | caught q
glimpse OF "A man standing at the
wheel and of an~hcr man who
seemed to be doing little else than
smoke cigar. lie slowly turned his
head and glanced out over tho water
IN my direction
Life and death wrT. In that glance
His face wore an absent expression.
as of deep thought. and became
afraid that II 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
whirlcd 1t round and round. hand over
hand. at the same time shouting or.
dcrs OF some sort The vessel seemed
to go on AT a tangent to its former
course aud lrapt almost instantly from
view into the fog
felt myself slipping into uucon.
sciousuess. aud tried with all the
power OF my viii to fight above the
sunoca,iuE blauknc5s and darkness
that was rising around me \ little
later / heard IN" stroke OF oars. grow
ing nearer and nearer and the calls
OF man When he was very near /
heard him crying. In ycNcI fashion.
why In hell don't YOU sing out?"
This meant the, | thought. and then
the Darkness and darkness rose over
me,