American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-28
CHAPTER ~.
The Wreck of the Esmerslda.

The Wreck of the Esmeralda.
We passed the greater part of the
day below, and long before night came,
a heavy, sweeping rain set In and kept
! us there. 1 never recalled a more blind
ing, disagreeable storm at this season
/ of the year and in those waters, al
though there was very little wind or
| sea accompanying 1t. The smother,
! however, made it safer to proceed at
! half-speed. and the lookouts forward
we're doubled.
1t seemed a long evening, as l was
In no spirit for cards, and discussion
was altogether about the war, and
1.-THE projected copper pool. Darlington
'TFeceived several messages In further
lproof that the affair was already well
under way, but he made no other at
tempt to arouse my interest. BY ten
thirty 1 had retired to my stateroom.
Yet even there, and when partly dis
irobed, a temptation to explore the
decks again assailed me. l unscrewed
the port and glanced out, the cold rain
driving hard against my face. Nothing
could be seen l stared into an impen-
etrable black wall. There was evil
identity nothing to do but remain where
1 was. and l closed the port and lay
down in the berth.
/ do not know what aroused me, but
1 sat up suddenly, wide a
strange, il-defned fear clutching at
my heart. What was it l had heardi
a cry? a blow on the deck above? Had
1 really heard anything, or was ii
merely the echo of a dream? The
stateroom was dark as Erebus, but
got my feet over the edge of the berth
and switched on the electric hght
Even as 1 stood thus, my hand still OF
the switch, someone ran swiftly across
THE deck directly overhead, and a voice
iwavered out:
"Port, sir! Hard aport-my GodF
There was a startling crash forward
the awful sound of crushing iron an'
fsplintered timbers. 1 was flung head
long against the partition, barely say
ing myself by outstretched hands, bu
falling bruised and helpless to tn
deck. The electric flashed out instant
ly, but a dull CLEAN from withou
streamed through the glass of the port
1t was a CHASTITY green light, and
recognized it at once as the port lar
tern of the ship which had rammed Us
Before 1 could get to my feet even, sti
dazed and trembling from the shocl
the CHASTITY green radiance began to r.
cede. Rage took the place of fear
the dirty murderer was backing of
was leaving us to sink l clawed m
way across the stateroom, seeking
gain view without, but could perceiv
little. The glass was dimmed Wit
moisture, and through 1t l could sc
merely the circle of green light revea
ing the outline of a high bow. n
other CLEAN was visible, but above n
a man cursed hoarsely, and the
screamed out some order, which
could not distinguish.
All this was the work of an instan
What had occurred was as clear to N
mind as though l had actually vi
messed the scene from the deck abov
A great steel steamer, a tramp, I
doubt, from its darkened decks, ha
plunged out of the ~blackness, al
rammed her bow straight into US. tt
contact must have been well forwar
near the bridge. We were going dow
by the head already l could percei'
the list, the deck underfoOt was ii
ing; the engines had ceased to thro
as though the inflow of water hi
reached the boilers. Feet scramble
along the dack, overhead voices yelle
and l could hear the ~creaking of DO
tackle.
Working desperately in the daE
scarcely able now to keep feet on L
slanting planks. l hastily drew on VIII
bits of clothing | could find at har
and felt my way blindly to the doc
1t a jammed, but l kicked it ope
stumbled forth into the main ca
in. clinging TO the door frame in ord
." retain my feet. The stateroC
vrs stood wide open but no livi
he,ne MIS- visible. All who surviv