Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-01-04
Continued from last week.

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 were 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 a 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 it 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 I couldn't navigate
a ship if you'd give it to me. I'm only
the chief engineer, an my assistant is
In the fo'castle with broken leg. You
see tibet rifle for-rard, sir? Well. it
wus lightning did that. Two bolts, so
the crew says, fer I Wus down below,
an never knew whit happened till the
electrics all went out. Then / shut off
steam, and clumb out on deck. Lord,
but it wuS q black night. raining cats
and dogs, but no wind to speak of. 1t
wuS the rain what saved us, for fire
started yOnder-yer can see where 1T
burned-but it died out of itself. When
morning come we saw what we was up
against; it looked a lot sight worse
then than it does now. Them bolts of
lightning he'd knocked the foremost
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 sailormen hurt the same
way, an four of 'em died. 1t wus the
darndest mess 1 ever saw at sea, SIR"
bad enough, surely; when did this
happen?
"Night afore last; we've cleaned up
bit since, but the crew won't work
much under me- an we're short
handed. rugged up this wheel aft, so
rs to keep an engine going, and hung
on, waiting for something to turn up.
There wasn't nothing else l 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 a bone;
have had the well sounded every three
hours"
"And what about the crew."
"Just so, so; crimp brought them
aboard drunk, an we were not at sea
long enough for the mates to whip
them into shape when this thing hap
pened. I'm no deck officer, Mr.. Hollis,
and they don't take orders from me
very well. 1 call 'em ID hard
lott
l made no comment, endeavoring to
turn all these facts over in my mind,
and reach some decision. 1t was evil
dent enough what was wanted, and
how I could best serve but would they
be satisfied with the offer which l felt
willing to make? 1t was far from my
desire to assume command of the In
dian Chief, and guide her destinies on
long outward voyage, to whatever
port her cargo had been consigned.
What that port was made slight diff
ference, for my whole desire was to
return as quickly as possible to New
York. l would, however, assume tenn
porary command, and consent to nayi-
gate the vessel to the nearest Ameri-
can port, where competent skipper
might be procured, and a new crew OBJ
tanned. The Indian Chief possessed no
wireless outfit, and whatever l cd
must be on my own judgment. These
considerations flashed swiftly through
my mind, and I attained decision be,
fore Masters again spoke. L would
navigate the boat to the nearest pert
on the American coast, notify the own
ers. and then leave them to do as they
pleased with vessel and crew. ! cared
nothing for fine salvage; the presence
of the disabled steamer in these wa
ters had saved our lives, which was
reward enough surely. All l cared fol
was to get myself and the young lad!
safe ashore. My thought was inter
rupted by the sound of Masters voice
SIT sorter seemed to me, Mr.. Hol
lis;' he was saying, shat maybe i
would be best for me to explain these
things before you went into the cabin
You'll naturally want to know just tn,
condition before you decide what t.
do
az have decided, Masters" I an
severed briefly. "There is only on
thing I can do legally, and that il
navigate the Indian Chief to the near
est American port, and surrender he
TO her owners. AS a licensed captain
of steam I have authority to ASSUME
command to this extent, but no more
\ L