Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-08-24

advise you to bear a hand and get
back as 500 as possible, for I don't
like the looks of the weather. The air
Is hot and oppressive-like."
In ten minutes l had the longboat
over the side, and a stout, weatherly
craft she was too. A bag of biscuits,
together with a beaker of water, was
slowed away In the stern sheets, and,
bidding the lads to give way with a
will, we showed of from the sides of
the old brig. / saw the tall, bent form
Of Captain Thompson peering down
upon me for a moment, but the next In
slant the boat rose on the bottom of a
swell, and that was the last l ever saw
Of my old skipper.
The brig quickly faded from sight,
hid by a thin mist Of haze which had
suddenly arisen, and, In fact, I was
conscious of a strange change In the
appearance of the weather. The stars
had entirely disappeared from the
armament, hid behind the gauzy veil
which had SO mysteriously arisen, and
low down on the horizon l noted a dark
bank of clouds. The heat was intense,
the stout seamen wiping the p~erspira-
ton from the streaming brows as they
toiled at the oars. Not a breath of air
disturbed the CLASSY waters. All ma
rible calm.
1 must confess / felt rather appre-
hensive as l glanced about the horizon
and looked back In the direction where
I knew the old brig must be rolling and
pitching idly on the long swell, which
every moment was increasing. But my
fears and apprehensions were soon
chased from my head by matters Of
more exciting interest.
AS we neared the burning craft I
read the name La Hembrills In letters
of gold on the huge stern. The light
cast by the burning spars and rigging
aloft afforded ample power for me to
form my conclusions.
The ship was a Spaniard. The empty
davits and dangling falls told their own
story plain enough to a seaman's eye.
The burning wreck had been deserted.
Shooting under the broad, heavy coun-
ter, we caught at the iron works of the
mizzen channels, and, directing two
men to remain In the boat, l clambered
o N deck, followed by the other two sea-
men.
The ship had evidently been on fire
some time, the flames having full son.
troll of the forward portion. The fore
mast had gone by the board. The top
gallant f~orecastle was a sea of fire.
The mainmast was already tottering,
and l knew there was no time to lose.
The smoke was dense and sitting, but
as yet did not affect the extreme after
portion of the vessel. The decks were
strewn with remnants of provisions,
half open cases and articles of clothing,
but no trace of a human being could be
seen.
Diving down into the main cabin,
which was half filed with black twist
ing smoke, I took a hasty glance about.
The rich hangings, appointments and
ornamentation surprised me, showing
that the unfortunate ship had been de-
signed to carry passengers. The sharp,
shooting- CLEANS of writhing flames
from aloft penetrated through the
broad skylight, tingeing every object
with a rudy glaze.
From stateroom to stateroom l hur-
ried, but found them all empty until
came to the after one. There I expe-
rienced some difficulty in opening the
door, the smoke every moment becom-
ing more tense and respiration mor
difficult. Exerting my strength, the
woodwork gave way, revealing a con
fused mass of white drapery lying on
the stateroom floor. The very sight
made my heart beat quick with appre-
tension, and, STOPPING, I soon ascer-
tanned that it was a woman.
Placing my hand over her heart, 1
felt 1t throb, and without further delay
1 rushed on deck with her in my arms.
Through the companionway 1 stagger-
ed, with a strange dizziness in my
head. gasping for breath, but still re-
tanning my grasp on her | had saved.
The fresh air revived me, and the pain
left my head, so that l was enabled to
pay DlODCA dLJChtACa ~ thC OAAA
who lay helpless in my arms.
Then, for the first time, 1 looked at
the face of my burden, and by the
bright light of the wreck I discovered
she was both young and handsome. At
that moment the mainmast went crash
ing over the side, sinking with a hiss
in the black water. A shower of Gin
ders and sparks, a column of roaring
flames shot on high, followed by the
excited shouts of the men, who had
leaped, panic stricken, into the boat,
urging me to follow.
Clasping the lady with my left arm,
I used my right in gliding down the
ships side. The mems oars were pois-
ed. I gave the word, and the next in
slant we were clear of the vessel,
which was now wrapped in flames
from stem to stern.
Dashing some water into the lady's
faca I hogan 70 chafe her hands. The