The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-09-21
CHAPTER I.
A Yacht Party.

A Yacht Party.
So many items bearing upon those
strange adventures which have lately
befailen me have found publication in
the newspapers, oftentimes distorted
and untrue, and resulting In letters of
inquiry from friends, induce me now
to write out the tale while the Incl
deQts remain fresh in memory. In
deed, 4 owe the truth not only to my
seif but even more to her who so
bravely shared with me those days and
nights Of peril.
Nse earlier passion of my life was
the sea, and, when others Of my age
were grinding away through their
courses in college, I was apprenticed
to the merchant service in a fleet
owned by my father, trading between
New York and northern European
ports. Loving the work, and, possibly,
assisted by the fact that / was my
fathers sons. rose rapidly, until
licensed as captain Of steam, and as
signed to command the Vulcan,
fraGhkG Of 1900 tons. At thirty, how
ever. the novelty and fascination of
sea life ceased its attraction, and when
my father died sufficient property be-
came my share from the estate to en-
able my resigning this command, and
retiring permanently from the service.
circumstances, unnecessary now to re-
latl caused me to make permanent
h0 he In Chicago, where l soon became
enerossed i'm business, finding my sole
receation in yachting upon the Great
Lakes. Such were the rather COM
meoplace surroundings Of my life,
when. at thirty-seven, adventure sud-
denly called me out into the unknown.
Nothing could have been more unex-
,pecfed than the occasion which took
ma tp New York. Carrington-Gerald
O&vington. the Copper King-had just
placed his new steam yacht, the Esme-
raada. In commission, and was eager
to o1,risten it by run across to the
pegts Of Spain. He wrote urging me
to become one Of the party. The temp
tatien was irresistible, for. as I knew
Mrs. Darlington was in Europe, the
guests on board would undoubtedly all
be men, and probably congenial fell
lows. A bachelor myself, the long hours
AZ sea had left me unaccustomed to
the society Of women, whose presence
i avoided whenever possible. Hence,
/ accepted Carrington's invitation i'm
mesliately by WIRE hastily packed the
few things necessary for the trip, and,
uuAccompanied even by valet, caught
tho Twentieth Century for New York.
Darlington lived on Long Island, and
i linked with him on the phone. There
were b be twelve in the party, the
names of two, who were former ac-
quaintances, alone being mentioned in
or brief conversation. The yacht was
lying at Tompkinsville. provisiOned,
and ready for the sea. must be on
beard by three o'clock the following
dav, and he gave me quite explicit in
lsaEuctions as to the best mode of reach
fng the vessel.
I'm accident to the ferry caused me
to miss the local train which had an
'tapated taking the next morning, and
I was consequently the last Of our
yaEAting party to arrive at TOmpkins-
we. The others were already safely
aboard when hurried across the gang
plank, to receive the cordial welcome
Of Darlington, who Immediately or
dxed the vessel under way. The
guests must have been gathered on the
uper deck! enjoying the excitement of
departure. for caught no glimpse of
anyone on board, excepting some men,
ben Of the crew, as the steward led
me to the cabin assigned to my use
during the voyage.
Even the BRIEF view / had obtained
OF the boat impressed me strongly
both with its beauty and seagoing
qu1Aaikies.' I was sailor enough to APP
preeiate all this at a glance. The
EsDerElda was a steam yacht, schoo-
ner rigsed aloft. of over fifteen hun
dsed toEn, constructed for deep-wuter
cruising, veil manned, and able to com
bat the senrms of any ocean.
openeV he door and emerged into
The main VI ,in. 1t was deserted eN-
cept for waiter or two attired in
white Jackets who had covered long
table suspended by stanchions from the
deck beams above, and were spreading
Il with snowy linen In preparation FOR
the six o'clock meal. Never had /
seen a more cSzy, bomelike interior
Forward, a. open passage. guarded
ealy by silently swinging doors, led
% the stewards pantry, and various
vtoseresms beyond, while beside this
spening q broad. brass-railed stairway
led easily to the upper deck. Sunlight
tsxeAed the edge of the companionway,