South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-17

+ hands made short work and IN
few moments we were prepared for
any emergency
But our troubles then commenced
We were startled by a terrible noise
ON shore. ss OF a tremendous roar
+ OF musketry. lasting several min
utes Again the trembling earth
waved 10 and fro. and this time the
sea receded until the shipping was
[ left stranded. while as far TO sea
ward rs our vision could reach, we
saw tire rocky bottom Of the sea.
never before exposed 10 human
gaze. with struggling fish and mons
tiers If the deep lefs high and dry
The ~ound bOttomed ships keeled
over on their beam ends. while the
"Watcree" rested easily on her floor
Z like bottom. and when the returning
sea. not like a wave. but rather an
enormous tide, came sweeping back
rolling our unfortunate companion
ships over and over, leaving some
/ bottom up and others masses of
wreckage. the "Wateree" rose easily
over the tossing waters, unframed
From this moment the sea seem
ed 20 defy the laws Of nature. Cur
rents ran in contrary directions.
and we were borne here and there
with a speed we could not have
equaled had we been steaming for
our lives At irregular intervals the
earthquake shocks recurred, but
none of them so violent or long-con-
tinued as the first.
Broke Warship's Back.
I The Peruvian man-of-war Amer
I ica," said 10 be the fastest ship in
the world a that time, had hastily
gotten up steam and attempted 10
/ get 10 sea She was we'll out when
/ the receding water left her partly
afioat and broke her back. OF
course destroying her engines. With
/ her tunnels still vomiting black
smoke and, apparently under full
/ command of her people, she back ed
down toward the helpless FREEDOM
/ ia" which was then rapidly setting
in toward the MORO, as If intending
TO help her.
Lieut.. Commander Dyer, COM
mandihg the "Fredonia." saw the
maneuver, and, thinking the Amer
| lea" was coming to their aid, and
that a nearer approach would only
/ involve them both in destruction,
ran on the coop and hailed the ap
preaching ship. then but a few yards
distant: America" ahoy. You can
do nothing for US: our bottom is
crushed Save yourselves. Goodbye!
Then down 70 his station among his
silent. unshrinklng crew he ran
iagain. The next moment the Fred
Onia" was crushed. and Of that i'll
fated company not one was saved.
while cOunter-current catching
the Peruvian ship drove her rapidly
in another direction.
About $50 .. m. the lookout hail
ed the deck and reported a breaker
| approaching Looking seward. we
saw. first a thin line OF phosphores-
cent light. which doomed higher
land higher until il seemed TO touch
/ the sky: its crest crowned with the
death light of phosphorescent glow.
showing the sullen masses of water
below Heralded by the laundering
roar Of a thousand breakers com
bined, the dreaded tidal wave was
upon Us at last. OF all the horrors of
this dreadful time, this seemed the
worst.
Watched Monster Approach.
Chained 10 the spot, helpless TO
/ escape. with all the preparations
made which human skill gould
suggest, we could but watch the
monster wave approach without the
sustaining help OF action. That the
ship could ride through the mass
es OF water about TO overwhelm US
seemed impossible. We could only
I grip the lifeline and wait the COM
/ ing catastrophe.
With a crash our gallant ship
was overwhelmed and buried deep
beneath a semi-solid mass OF sand
and water. For a breathless eter-
nifty we were submerged: then,
grooming in every timber, the
staunch old 'Wateree struggled
again 10 the surface. with her gasp
\ ing crew still clinging TO the life
IHnes-some few seriously wounded,
I bruised. and battered; none killed;
mot one even missing. a miracle it
I seemed to us then, and as l look