Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-08-03
Following The Messenger.

Brydon and the massacre OF Cabul, The
Youths Companion pointed out that the
messenger with the first news Of battle or
disaster has been superseded in our time
by wire and wireless. If that is true on
land, il is even more strikingly true at
sea. The fateful S. o. S. that may avert
disaster also heralds it when il cannot be
avered. The sinking Lusitania filings TO
the air her cry for aid: score OF vessels
dash TO the rescue, but before the world
can know with what success, il, too, has
heard the cry, and waits breathless for
the answer. Already the news is broken;
a few hours more and the full tragedy, in
all its cruelty and horror, goes pulsing
round the globe.
Nearly eight centuries ago there occur
red an English shipwreck that may be
ranked in importance, historically, with
that OF the Lusitania. Although in COM
parison the loss OF life was small-scarce-
ly a handful-when the white ship foun-
dered in November, ll20, she carried the
heir TO the throne of England 10 his grave
in the depths. There was no wireless
then to hear her call for help; although
her companions OF the kings fleet were
so near that tradition says the nearest
caught faint, shrill. windborne cry, a
shrek a little different from that OF the
shrieking gulls-the dying cry OF the
White Ships companY-no one guessed
what if meant, nor did any ship turn from
her course.
Prince William, son of Henry |, a Nor
man king. and OF his queen, Edith, or Ma
tlda, British princess, held position
of especial importance and influence, for
he represented the union in the royal line
of the two races. The old title of the
Saxon kings had been revived for him;
he was called William the Atheling. AL
though only boy of eighteen, he had
been recently married to the French
princess Matilda, to whom he had been
betrothed since he was ten and she baby.
In France, too, he had shared with his
father the honors OF battle against the re-
bellious Norman mobiles, and had showed
himself a courageous and chivalrous op-
ponent. After victory was attained, King
Henry, William the Atheling, and the
leaders OF the campaign set sail from Har-
fleur for England.
The White Ship had been built as a
gift for the king, but he did not wish to
disappoint the captain OF another vessel,
to whom he had promised the honor OF
his presence, and therefore he asked that
il be offered 10 Prince William instead.
All the other ships had got away before
the White Ship with the prince, his half
brother Richard, his half sister the Count
ess OF Perche, and a brilliant company
weighed anchor. She was under the
command of Thomas Fitzstephen, an ex-
perienced sea captain, who himself took
the helm.
The night was bright and clear; there
was moon. The prince, as gay, wild
and lawIesS as he was brave, called for
wine and music. Mobiles and ladies
danced on the scarcely heaving deck.
They drank often; the captain and sailors
oftener. They were only little way on
their journey when the ship ran full upon
a rocky reef, we'll known and charted,
that rent her like knife.
The shock sobered Fitzstephen. He
seized Prince William, rushed him to a
boat, sprang in himself with lew sailors
and pushed off, They were several boat
lengths distant, when the princes sister
shrieked to him from the slanting deck to
save her. He ordered the boai back, de-
spite the protests of FitzStephen, who
foresaw what would happen. As they
neared the heeling wreck, and the prince
held out his arms, his sister eaped-but
not she aloae. Under the scrambling,
leaping, frantic crowd that dropped into
the small boat il swamped and all were
drowned.
Only one man OF all those on the
White Ship survived ; and he was poor
butcher OF Rouen, strong swimmer,
who floated on spar until fisherman
rescued him. He brought the news to
England and TO the court. Then, for
whole day, the courtiers, although many
OF them were themselves mournerS for
the lost, kept it from the king. No one
dared to tell him. AT last they found an
envoy whom he could neither hate nor
punish as messenger OF evil tidings.
That was young page, son OF the Count
OF Blois, and King Henry'S own grand
nephew. The lad, dressed in deep
mourning, knelt silently at The kings feet,
weeping, until the king, seeing his pale
face and his tears, half guessed the news.
Then the boy fatered out the story. King
Henry fell senseless when it was ended.
So great was the blow TO his affection
and ambition that tradition declares that
he never smiled again-a tradition en-
bodied in some once well-known verses
by Felicia Hemans. A greater poet,
Dante Gabriel Rossetti in his fine and
true ballad, "The White Ship" has told
the whole story, putting the narrative into
the mouth of the lone survivor:
by none but me can the tale be told.
The butcher OF Rouen, poor Berold
LANDS are swayed by King on throne.l
Twas a royal train put forth 10 sea.
Yet the tale can be told by none but me.
The sea hath no King but God aloneC
The man getting his hair cut noticed
hat the barber's dog, which was lying on
he floor beside the chair, had his eyes
fixed on his master at work.
mice dog, that" said the customer.
"He is. sir"