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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 28, 1899)
RUN DOWN. ! IJy CUTCLIFFI2 IIY.NE. ( Copyrighted by Cutcllffe Hyn * . 1S . ) "Hullo , there's Calvert , ot all ptopl * ! " 1 heard a brisk volco soy behind me. "Now , he's the very man. I'll Introduce you to him this minute , and then we'll go b low and e your room , and backshcesh th steward Into civility. " I turned my head and saw Vaarennan elbowing his way amongst the crowd which Bwarmed on the steamer's bridge-deck be tween the gangway and the head of the flrst- class companion. He had a couple of dressIng - Ing bags In his flsts , a bundle of rugs under his arm and a pair of ladles In his train. To these last ho Introduced me. "Mrs. Codrlngton and tny sister Mabel. They're going across to New York to stay with some friends , and then , when the warm weather comes , they're off with a party to tee the Yosemlte valley. They'll be mot on the wharf at the other side , but up to there they'll be two lone , lorn females , and I want you to give thorn the benefit of your coun tenance and do the genial watchdog business. By the way , you're taking matters pretty coolly ; you look cither as if you had been settled here for a week , or else had no con- nectloa with the steamer whatever. I sup pose you are crossing by hcr ? " I laughed. "Oh , yea , " I said , ' 'I came on board her sixteen minutes ago. saw the purser and found I knew him ; made him glvo mo the best room In the ship Instead of the one I'd got ; carted my things In there coc- time and locked the door , and then cleared oul hero and didn't worry any more. " "You're an old , bold band , " said Vanrcn- nan , "and many years 'of wandering have made you perfect In the art of looking after yourself. What do you think of the boat7" "O , she's a fine steamer and she'll do a quick passage. Moreover , because she U a foreigner , they'll feed us extremely well , which Is a great thing for this time of year. " "Then , do you think we shall have a very bad crossing ? " Mrs. Codrlngton asked , anxiously. "We may ihavo a braozo or we mayn't ; the -western ocean Is alwns delightfully un certain about that. But I was thinking about the cold. There'll be precious llttlo going out on deck ; meals will bo the most Interesting Item of the day. and therefore a good table Is a distinct pleasure to look forward to. " "Do you think there Is any danger ? " said airs. Codrlngton. I smiled. "Remarkably little. Considera bly less , for Instance , than you would bo exposed to If you traveled by train for a week backward and forward between Lon don and Glasgow. In fact , If you care to give mo the eura of 1 penny apiece , I'll In- siiro you each for 1,000 against fatal acci dent all the way across , like the weekly pa pers do ashore. Come , now , will you M me do that stroke of business ? " "Save your coppers , " said Vanrennan , laughing. "Calvert Is too grasping. Come along down below and get settled in your quarters , and then bid me an affectionate goodby. I shall have to clear If I don't want to bo taken on. Ta-ta , Calvcrt , old chap So awfully good of you to take these damsels under your charge. Hope you'll have a good tlmo on the otherside and not get frozen on the road. Goodby. " We hove up at dusk that afternoon , and because the channel outside was white with an ugly , choppy sea , there were fiddles on the table at dinner and extraordinary few diners. I sent down .dry champagne and biscuits to Mrs. Codrlngton's room , and then , seating myself next to the purser , made a gorgeous meal. "We do ourselves well hero In the grub line , don't we ? " sold the purser. "Better than the English'boats. We're dragging all the passenger trade away from them now. Come along down to my room for your coffee and we'll have a quiet smoke before I get to work squaring up my papers. Lord ! I wouldn't care to bo the old man tonight ! He'll be perched there freezing ro the upper bridge till we're bang clear of the channel , and very likely for the next twenty-four hours after that. If Sio weather's at all thick. He's got Just over a thousand lives on this ship , and I guess they give him all the re- eponslblllty he's any use for. Steward , bring me down a bottle of green chartreuse to ray room. Now , Mr. Calvcrt. If you're ready. " The purser and I talked western ocean shop during the burning of two Cuban cigars , and then ho turned to at work , and I slipped off to the smoke room and rend the Illustrated papers. It was 11 t > 'clok before the smoke room steward hinted that the .hour ot closing had come. I went out -into the night , a black , misty night full of rain and spindrift driving down from the nor'-nor'west. I cocked my eye end saw the skipper and two mates patrol'n ? the upper bridge ; on the break of the deck ahead of mo were three men In glistening T oilskins ; In the crow's nest forward were two others ; and I shivered luxur'ously , and thanked the fates that I was a mere passen ger who could travel In absolute safety an ! have no watch to keep. And then I went below , roado fast my portmanteau and I turned In. Sleep humored me at once. I woke to the tune of colliding ships and the full orchestra of death. To say'that my senses came to me with out flurry and at once would bo too great a claim. By some violent shock from beneath I wca banged up against the iron roof of the cabin. I pitched back on the tloor , nnd for a minute or so lay there stunned. Something serious was going on. I be came duly conscious of this , and with an effort roused myself and etared curiously at tbo curtain rod of the bunk , which lay doubled up and twisted between my bands. Then It began to be borne In upon me that the ship was awake with sircamlng ind the tramping of frightened feet , 'and then the Interpretation of these things came to me In a flaeh. We were In collision. A man snatched open my door , stam mered otrt : "We're going down ! O , i what shall I do ? " and ran away shout * lag. The ship was full ot nolM and dark- nets and hammering. The propeller liad stopped , no light came when I turned the electric switch , and wo bad so heavy a list to starboard ( my side ) that already the ports were covered most of the time. It was precisely clear that the steamer was in a bad way , and one's flret and most natural Instinct was to bolt for the upper decks. I'm ashamed to say that I bad already rushed outside the door , with this Idea , before - fore I got my wits In hand again. But then ] I pulled myself up , and went back and dragged on some heavy serge clothes over my pajamas , and added boots and a whisky ' flask , after which I pounded off along the alleyways to the room which Mrs. Codrlng ton shared with the Vanrennan girl. The door ot It was slamming noisily with the roll of the ' ship. I looked Inside. The place was 'empty , and from out of the darkness ca.mo a swirl of water , which ran coldly about my knees. I guessed they had gone to tlio upper deck , and ran there myself with ilia host of pace. There was a feel about the steamer that I knew. It lay" [ down sodden nnd numb In the sea. and rose to the waves no more. I had felt that sluggish , sullen cell before on another ship. Wo had found It drifting , nnd boarded It In Vmld-occan , and had Just time to leave It's decks before It sank down to the ocean floor. The mall steamer was going to' repeat that dive and It was carrying 1,000 human lives. The bridge deck lay atllt like the roof of a house , and It was carpeted with humanity. From the upper bridge rockets climbed up high Into the night in one never- ending stream of yellow name. Orders , prayers , shrieks and threats were being hurled about In every tongue that Europe knows. The stokehold crews , mad with fear , were raging like devils unchained round the grips and chocks of the lifeboats. Naked emigrants were with them. Sick nice , who could hardly crawl , tore at the boat awnIngs - Ings with their tcoth. The ship's officers and the few deck hands were swept aside like straws. Then a bellow from the steam siren drowned all the clamor , and at that instant the moon slid out and burnt iike a great white lamp through a gap In the racing c/ouds. A shout could not be heard above the din and the shouts died away while the trembling fingers fumbled on at boat grips nnd rived at the stops on the falls. Then the captain on the upper bridge let go the lan yard of the siren and gave his orders before the silence could be broken. "Keep your heads and all will bo saved , " he cried In German. "Women stand by the starboard boats and men away to port. Boat crews to their stations. I will shoot the flrst swine that disobejs me. " Then , he re peated the words in English and French and Norsk , till his cry was lost once more In the raging clamor. Now , for myself , I had seen the uselessness - lessness of thinking about my own hide till matters were somewhat further advanced , and I remembered ( with grim amusement ) how I had offered to heavily Insure two women's lives for the trifling premium of two copper coins. So from the moment of coming on deck I had been employed In huntIng - Ing for these charges among the mob , and had not been sparing vigor in the process. There were 500 people wedged Into one group , and It was jiot a possible thing to go f through these singly. 'So I had gone round outside the bulwark rail , occasionally climbing up by a stanchion or a stay , and had gazed down on the huddle of faces from above ; and when I found the two that were wanted I fought my way to them with elbow or shut fist as required. Mrs. Codrlngton wore a flannel dresslngj gown , and as tbo other girl had turned out In a singularly becoming garment of cotton , I gave her my own pilot Jacket , and stole also for her ( by brute force ) a spotted carriage rug from a Polish Jew. "Now , " I s-ald , "there's string In the pocket of that jacket , and this thing will make you an elegant skirt. You'd much better stop being frightened , and then we can get aTong more comfortaUJy. You aren't going to get drowned , or anything like It. I've Insured you for $1,000 apleco to Vanrconun , and I can't afford to let you come to erlef at that price. When these fools have stopped struggling and squealing you shall go off In a big boat and Join an other steamer. We shall have ten round us in half an hour. Look at those rockets. " Sirs. Codrlngton gripped my arm. "Then you think we have a chance of " she began , and "B'm m m m" said ths great steam horn from above. When we could hear ourselves speak again , and whilst the captain was giving his orders from the upper bridge , the purser csrao to my elbow. "Here , Calvert , " he said In my ear , "you're ft man. These port boats won't lower any way ; she's listed too much over. I don't know whether we can get the star board boats In the water without awamp- ing , with this sea running , hut we've got to try ; and If any one goes off In them ex cept the 'boat ' crews , it's got to be the women and the kids. Same nld yarn , y' know. So you'vo got to peg out anyway , and you may as well do it In a way that makes you respect yourself. Ah , would you ? " He knocked down a frantic Ger man who was battering his way toward one of tbo starboard Twats with a revolver out stretched. Ho wrenched away the weapon and gave It to me. "Here's a gun , old man. Just you wire In and murder the ewine If they try to swamp you. They'll INDEPENDENCE DAY NUMBER OF THE- Omaha Illustrate NEXT SUNDAY. A treat in store for all who appreciate good pictures of interesting and timely subjects , and clean , wholesome and instructive reading. Portraits of I Handsome and Artistic Frontispiece , | Latest Fashions Men of the Day , f made specially for this number. Partic- | ulaiiy appropriate to independence day. 1 From Living Models. ? : 1 § Life-like likenesses of $ t | men and women uppermost The Bee's photographic 2 * in the public mind in thisg : The fourth in South America , fashion plates reproducing vicinity , because of recent | photographs of newest gar events in which thev havePj I The veteran newspaper correspondent , ments as worn by hand figured. Remember that t < j > Frank G. Carpenter , writes one of his A some women , posed for the The Bee's half-tone por- $ entrancing letters describing how the I < ) purpose , have made a hit traits can be recognized as $ with the women ; No people of the South American republics easily as photographs , ; r other fashion service can celebrate their . Excellent wherein they differ from independence days. . even be compared with it. I the blotches in other papers - | I lent photographic illustrations of a typical Week week it oilers $ pers that could not be identified - $ ? cal celebration and also of the leaders by an lesson of what fashionable | tified but for the labels be1 1 who stand as the heroes of South American object . neath them. ionable women are wearing. ican independence. $ & § > $ & & $ ' & &tty < $ * t'-'iiSl-y < * rtSw-$4' > ! Insist on getting the Sunday Bee with the Illustrated Bee. If out- distanced Competitors buy off newsboys , there are other newsboys and newsdealers who will furnish copies. Price 5 cents to all. Watch soon see those port boats won't lower and they'll be back here In a minute. " Now a peculiar feeling had come over me. I had made up my mind that I had got to die , and didn't waste time by being sorry for myself over it. All my brain was I turned on two objects. First , I had got to keep my ticket clean by seeing that the two girls I was looking after were sent away clear of the mess. And second , I wanted to leave a very red mark on the I cowards who were wasting other people's i lives because they could not save their own. I was ashamed of being a man whilst some of those brutes lived and could call them selves men also. One of the starboard ( boats had been lowered already , packed with people. But before she was In the water the after fall had jammed In the block , and because the , other took charge she tilted bow-downward j and split her wretched freight into the charging seas. Another boat was swung out and lay beating against the rail as the I steamer rolled. I would have hustled my 1 two charges into her , but she was crowded In an Instant and lowered away. She took the water safely , shoved off , and 1 with oars straddling out on either side , I crawled away over the Inky water like some uncouth insect. | Then came the ruah. The list had grown till the port boats hung Inboard against their davits , and the waiting crowds beside them saw that that road of escape was cut off for good. In half the tongues ot Pentecost - i cost they screamed into the windy night j that the ship was sinking , sinking and each brute amongst them thought that his ' own life "was worth more than all the honor j and the wealth of the world combined , i I They poured down tbs slop * of tbo decks I In a raving horde Polish and Rucelin Jews , J Hungarian peasants fleeing from the con- | scrlptlon ; Italian thieves , Belgian stokers a foul gush from the dregs of Europe ; and ! with them came men who ought to have j known better , but who had gone mad also , ' smitten by this same Infection of terror. I I had slung the two women on to tbo floor grating of No. 3 lifeboat end stood with my back against the gunwale , Ono of j the mates , a gigantic Swede , rcee up beside i me , his teeth gritting with fury and a belayIng - I Ing pin in his hand , Three deck bands | were sweating and swearing at the falls , getting the boat lifted off her chocks and swung outboard. The other women on 4he decks were knocked down and stamped on and the mob of men leaped at the boat.It was no time for words. The mate and I hit out at every face we could reach with/5 / savage fury , but none turned to hit again. " "They ssrabbled at the boat's gunwales with their hands and those behind tore the leaders back. I could have beat In their faces In my hate , but I could not bring myself to shoot ; there was nothing there worthy of a bullet. The boat was lifted from Its bed and , swung outboard. The steamer had ceased 1 to roll and the seas were coming green on her bridge-deck rail. The boat was floated almost before the falls were let go , and a wave came up and swayed her clear. The crowd shrieked and drew back up the slantIng - Ing decks. I leaned up against a davit , my breath re turning to me in labored pants. But the Swedish mate left me and If ever murder showed in a man's eye I saw it gleaming from his then , and shrieks coming through the darkness told what his fury was doing. He , at any rate , I told myself , would die { ' warm. But the lust for maiming had left me. The last of the boats had gone and the women and children who were left had got to die with us men and with those who were Infinitely less than men. The rockets were still spouting up In unwearied series from the upper 'bridge and once I saw the purser pass me , jaunty as of yore , with a lit cigar In his fingers and an assurance between bis teeth that all would be well. But I heeded him little. The chill of death was nipping me with Its agues and the hopeless minutes were dragging out In tolerably. With a life belt I might but no ; there were women left and I had got to stay. stay.Then Then of a sudden there burst out a roar and a clang of Iron and a gush of scalding steam , and the decks ripped and splintered and the steam rushed down In gray , peeling clouds. No. not that death. I vaulted the rail , and sank. The instinct of the swimmer Is curious. I had gone over the side quite satisfied that escape was hopeless and Intending to drown with one long plunge. But no sooner did the icy water thunder In my ears than the old instinct made me strike out for the THEN CAME THE HUSH TILL THE POUT BOATS HUNG IN BOARD AGAINST THEIR DAVITS. surface. But I could not reach U. I swam on for what seemed to be minutes , hours , years , thousands of years , my arms aching , the veins like to burst through my skin. And then ft came upon me that the steamer had sunk and I was being dragged In her swirl down , down , down to the dark sea floor ; down , down , where It was too cold down , down. I opened -my eyes and blinked blinked again , and saw dimly the rough sea living room of flshers. itwas wainscoted with bunks around to tie rudder case and on the forward bulkhead was a fireplace , re splendent with brass. I Imaeined I was m one of the bunks , but was not very certain about It , and so coughed Inquiringly. Some body came to my side. I pondered awhile and then remarked : "I seem , s-.mehow. to know that coat. " "It's yours , " said the some one. "Don't you remember ? I'm Mabel Vautennan. " This was more satisfactory. I woke further and inquired : "Where's the other Mrs. er I forget ? " "Codrlngton. " said a voice from one of the bunks. "Here. " I was getting on. "I'm afraid you must hayo lost al ? your clothes , " was the next thing that occurred to me. "Yes , " said a voice , "and such lovely diamonds. " Then came a torrent of sobbing , and be tween sobs : "O , how could I be so horrid as to thlak of such a thing now. There ere only sixty licked up they say. And all those other poor people drowned ! Isn't it awful to think about ? " "Very probably , " I said. "But we've saved our own skins , and I don't think we'vo anything to be ashamed of. It wasn't my fault that some one gathered me up , though. " Then a man came In end stared at mo thoughtfully a fisherman In clumsy eea boots and brown patched oilskin. "Closhlsh squeak you've had , mister , " said he slowly. We've Just passed that 'Other boat what run you down. It'd about eeven foot of its bow gone and looked pretty sick , I teliTyou. We hailed It , to know If it wanted anything , but It said , 'No. ' Got Us steering gear fixed up again and was going to put in Portsmouth. It's a Welsh collier bound there. Rum go , this has Seen. Where was your steamer hit ? " "Haven't a notion. " "Well , what were Its water-tight bulk- beads doing ? " "Very sorry , but I can't tell you. " "H'm , " said the man. 'Then what do you know about It ? " "Nothing , " said I , "except that I'm hero at present , and that just now I Imagined I was drowned. " "Well , " raid the man , "you won't do much toward dirtying any poor beast of a sailor's ticket at the inquiry , that's one blessing. I'll send you In a can of tea and then you'd better Bleep. We're standing In for Penzance , to-brlng the news , because there ought "to be a reward kicking about , and by the time you wake we should bo there. So long. " CO\MJI > IAMTIIS. It is alleged that a London money lender has a J2.500 note which be lends to aristo cratic brides to be exhibited as a wedding gift along with other presents. With Paderewski really and truly married and the adorable Jean threatening to put his name on the retired lUt. things have taken on a gloomy aspect for certain de- vo'ees of matters musical , Colonel Marlon P. Maus. assistant Inspec tor general of the United States army , on the staff of General Miles , will be married on July 1 to Miss Lindsay Poor , daughter of Mr. and Mrs , Charles Poor , at their summer home at Skaneateles , near Syracuse , N. V , Colonel Maus has just been promoted and detailed as inspector general of the Depart ment of the Pacific , with headquarters at San Francisco. His bride-to-be Is one of the belles of Washington , where her people have a winter residence and spend about half the year. * Justice of the Peace Fay of Custer , S. 1) . , was suddenly awakened at mlda'ght one night recently by a young couple who rushed into bis private chamber. The young man hastily made known his wants and the Judge , 'taking In the situation , after listen ing to the footsteps of the Irate father com ing down the street , told the youns man to "Take her. and may the God of battles iiro- tect and defend you. " Colonel Edward P. Warren of Washing ton. D. C. . and Mrs. Fanny Iteynolds of Cameron , Mo. , were married at Clevolnnd May IS. Colonel Warren Is in his falxty- elghth year and his wife Is but a y < .ar his junior. In 1851 the colonel ind Mrs. War ren , then Fanny Lutz , were sweethearts In Akron. A lover's quarrel separated them and several years later both married. In time they lost wife and husband and recently the old lovers met by accident at Cameron and they decided to get married. The young Hebrews of Peorla. 111. , above the age of 20 have formed a protective club and to reimburse those who iiU in their matrimonial conquests. Offlcors were elcitc.1 as follows : President. Ben Flnkel ; vlw pres ident. Nicholas Llndwlnoskl ; secretary nnd treasurer. Alexander Jucobson. Already twenty members have been secured aud . .Ur membership fees make a fund of 5100. The members are in earnest. They will secure a charter and will conduct the affairs of the organization on the lines of other protective orders. The monev secured by ths member ship fee of $3 will be put out at Interest and when any member loses in the matrimonial lottery he will be reimbursed. The number of children and youth In the United States Is 21.0S2.472. Of these 9.71S- 432 arc enrolled In Sunday schools. The total number of Sunday ochools or ganized by Presbyterian missionaries In spiritually destitute parts of the United States in the fast eleven years has been 10.S03 , with a membership of 507,700. Jerusalem Is fast becoming a Jewish city. Twenty years ago there were only 14.000 Jews living within Its -walls , now there are 40.000. In Boston there Is one church to every 1.7SC of the population , against one to every 1,303 of the population In 1S10. In the China Inland mission the questions whether those who use tobacco and who marry unbelievers should bo admitted to church membership Is being agitated. "Sam" Jones , the Fouthorn preacher , de clares , perhaps "admits" would bo a bettei word , that his Income ranges -from $25,000 to10,000 a year. "The lights of Presbytcrlanlsm are going out all along the borders of Manhattan Island , " says the Evangelist. "Many that have for a long time llamcd with stendj radiance begin to flicker. At the present rate of progress In ten years' time there will be few Presbyterian churches left and those few will be In the prosperous and fashion able portions of the city. " At the ninety-fifth anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible society It was re ported that the society has 7,000 auxiliary branches and associations. It employs 725 colporteurs in the mission field and sold over 1,500,000 copies of the bible during the last year. It supports 552 native Christian bible women In the east. The total circula tion of the scriptures and portions of the same reached 4,500,000 copies , making an Increase of 42,000 over tbo previous year. i. Mr. Biker A ereat scheme 2. Gracious ! but baby don't like it tliie * I Jftrttft ' I 1 1 I . I 3. My ! but he's hard to ] ) ! ease. I'll 4. This suiti uaoy exactly , have to try another plan.