Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-12-24

dar was TO the unfortunate JUNK.
"Rut." persisted the lawyer, what
would have been the result!
.In other words. the poor despair
inc cinnamon. clinging to their little
craft with some chance Oh eseapv,
would be quietly murdered TO suit oui
convenience.
# was Iris's clear voice that rang
out this downright exposition OF tacts:
Sir John shook his head; he carried
the discussion no further
The hours passed in tedious misery
after Captain Ross's visit. Every one
was eager to get a glimpse OF the ut-
known terrors without from the DECK
This was out Of the question, so peo-
ple sat around the tables to listen
eagerly to Experience and his wise
saws on drifting ships and their pros
poets.
Some cautious persons visited their
cabins to secure valuables in case OF
further disaster. A few hardy Spirits
returned to bed.
Meanwhile, in the charthouse, the
captain and chief officer were gravely
pondering over an open chart, and
UlSCuSSluS d lIOSu llSh LllebI AOOAAhN~
ominously before them The ship was
long way out of her usual course
when The accident happened. She was
drifting now, they estimated, eleven
knots an hour, with wind, sea, and
current all forcing her in the same
direction, drifting into one of the
most dangerous places in the known
world, the south China Sea, with its
M hayIncc Y.onfS chnalc and isolated
rocks, and the great island of Bor-
neo stretching right across the path
of the cyclone.
Still, there was nothing to be done
save to make few unobstrusiVe
preparations and trust to idle chance.
To attempt to anchor and ride out the
gale in their present position was out
of the question.
Two. three, four o'clock came, and
went Another half-hour would Wit
ness the dawn and further clearing
of the weather. The barometer was
rapidly rising. The center of the cy-
clone had swept far ahead. There was
only left the aftermath of heavy seas
and furious but steadier wind.
Captain Ross entered the chart
house for the twentieth time.
He had aged many years in appear
ance The smiling, confident, debonalr
officer was changed into stricken,
mournful man. He had altered with
his ship. The Sirdar and her master
could hardly be recognized, so cruel
were the blows they had received
"It is impossible to see a yard
ahead" he confided to his second in
command. 81 have never been so
anxious before in my life. Thank God
the night is drawing to close Per-
haps, when day breaks---
His last words contained a prayer
and a hope. Even as he spoke the ship
seemed to lift herself bodily with an
unusual effort for vessel moving be-
fore the wind.
The next instant there was hor-
rible grinding crash forward. Each
person who did not chance to be hold
ing fast to an upright was thrown vi
olently down. The deck was tilted to
a dangerous angle and remained there,
whilst the heavy buffeting of the sea,
now raging afresh at this unlocked
for resistance, crowned the despairing
yells raised by the Lascars on duty.
The Sirdar had completed her last
voyage. She was now a battered wreck
OI At IoI 14Cl 1SSl' Oily nuns Juuo LOl
one Misunderstanding second. Then an
other wave, riding triumphantly
through it's fellows, caught the great
steamer in its tremendous grasp, car
ried her onward for half her length
and smashed her down on the rocks
Her back was broken. She parted in
two halves Both sections turned COM
pletely over in the utter wantonness
of destruction, and everything
tunnels, boats, hull, with every living
sonl on board--was at once engulfed
in a maelstrom of rushing water and
far-fung spray
(To be continued)