The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-06-22
CHAPTER ~.

The Wreck Of the EsmeraIda.

The Wreck Of the EsmeraIda.
We passed the greater part OF the
Nv below, and long before night came.
heavy, sweeping rain set in and kept
= there. never recalled more blind
inx, disagreeable storm at this season
n the year, and in those waters. al
though there was very little wind or
- accompanying it. The smother,
however, made it safer to proceed at
half-speed. and the lookouts forward
we're doubled.
Il seemed long evening, as l was
il no spirit for cards, and discussion
xas altogether about the war, and
the projected copper pool. Darlington
received several messages in further
uroof that the affair was already well
uader way, but he made no other at
tempt to arouse my interest. BY ten
thirty had retired to my stateroom.
let even there, and when partly dis
robed, q temptation to explore the
decks again assailed me. unscrewed
he port and glanced out, the cold rain
arriving hard against my face. Nothing
could be seen; l stared into an impen-
cradle black wall. There was evil
IDENTIFY nothing to do but remain where
was, and l closed the port and lay
down in the berth.
/ do not know what aroused me, but
sat up suddenly, wide awake,
strange, ill-defned fear clutching at
my heart. What was it l had heard?
d cry? blow on the deck above? Had
really heard anything, or was 1T
merely the echo of dream? The
stateroom was dark as Erebus, but I
got my feet over the edge Of the berth,
and switched on the electric light.
Even as stood thus, my hand still on
the switch, someone ran swiftly across
the deck directly overhead, and q voice
wavered out:
I. sport, sir! Hard aport-my God"
There was a startling crash forward,
the awful sound Of crushing iron and
splintered timbers. I was flung head
long against the partition, barely saw
Ing myself by outstretched hands. but
1Alling bruised and helpless to the
deck. The electric flashed out instant
y. but a dull CLEAN from without
3treamed through the glass Of the port.
Il was a CHASTITY green light, and I
recognized it ut once as the port Ian
tern Of the ship which had rammed us.
Before could get to my feet even, still
dazed and trembling from the shock.
the CHASTITY green radiance began to re-
cede. Rage took the place Of fear
the dirty murderer was backing OF l
was leaving US to sink! I clawed my
way across the stateroom, seeking to
gain view without, but 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 CLEAN was visible. but above me
= 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.
= great steel steamer, q tramp, no
doubt, from its 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
Oy the head; already I could perceive
the list. the deck underfoot was tilt
Ing: the engines had ceased to throb,
- though the inflow Of water had
reached the boilers. Feet scrambled
along the dack, overhead voices yelled,
and l could hear the creaking Of boat
tackle.
Working desperately in the dark,
able now to keep feet on the
slanting planks, ! hastily drew on what
bits Of clothing could find at hand,
and felt my way blindly to the door.
It was jammed. but kicked It open,
and stumbled forth into the main cab
IN. clinging to the door frame In order
to retain my feet The stateroom
doors stood wide open. but no living
holn0 vaa vSaahlA An ~.,S,r