Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-02
= M = -
byLouis Iracya@
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eSSn~EEyC 49,

this downright exposition Of the facts sr
John shook his head he carried the dis
cussion no further.
The hours passed in tedious misery at
| Captain Ross's visit. Every one was eaGsf
10 get glimpse of the unknown terrpts
without from the deck. This was out ii
the question, SO people sat around to
tables to listen eagerly to Experiences
his wise saws on drifting ships and thslf
prospects.
Some cautious persons visited thcf
cabins 20 secure valuables In case ~
further disaster A few hardy spirits re-
turned to bed
Meanwhile in the charthouse, the car.
tain and chief officer were Rravely poudei-
ing over an open chart, and discussing
fresh risk that loomed omInously befoys
them. The ship was a long way out OF h r
usual course when the accident happent
She was drifting now. they estimated.
knots an hour, with wind, sea, and curro
all forcing her in the same direction, Drift
ing into one Of the most dangerous plnoss
in the known world, the south China Sea.
with its numberless reefs, shoals and
isolated rocks. and the great island Of Bor-
neo stretching right across the path OF the
cyclone
Still. there was nothing to be done save
to make n few unobtrusive preparations
and trust to idle chance. To attempt to
anchor and ride out the gale In their press
ent position was out Of tho question.
Two, three, four o'clock came, and went
Another half-hOur wOuld Witness the dawn
and further clearing of the weather. Tbs
barometer was rapidly rising. The center
of the cyclone had swept far ahead. There
was only left the aftermath OF heavy seas
and furious but steader wind.
Captain Ross entered the charthouse Tor
the twentieth time.
He had aged many years In appearances.
The smiling, confident, debonair ofiicer was
changed into n stricken. mournful man. He
had altered with his ship The Sirdar ana
her master could hardly be recognized. 80
cruel were the blows they had received.
1T is impossible to see a yard ahead,
he confided to his second In command. Il
have never been so anxious before In my
life. Thank God the night Is drawing to =
close. Perhaps when day breaks--
His last words contained prayer and g
hope. Even as he spoke the ship seemed
| to lift herself bodily with an unusual encrt
| for vessel moving before the wind.
The next instant there was horrible
grinding crash forward. Each person who
| did not chance to be holding fast to an up
right was thrown violently down. The deck
| was tilted to dangerous angle and re-
| malned there, while the heavy buffetinB OF
| the sea, now raging afresh at this unlooked-
for resistance drowned the despairing yeils
raised by the 1ascars on duty.
The Sirdar had completed her last voyage
| She was now a battered wreck on barrier
| reef She hung thus for one heart-break-
| ing second Then another wave, riding tri-
umphantly through its fellows. caught the
| great steamship in it's tremendous grasp
| carried her onward for half her length and
smashed her down on the rocks Her back
| was broken She parted in two halves
| Both sections turned completely over in the
| utter wantonness of destruction, and every
thing-masts, tunnels, boats, hull. with
| every living soul on board-was at once en-
quilted in a maelstrom of rushing water and
far-fiung spray.