The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-09

CURED, Tit Just what was the nature
OF the accident to the Indian Chief I
was unable TO decide. climbed the
few steps, and Joined the red.faced
man waiting me on the poop.
II am very glad to welcome you on
board the Indian Chief, captain-Cap-
tain"
ySur nameT
"Masters-Gideon Masters"
-In commando
well. yes, In a way. reckoned
you'd want the whole story, an thet
things he'd better be explained afore
yer went below"
"Of course; but first a question or
two. Mr.. Masters. What has become
Of my companions?"
"The lady was sent into the cabin.
sill. and given u stateroom where she
could fix herself up bit" he answered
sOberly. The other feller had a heap
OF lot 10 say. an seemed To have
some sorter grudge against you.
hadn't any time TO listen TO his yarn.
so | naturally turned him over 20 4.
boSum ter have thet eye dressed. IL.
must have got a peach % a Swipe. sir"
Il had 10 hit him-yeS but we can
talk Of that later. Where is he unw:''
In the galley. sir. where they'r,
heating some water. After thry z
him fixed up. is he 10 go aft. or for
rard:"
AFT. If You have room to spare he
is no Sailorman. but millionaire from
New York: he has money to burn"
The fellow looked at me with his
mouth wide open, his glia;cning eyes
almost laughable.
The devil you say. sir; he don't look
the part TO my notion. You was all
part OF a yacht party:"
"Yes. the Esmeralda, steam yacht.
owned by Gerald Darlington OF New
York. We were run down about
hundred miles east OF Montauk by
big liner which must have been out OF
her course. She cut US square in two.
but, excepting us three. all living on
board got away in the boats. by acct
dent We We're left, and escaped later in
the dinghy"
What became of the liner?"
"She picked up the boats. and. think
ing they had all the survivors, went
on. She was II mail boat. likely. The
yacht went down five minutes after
we left her; we've been afloat ever
since Now, Mr.. Masters. that's our
story in brief. What's the trouble
here?
I'll tell yer enough TO make IL clear.
sir he said slowly, although there is
others on board who can explain more
in detail. You're seaman-or was
once-sO you'll see easily the sorter
fix we're In. I'm the only officer left
on the hooker. an couldn't navigate
a ship If you'd give IL TO me. I'm oaly
the chief engineer, an my assistant is
in the fo'cusJie with n broken leg. You
see thet rifle for-rrd, sir? Well, 1t
wus lightning did that. Two bolts. so
the crew says, fer / wus down below,
an never knew whut happened till the
electrics all went out. Then l shut off
steam, and clumb out on deck Lord,
but IL wuS a black night. raining cats
and dogs, but no wind 10 speak of. Ii
wuS the rain what saved us, for fire
4
burncd-but II died out OF itself. When
morning come we saw what we was up
against; IL looked a lot sight worse
then than II does now. Them bolts OF
lightning he'd Knocked the foremast
into smithereens, killed the wheels
man and put the steering gear plumb
out o commission. Then the top
mast an spars JUST naturally wrecked
the bridge. and charthouse. an the
whole mass caught fire. The second
officer was In the wheelhouse, sir an
never knew what hit him. an both the
captain an the first officer wus
standin' tergether on the bridge. The
top mast crushed the life out OF 'em.
There wus six SailOrnen hurt the same
way, an four OF 'em died. 1t wus the
Garndest mess / ever saw at sea, sir"
bad enough, surely; when did this
happenf'
might afore last; we've cleaned up
bit since, but the crew won't work
much under me- an we're short
handed. ! rigged up this wheel aft, so
as 10 keep an engine going, and hung
on, waiting for something TO turn up.
There wasn't nothing else could do"
NO, / presume not" and my eyes
rested thoughtfully on the scene for
ward. "How Is the hull-sound? You
seem sunk deeply"
That's cargo, sir; full to the
matches. The ships dry as bone !;
l. 4