The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-07-06

screaming. lutN "hlltu W i've, Nh'N
were helpless. like rats in a trap, and
they screamed.
The horror OF II drove me out on
deck. was feeling sick and squcam
ish and sat down on a bench. In n
hazy way saw ard heard men rush
ing and shouting as they strove TO
lower the boats. II 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. whore II 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 10 our assistance
| descended to the lower deck The
Martinez vas sinking fast. for the wa.
ter was very nea Numbers OF the
passengers were leaping overheard
Others, In the water. were clamoring
10 be taken aboard again. No one
needed them. A cry arose that we
were sinking. was seized by the con
sequent panic, and went oyer the side
in a surge OF bodies. How | went over
! do o know. though | did know, and
instantly. why those in the water were
so DESTROYS OF getting back on the
steamer. The water vas cold-so cold
that II was painful. The pang. as !
plunged into Il. was as quick and
sharp as that Of FIRE. II bit 10 the mar.
row. II was like the grip Of death.
| gasped with the anguish and shock
OF Il. filling my lungs before the life
preserver popped the to the surface.
The taste OF the salt water was strong
with the acrid stun In my throat and
lungs.
How long this lasted | have no con.
ception. for a darkness interviewed,
Of which | remember no more than one
remembers OF troubled and painful
sleep. When | aroused, Il VAS as aftor
centuries of time: and saw. almost
above me and emerging from the fog.
the bow OF O. vessel and three triangu
lar sails. each shrewdly tapping the
other aud filed with wind. Where the
bow cut the water there was a great
foam'nG and gurgl!ug, and ! seemed
directly in It's path. tried to cry
out. but was too exhausted. The bow
plunged down. Just missing me and
sending a sw1sh OF water clear over
my head Then the long, black side
OF the vessel began slipping past, so
near that | could have touched II with
my hands. | tried 10 reach Il. by my
arms were heavy and l~ifeless AFain
| strove TO call out, but made no sound
The stern Of the vessel shot by.
dropping, as II did so, into a hollow
between the waves: and ! caught n
glimpse OF a man standing at the
wheel, and Of another man who
see'ed 20 be doing little else than
smoke a cigar. He slowly turned his
head and glanced out over the water
In my direction.
Life and death were in that glance.
His face wore an absent expression.
as OF deep thought, and | became
afraid that IL his eyes did light upon
me he would not see me. But he did
see me, for he sprang 10 the wheel,
thrusting the other man aside, and
whirlei II round and round. hand over
hand, at the same time shouting or.
ders OF some sort. The vessel seemed
TO &c on at a tangent 10 It's former
course and .eapt almost Instantly from
view into the fog.
! felt myself slipping into uncon.
seriousness, and tried with all the
power OF my will TO fight above the
sunocating darkness and darkness
that was rising around me. A little
later ! heard the stroke OF oars, grow.
ing nearer and nearer and the calls
o. a man. When he was very near |
heard him crying, in vexed fashion,
Why In hell don't you sing out?"
This meant me, | thought, and then
the Darkness and darkness rose over
me.