Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03


bridge as the Carroway settled slosh'
inGiy back on an even keel.
Keep the siren going, mister" said
the captain calmly to the white-faced
mate. To the second mate he said
60 aft and look at the damage" TIC
the third mate: Get the boats swung
cupboard"
The officers raced away.
The captain put the telegraph to
stop and then to slow ahead. There
was no answering jangle. The shir
drifted. The engine pulse had gone
whistle came from the brass speak
ing tube to the engine room. Came
the voice of the second engineer:
MAY All ask what tn de'irs wrans
oop on deck?"
The captain mumbled. "Ah, McDee
collision. Give me few turns Of the
screw"
I'VE haze name" came the second
impersonal voice. "Ah'm bringing
MA men on deck. Wen keep steam
UP for TIL winches and siren"
The captain said, mildly: us that
500" He beckoned the carpenter, who
had Just come up the companion with
his sounding rod and line In his hand
rAh, Chips. I see you're on the Job!
Sound the we'll. And, by the way,
happen to have a match about you |!
Seems 1 can never And a blasted light
on this ship. Thanks. Take a boy
with you an send him back to re-
port"
The helmsman called to the captain
80 o~ps TIL
the useless wheel spokes contemptu-
ously. .
That's So" the captain said. Run
along and help the third mate with
the boats"
The mate Joined the captain as the
wireless operator came up. So loud
was the SIRENS roar that the operator
had to shout to make himself heard.
What position shall / send out? S.
o. s. with 1t. I suppose, sir?'
The mate broke in excitedly: ooh,
don't think 1t matters. That liner
that run us down ought to be back
any minute"
The captain grunted. ais that so?
She'll never find US in this fog. Went
out of earshot fore she could stop.
Wish knew her name. I'd report her.
Send out S. o. S., operator. The mate
here'll give you our position by dead
reckoning. We must be somewhere
near Cape Race; that's all I know.
By the way, happen to have a match
about you? No? All right"
Here you are. sir" said the mate,
his hand trembling a little as he
handed over his box. The second
mate ran up the companion
"Rudder, chunk of poop, screw and
some Alternating gone" he said.
The captain nodded as he pulled his
cigar to a new glow.
Thought as much. Help get the
boats out. Lower 'em to rail level
What's that notse?"
The mate and the second ran to the
dodger and peered over
The second mate went back to the
captain.
rFiremen, sailors and some passen.
gers, SIR" he said. Lost their heads
Rushing the boats"
rs that so?' the captain said
Rushing for the boats? Worst OF
carrying square-heads. Get your gun
and go to the third mate. Mr.. Lar
SOM" he called, as tho second mate
disappeared in the murk. The mate
swung from the dodger and came to
his captain.
They're rushing the boats. SIR" he
stammered. The captain touched his
arm gently.
'Calm, Mr.. Larson-caln1. That's
better You'll get used to this stun
IL you sail the western ocean for long.
Don't get excited. Rushing the boats?
know! Get your gun in case OF
trouble. Take couple of. men aft, If
you can find any. See If the sound
a cast"
With a gulp. tho mate left.
The boy the, carpenter had taken
with him came on the bridge to re-
port. Carpenter says ten feet in the
after hold. sir" he piped. "So. 4
holds pretty dry. The chief engineer
told me to say he's shut the bulkhead
doors between four and five holds,
SIR"
"All right! Run along" commented
the captain.
The boy darted away. The captain
went into the chart room to see II he
could find a light. In the grip OF the
fierce coast currents, blinded by the
fog, the ship drifted.
THE few saloon passengers the Car.
roway carried, half dozen
women, a dozen men and some chill
dren, huddled on the boat deck. near
the warmth Of the fat smok estack
and watched with tear-wldened
Sleep clogged eyes as the third mate
and a handful OF seamen hoisted out
on the fidd1ey.
The Carroway began to take de-
cided slant as her after hold filled
There was no immediate danger. Blu.
the commoner seamen and the few
steerage passengers only knew. tina,
S. o. s. was being sent out, and they
were afraid. ... ..
Coal-blackened firemen, excited
sailors, bearded laborers--like a tor.
rent they poured up the iron monkey
ladders from the main deck to the
fiddley. The third mate and his mer
were swept. fighting, back from the
boat they already had clear Of the
checks. The boat rapidly filled. Five
or six men remained on the deck &c
lower away. 80. 1- -
The second mate came. He ges:
tured thesbleeding third mate and his
men and led them to the attack anew
The panic-stricken seamen, fumblina
with the boat falls, were torn away
Ang1ly. men leaped back from the
boat to rescue their comrades. An.
other free-for-all fight ragged over the
fiddley top. The fog lighted as the
dawn rose. '-..
The noise, sounding even above thu
hlarInoc- airau attracfAd the nfain