The Washington times., 1936-09-30

wear. Her face showed lines OF
excessive suffering. She was ro-
bust, and apparently about 40 or
As years of age. Worn out with
fatigue, with hunger perhaps, she
was unconscious, but soft breath
was still coming from her lips.
One may judge the deep feel
ings of these young colonists in
the presence of the first human
being they had met since their
arrival on Chairman Island.
"She's breathing! she's breath
ing!. -" cried Gordon.
Jack ran to French Den and
brought back food and drink.
Briant, bending over the wom-
an, opened her tightly closed lips
and poured in a few drops Of tea.
The woman started and lifted
her eyelids. Her eyes frightened
at the sight of the children. Jack
offered her a piece Of biscuit,
which she Siezed hungrily.
It was easy to see that the poor
woman was dying of hunger,
rather than fatigue.
But who was this woman and
could she speak their language?
Briant was. reaSSured as she
Strengthened up and said in Eng
lish:
"Thank you,. my children. =.
thank you'll"
Briant and Baxter took her into
the hall. There, helped by Gordon,
they gave her the care she needed
so badly.
AS soon as she felt a little bet
ter she told her story.
She was of American origin and
for a long time had livei in the
western territories of the United
States. Her name was Catherine
Ready, or more simply, Kate. For
over 20 years she had been a pri-
vate companion in the family OF
William r. Penfield. who lived in
Albany, N. Y.
A month ago, Mr.. and Mrs. Pen
field, starting to Chile to visit
relatives, had taken passage, with
Kate, at San Francisco. This
ship, the Severn, commanded by
Capt. John F. Turner, was bound
for Valparaiso.
The Severn was a good ship and
it doubtless would have made a
good crossing if eight men in the
crew, newly engaged had not been
wretches of the worst order. Nine
days out, the evil eight. Wal
ston, Brandt, Rock, Henley, Cook,
Forbes, Cope and Pike. .mutinied.
Captain Turner and his second
mate were killed along with Mr..
and MIS-. Penfield.
The murdererS seized the ship
and planned to use it in the slave
trade which was still going on in
some parts of South America.
Only two people on board had been
spared; Kate, for whom Forbes,
less cruel than his accomplices,
had pleaded, and the mate of
the Severn, a man about 80,
named Evans, who was needed to
navigate the ship.
These horrible scenes had taken
place the night of October 7 when
the Severn was about 200 miles
from the Chilean coast.
Under threat of death, Evans
was forced to navigate so as to
double Cape Horn in order to
reach Western Africa.
But a few days later fire started
on board. It spread so quickly
that Walston and his companions
were unable to save the Severn
from destruction. Henley perished
by jumping into the sea to escape
the flames. They all had to aban-
don ship, throw a few provisions
and arms into the hfeboat and
leave the Severn wrapped in
flames.
The situation of the castaways
was extremely critical, 200 miles
from land. The second day a
violent storm broke and the boat,
It's mast smashed and its sail in
shreds, was pushed towards Chair
man Island where it grounded the
night Of October IS, 1861.
(TO Be COntinued)
Translation from the original "Deux
Ans de Vacances," copyright, 1885, by
Celesta Hamer-Jackson; distributed by
King Features Syndicate. Inc.
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