The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-02-18

screaming. They wanted TO i've. tney
were helpless. like rats In a trap, and
they screamed.
The horror OF It drove me out on
deck. was feeling sick and squeam-
ish, and sat down on q 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 damned. Nothing
worked. One boat lowered away with
the plugs out filed 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 had been
abandoned. Nothing was 10 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-
sequent panic. and went over the side
In q 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 II was painful The pang' as J
plunged into It. was as quick ana
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
Il 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
: NJ 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 q vessel. and three triangu
lar sails, each shrewdly tapping the
other and filed with wind. Where the
bow cut the water there was great
= foaming and gurgling, and ] seemed
= directly in It's path. tried to CRY
out. but was too exhausted. The bow
. plunged down, Just missing me anc
q sending a swash OF water clear ovel
i my head. Then the long. black sid'
3 OF the vessel began slipping past, 81
y near that could have touched 1t will
% my hands. tried to reach 1t. by m.
a arms we're heavy and lifeless. Again
s. | strove to call out, but made no sound
% The stern of the vessel shot by
~ dropping, as II did so, into holloV
between the waves; and caught
y glimpse of man standing at tn
Oh Wheel and of another man VIII
U seemed to be doing little else tha
~ smoke a cigar. He slowly turned hi
Is head and glanced out over the waite
!, in my direction.
" Life and death we're in that glance
y His face wore an absent expression
~ as of deep thought. and becam
- afraid that II his eyes did light upo
~ me he would not see me. But he di
~ see me, for he sprang to the whee
" thrusting the other man aside, an
- whirled 1t round and round, hand oYt
hand, at the same time shouting o
ders Of some sort. The vessel SCENE
ne to go OF at a tangent to its forms
~ course and eapt almost instantly fro
:. view into the fog.
" felt myself slipping into unco
% seriousness, and tried with all u
~ power OF my will to fight above Il
suftocating Darkness and darknel
" that was rising around me, A lit
30 later heard the stroke OF oars, gro
W ing nearer and nearer. and the cal
Of a man. When no was very near
eV heard him crying. In vexed fashio
ne why in hell don't you sing out
Do This meant me, thought. and thu
ie1 the Darkness and darkness rose ov
me.