The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-06-22
Copyright A. C. Mcclure & Co.

that first shock must have fled to the
deck in mad struggle to escape. Az,
and~there was desperate need for me
to join them. The Esmeralda was CO.
Ing down; already her forward hold
was filled with water, the bulkheads
alone keeping her atloat; once they
gave way, she would sink like q stone.
crossed the cabin on hands and
knees. clawing my way desperately
through the litter until l attained the
stairs. These no longer led up, but
| forward. Beyond was utter blackness,
silence; and through the shattered door
drops of rain splashed.
1t 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, dare not re-
lease my grasp Of the rail. l 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.
scarcely dared move, for to release
my grip was to slide down into the
| black water, into the rifle of spars
and ropes forward. 1t was all horror
and death that way, but from aft, I'M
der the awning, a 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 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 it 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 to every projection of the
| cabin, l attained the port rail, but
even as l attempted the first step, a
voice called to me from out the black
depths below, and hung there, star
ing behind me, unable to perceive a
thing, excepting a litter Of tangled
wreckage.
"Don't leave me! Give me hand"
"Who are your"
Mccain; you are Hollis, amt your
"Yes; are you hurt?"
mo; bruised q bit, no doubt; my
foot is caught under spar"
"Alone?"
1.-THE second mate fell with me; he's
down below-dead, I guess"
It was no small Job getting to him,
] using the slippery rail for ladder,
and I was knee deep in water when
finally found foothold In the rifle,
and rolled the spar off the imprisoned
limb. He was lying fiat on the deck,
his head barely free Of the waves, but
| was able to clutch the nearest stan
chion and haul himself up to the pro-
lection Of the rail. His face was but
a blurred outline, although l could
perceive the glimmer of q white shirt.
stared beyond him into the black
silence.
"You say Seeley is down there?'
II fell on top Of him." the words
scarcely audible. HE was trying to
get into the cabin. when he lost his
grip. tried to catch him, and he took
me along. Say" he was breathing
hard, do you know IL there was q girl
on board?'
Eyes, there Is. I met her night be-
fore last on deck. Did Seeley tell you
| where she w0s hidden"
I'm a storeroom. next to the stew
ards pantry; he said the door was
locked"
Desperate as our own situation was,
all thought Of personal danger left
| me In sudden realization Of the awful
horror fronting her. almost under our
very feet. gripped Mccain BY the
arm.
1--WE must get her out Of there" I
cried. "Come on with me-"
where? Downtown there7"
Eyes, of course; you are a man. I
take 1t. The lantern is still burning,
| and we have a chance. Come now,
wake up, McCann-we are Americans,
and 1t Is women flrst, you know"