Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-28

us. There was scufilng about the bows II
| was too dark for me to ascertain precisely
| what was going on, but I surmsed thai
some more audacious ones had seized tht
oars and the SIDE Of the boat.
II swayed and rocked perIlously to my
mind, who sat, expecting every moment tc
| find myself foundering in the shadows The
fighting seemed to increase rather than tC
lessen; II began to appear as though we
alone were to suffer detention-perhaps q
permanent one. could see the other boats
slipping by, black blurs against the more
dense blackness OF the rivers surface, their
occupants encouraging us with shouts and
advice--mosty unintelligible.
From ashore there came pistol shot. It's
flash seemed to enl ghten the whole situa-
tion. drew my own weapon, stood up
between the thwarts, and opened fire aim
lessly. trusting to the moral effect.
1t proved a success most complete and
gratifying Without pause pulled the trig-
ger until the six chambers of the cylinder
were empty Some one shrieked, MY God
I'm murdered" and there was n furious
splashlng as his fellows sprang back, fight
ing with one ano ther to be the first to escape
from harms way. In an instant our oars
were released.
Somebody stuck an oar into the mud of
the rivers led and showed off quickly.
Others poised their oars, awaiting gem
eral signal to give way. The boat swung
off into deeper waters as we scrambled for
our seats. Presently It ceased rocking we
were all In place. | took upon myself the
duties OF coxswaln-lttle as / knew them,
and raising my voice in an interval Of
quiet, shouted Give way!"
There was t'ore confusion before the men
finally got the stroke then they pulled with
vengeance. We shot out into the murlty
obscurity of the rivers farther reaches;
CROPPED for the tiller ropes, found them, and
after two or three miserable blunders, got
some of the hang of the business and man
aged to steer tolerably straight course in
the wake of the other boats
Gradually the din and clamor ashore
stllled. l gathered that the constables were
manning bolt to set or after u.s. but be-
fore they had actually settled down to the
work Of rowing, I fancy, we were floating
at the gangway OF the Clymene-the last of
our boats, even as I myself was the last
man to board the yacht.
AS 1 did so. the fellow who had been
holding the boat In position with hook,
let Vt slide It slipped off into the darkness
and he sprang on UP the ladder. followed
more leisurely. though intensely excited.
Sevrance greeted me with silent reas.
suring handclasp at the top OF the gang
way and Immediately that I had set foot
on deck. n number of men sprang to unship
the ladder. stood aslde-Sevrance having
gone about his duties-and watched them
working away In complete darkness but
with intelligence and spirit
1t seemed remarkable TO me-the genius
for organization which my friend had dis
played in putting through this affair. Every
man seemed to know his place and business
In later talks with Sevranco I have learned
of the infinite care with which he chose his
crew, and how painstakingy the details
were plotted cut, to each man being as
signed his place and duties which he was
n bpRin tO nll and parfOrnn ha