The Huttig news., 1917-09-22
1 ,S..... .a,

eei' 'io" "iehout, put could perceive little. The glass was dimmed with moisture, and through 1t I could see merely the circle of green light reveal ing the outline of high bow. No other gleam was visible. but above me a man cursed hoarsely, and then screamed out some order, which I could not distinguish.
 All this was the work of an instant. What had occurred was as clear to my mind as though I had actually wit messed the scene from the deck above. A great steel steamer, tramp, no doubt, from it's darkened decks, had plunged out of the blackness, and rammed her bow straight into us. The contact must have been well forward, near the bridge. We were going down by the head; already I could perceive the list, the deck underfoot was tilt ing; the engines had ceased to throb, as though the inflow of water had reached the boilers. Feet scrambled along the dack, overhead voices yelled, and I could hear the ereaking of boat tackle.
 Working desperately in the dark, scarcely able now to keep feet on the slanting blanks, hastily drew on what bits of clothing I could find at hand, and felt my way blindly to the door. It was damned, but I kicked 1t open, and stumbled forth into the main cab in, elinging to the door frame in order tn Tho rot doors stood wide open, but no living being was visible. All who survived that first shock must have fled to the deck in mad struggle to escape. Ay, and there was desperate need for me to join them. The Esmeralda was go- ing down; already her forward hold was filled with water, the bulkheads alone keeping her afioat; once they gave way, she would sink like stone.
 I crossed the cabin on hands and knees, clawing my way desperately through the litter until I attained the stairs. These no longer led up, but forward. Beyond was utter blackness, silence; and through the shattered door drops of rain splashed
 It was not until had made my way to the outer deck, and felt the night air and rain on my face, that truly awoke to the danger The tilt of the yacht forward was so sharp, 1 dare not re- lease my grasp of the rail. I could scarcely see anything not light burned, not even a distant star glim- mered; the driving rain blinded me, and soaked through my shirt to the skin
 I scarcely dared move, for to release my grip was to slide down into the black water, into the rifle of spars and ropes forward. It was all horror and death that way, but from aft un- der the awning. sound of excited voices reached my ears, and the rasp of boat tackle. No doubt all on board, who lived, were there, seeking to escape. They had sprung for the open deck at the first alarm, not even wait Ing to dress. and, If I would join them, there was not an instant to lose. The after bulkhead could not hold long any moment, any unusual roll of the sea, would rend 1t asunder, and the Esmeralda would sink. Life hung on seconds; nor would those frightened wretches wait to learn the fate of any others on board.
 Clinging 10 every projection of the cabin, l attained the port rail. but even as I attempted the first step a voice called to me from out the black depths below, and l hung there, star | ing behind me, unable ta perceive a thing, excepting litter of tangled wreckage.
 "pont leave mel Give me d hand"
 aWhe are yeus"
 aMeCanRi yaa are Hollis, ain't you?
 "fes; are you hurt?"
 "No; bruised a bit, no doubt; my foot is caught under a spar"
 "Alone?"
 "The second mate fell With ne, he's 1oWn helpW=dead l guess"
 II was na small job getting to him, using the slippery rail for a ladder, and l was knee deep in water when finally found foothold in the rifle, and rolled the spar off the imprisoned limb. He was lying flat on the deck, his head barely free of the waves, but was able to clutch the nearest stan chieR and haul himself un to the pre- teetien of the rail His face was but a blurred outline, although could perceive the glimmer of white shirt. sthred beyond him into the black silence.
 You say Seeley is down there?'
 T fell on top of him." the words scarcely audible. He WAS trying to get into the eabin, when he lost his srjp. tlled to catch him, and he took me along. Say" he was breathing hard, do you know if there was a girl on board?"
 "Yes, there is. I met her night be- fore last on deck: Did seeley toll you where she WAS hiddeas" /.
 "in st9rereom next to the stew aFa'a pantry; he said the door was locked"
 Desperate as our own situation was,