Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-05-31
An Effective
Proposal
By ALAN HINSDAL.E

the tramp steamer Mark Andrews. One
morning. when we were about 300
miles east of Rio de Janeiro. the look
out called out that there was a ship Off
the port bow that looked peculiar. 1
took look at her through a glass and
saw that she was numbering along as If
half full of water and there was no
one to be seen on deck The boats
were swinging on their davits, some of
the sails were set, enough under the
breeze that was blowing to move her at
about three knots.
/ called the captain, who inspected
the vessel and gave orders to put our
ship off few points, and when we
came near to board her.
The ship was low in the water for
ard and high astern. Why this was
so was puzzling. The fact that sails
were set and the boats were in place
was also singular. However, there was
nothing to do but possess our souls In
patience till We could get aboard for
an explanation.
When we reached her the captain or
dered me to command the boat that
went to investigate her, and / went
aboard at the bow that was not more
than a couple Of yards above water.
Looking down the forecastle compan-
ionway. saw that her bow was full Of
water. Further investigation showed
that there were three compartments in
her, one Of which at the bow was al
most flooded. The bulkhead had either
sprung a leak or stove In, and it was
pulling the ship down by the bows
while she was kept up by the tight
bulkheads astern.
Il reckon, sir" said one Of my men,
that she's one O. them ships that the
Germans have been interfering with.
A submarine must have put shot in
her bow"
IF submarine struck her bow, how
do you account for the boats being on
the davits?" asked 1.-THE crews of
such ships always take to the boats"
1t occurred to me that she had fallen
prey to German raider, who had
taken the crew aboard instead of
sending them adrift in the boats. In
been put into the bow, and this con-
frmed my theory.
Aft we had no trouble going where
we liked. The ship had been over
hauled about noon, for table was set
for dinner in the cabin, with places for
six persons. In the captains cabin on
his locker was framed photograph Of
a very pretty girl. I don't mean to as
sert that man can fall in love with a
photograph, but do say that 1 was
very much attracted by this one.
took it out Of its frame and put it In
my wallet.
This was the only thing we took away
with u.s. Not caring to have the ocean
encumbered with derelict, we let the
water in the other compartments and
sank her. Then we pulled back to our
ship.
Well, few days later we over
hauled ship that signaled us, asking
what port we were bound for, and
when we replied that we would stop
up the coast Of South and North Amer
lea, finally at New York, We were in
formed that the ship hailing us had the
crew of ship that had been captured
or sunk by German raider and asked
II we would take them northward. Our
captain asSented, and we took aboard
twenty sailors, the master Of the
sunken ship, four passengers and the
captains daughter.
AS the captain and his daughter came
up over the side recognized the orig
inal Of the photograph I had in my
wallet. She was even prettier than her
likeness.
Upon comparing notes with our new
contingent we learned that the derelict
We had come upon was the ship cap
tured by the Germans. They had sailed
away from her in the cleaning and
supposed she was sinking.
Stopping as we did at several ports
on our return voyage, we We're some
time reaching New York. Meanwhile
l saw a great deal of the young lady
have mentioned, and an attachment
grew up between us. l did not men
tion having possession Of her picture,
but told her that l had once boarded a
deserted ship and had fallen in love
with a portrait had seen there. She
was eager to know if there had been
any result of my adventure, but / gave
her no satisfaction until the evening
that we reached New York. Then 1
admitted that l had brought away the
picture with me. At the same time
drew the photograph from my pocket
and showed it to her.
Women are impressed and often very
forcibly by small things. l have al
ways believed that the reason won
my wife was the use / made Of a tri-
fle in courting her. My method of
proposing was certainly unique l had
told her that had fallen in love with
girls picture, then showed her her
own likeness.
Well, tackled the captain, her IA
ther, and had more serious time with
| him than his daughter He ODnOSed