CHAPTER LXVI. THE ICE SHIP.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 2

CHAPTER LXVI. THE ICE SHIP.

Hor rattling shrouds, all sheathed In ice, With the masts, went by tho board ; I Like a vessel of glass, she stove and sank, lio, ho, the breakers roared. Then tho lady clasped her hands and prayed That t»ved all might be I And she thought of Christ, who stilled the wave On tho Lake of Galilee. Longfellow. " We are lost !" yelled ono frantic voice. "Tho ship has struck ua icoberg and ,stove in her port-quarter !" cried another. "She is tilling fast; she will go to the bottom in five minutes !'' roared a chorus. All this passed within hearing of our panic-stricken little heroine, who sat up in her berth listening and aghast. Then all individual voices were drowned in a wild confusion of noises, of people rushing ahout the decks, calling, shrieking, groaning, exclaiming ; for a great number of passengers had been rudely roused by being thrown from their berths by the violence of the shock when tho ship struck, and had rushed out in the extremity of terror to discover the cause of the concussion. Deception was impossible even if it had been expedient. Tho ship was totally wrecked on an island of ice, and every hope of saving her, or of keeping her desperate condition concealed from the knowledgo of the alarmed passengers, was utterly out of the question. The captain and officers of the steamer had a double duty to do— to calm the excitement of the terrified crowd, and to provide the means of escape from death by drowning. Soon the tumult somewhat subsided, and above the lowered hum of the voices arose the stentorian tone of Captain Knight, issuing his commands to his . officers and crew in a calm, prompt and perfectly self-possessed manner, and in ordinary sequence. Some men were sent to cover the hole through which the sea was coming in with sail-cloth, to lessen, if it could not stop, the rapid flow of the water. Other men were ordered to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. Others were sent to the pumps to pump the water from the hold. x And a picked party, under the first mate, were charged with the duty of getting out the lifeboats. There are supreme crises in life which arouse in some souls all the sublime faith and self-sacrificing heroism of which our human nature is capable, thus rendering them victorious over all suffering, despair, and even death. Such was the effect of this sudden disaster on our Gertrude. Rallying from the first shock, awed and calmed by the immediate presence of death, she arose and put on her clothes to go on deck. Her soul was elevated and inspired with thoughts of life, not of death— of meeting, not of parting. " In another hour," she murmurs to herself, " in another hour I may be born into the purer, freer life. In another hour I may be beside my dear husband — beside him sooner than I hoped to be ; nearer to him than I ever could be in this state of existence. And then I need never leave him more; but I may stay with him, an invisible guard to banish all evil, to bring all good. Awful, beautiful thought !" She opened the door of the stateroom, passed through the deserted cabin, and up the companion ladder to look out. The weather was intensely, bitterly cold from the surrounding and overhanging ice ; but the snow-storm had quite subsided, and the sky was clear, and the sea calm, and the eastern horizon, both sky and sea, flushed with tho near rising of the sun. Nothing in appearance seemed to indicate the least danger. The ship was fasb on an island of ice, indeed ; but she stood as still as a house on land. Her deck, though covered deeply with snow, was as level as a drawing-room floor. The sea lapped quietly around her stern, while above her bows towered a precipice of ice, many hundred feet higher than her main mast head, and projecting far forward — a broad, overhanging shelf of ice, capped with snow, and fringed with icicles many feet in depth. The ship herself seemed a vessel of ice laden with snow, for not only was her deck deep in snow and glazed with ice, but every mast and timber was sheathed in ice, and every cross-beam capped with snow. The sun, now suddenly sparkling up above the eastern horizon, transformed this scene into one of inconceivable beauty, splendour and sublimity. His beams, darting across the sea, touched the ship and the overhanging precipice of ice, lighting them up with prismatic radiance, as of millions of* rainbows around a ship and island of blazing diamonds, set in a sea of opals, under a sky of sapphire, in the glory of the morning, yet lightly veiled by a fine silvery mist that softened the splendour. Never came the Angel of Death in such magnificent and beautiful array. Standing at the head of the companion ladder, Gertrude looked for a moment, and then passed on and entered upon the turbulent and frenzied uproar of the thronged and groaning deck, where the multitude of women, girls and children were writhing, weeping and shrieking in all the terror, anguish and despair inspired by their desperate condition — her own the only patient s6ul and quiet face among them. "Gertrude had scarcely time to take in all the horror of this lower scene, when, from the surging crowd, shot Sallust Rowley, coming into violent collision with her, and exclaiming : " Why, Gertrude ! I beg your pardon ! I was hurrying in search of you ! You know what has happened ?" "Yes, I can sco what has happened. The ship is wrecked on tho ice," she calmly replied. " And you are not frightened ?" "No." " Well, you're a brick ! But as for me, I call it blamed mean of Fortune to wreck us twice in one month— first by fire, and then by ice. But come : they are putting the women into the first lifeboat. Come 1" ( he exclaimed, seizing her hand, drawing it through his arm, and elbowing and pushing his way through the struggling crowd. " Are there lifeobats eiiough to save,all ?" inquired Gertrude, compassionately. ' " &o, nob to save a tenth ' part of them," answered Sallusb. 4 . . '"OK^thVn", cixh' nothing, be done for all these people Here?" she, pleaded, looking on the teVrifietf crowct'with aeep^fc, pity. ' > i i "'' BVerythihJ f possible is .being' done, for th'ein. "Every. aWo-foodied nian — captain.; bfoWs, cVew'tuic} passengers -are hard, at Uric' for HnW'Piyetknpe'^Dori^^hold, to,' Wall' & w<?ll &X>

Flo, or w w&shall never get through this crowd in ffinep»*% *-. k'Olrkwhat are the men doing to save all these ?" she persisted. "Well, some are covering the hole with a succession of sail-cloths to keep out as much water as possible. Others are throwing the cargo overboard, to lighten her ; •others again are bailing her out with buckets ; others hard at work at the pumps ; .all with the purpose of keeping her from, sinking until they have* sme to launch the lifeboats and construct a-raft. Some of the officers and -nien are'now engaged in getting out the .lifeboats. ' B!ut push, Gertrude'! push'as well as I, or wo will never fet through thispress,in time to secure the oat," urged Sallust, as he dragged his halfreluctant companion through the crowd to the starboard main-port. But at that moment a prolonged huzza went up from the soldiers in that ciuarter. "Oh 1 what was that for ?" eagerly inquired Gertrude, pleased to hear one sound of joy in such a scene of woe. " That's for the first boat that is safely lowered and launched and gone. There ! 1 knew we'd be too late for the first ; and now wo'll have to wait for the second boat, and every one lessens our chance of deliverance ; for if the steerage passengers should go wild and mutiny they will seize the life-boats— blast 'em !" " Oh, Sallu&t ! Sailust !— in a scene like this ! Hush ! hush ! do not judge them prematurely ! Love of life is so natural. They have the same right as others to try to save themselves and their wives and children," said Gerbrude, compassionately. " Yes ; but they can't save themselves in that way. Where there is mutiny and violence, instead of discipline and order, they are sure to overcrowd and swamp the boats, and drown themselves, which would serve them .right, and not be of the least consequence, if they had not deprived us of the means of safety." " Oh, Sailust ! do not let us think so much of ourselves when there are so many others to think of," said Gertrude, earnestly. There ! they have got the second boat ready now. Come ! we must catch her !" exclaimed Mr Rowley, pulling his companion through the crowd, which was now somewhat thinned, to the larboard main port, where the second boat hung buspended over the side of the ship above a roseate sea as smooth as a mirror, so that anyone could perceive that there was not the slightest difficulty or danger in lowering it to the surface of the water, whatever fate or fortune should afterwards attend it. The boat was manned by the second mate, with six sailors, and already well filled with women, children, and some few men ; but room was made for Gertrude, who was handed into a seat in the stern, and even for Sailust, when it was known that he was her only companion and escort on the voyage. 1 "Oh, where is Mr Lackland, Sallust?'' anxiously inquired Gertrude, as the young man took his place near her. "He went off in the first boat. I saw him enter it, to help to work it, bless you ! He is a skilful marine officer, among his other accomplishments." answered Sallust. " I am very glad that he is provided for. But, oh, I hope, I pray that the ship may float until they can make a raft and get everybody off her," said Gertrude, earnestly clasping her hands. At that moment the boat was lowered and launched, and as it put off from the side of the wreck, a hearty cheer arose from the men left en deck. "Ah ! brave souls !" thought Gertrude to herself. "Brave souls! It is too sad to hear them cheer us, when we are leaving them on the wreck, perhaps to perish." And she bowed her head and covered her face with her hands, for she could not look upon those men who stood upon the deck, waving their hats and hands to the retreating boat. •'We shall steer for. the coast of Newfoundland, which is about two hundred miles distant ; but we shall probably fall in with some ship, and be picked up long before reaching land," answered the mate. Boat No. 1 was far ahead of them, and almost out of sight. " The first boat is running away from us. I think it would be so much better for the boats to keep together," said one of the women. " Better for us, maybe, but not for her She is much the best boat, with the best chance of reaching the land in safety, if she should not be picked ud. Self-preserva-tion is the first law of nature, and she obeys that law by running away from us," answered one of the men at the oars. "Hallo! what's that?" exclaimed Sallust Rowley, as another cheer, softenedby distance, reached their ears. "It is from the wreck! they have launched the third boat !" answered another paesenger who had raised a small spyglass to his eye. Gertrude shuddered with sympathy. She felt it to be too heart-rending to hear the poor men left, perhaps, to perish on the wreck, generously cheering on those who i were leaving her, and seeking safety in the life-boats. i Number 2 sped on over the smooth sea. "If the weather should continue like this for a few days longer we shall have nothing to fear ; we have only to protect ourselves against the cold as well, as we can until we reach land or get picked up," said Sallust Rowley, cheerfully. Just then another hurrah sounded faintly from the direction of the ship, " Hurrah ! they have launched number 4 ! There ! that is the last life- boat, and now they have nothing to do but to build their raft," exclaimed the man with the spy- glass. I Gertrude bowed her head and covered her face again, and prayed for the brave men left behind, that they might have time to build their raft before the sinking of the ship. They had now run a long way from the wreck, which could be seen by the naked eye only as a cluster of ice, sparkling in the rays of the sun, on the extreme edge of the horizon. The two last boats, like black specks on the expanse of water, at some distance from each other, could be descried advancing towards them. • , " Will they overtake us. do you think ?" inquired one ot the passengers of the officers in command. "Yes, and outstrip us; for they are faster boats than this." . i " Is not this a good boat, then ?'.' I "A very good and reliable boat, but slow," said Mr Raymond. i This prediction was verified within the next hour. Boats numbers 3 and 4 overtook them, cheeredj and passed them, and in another hour were completely out, of sight. Lifeboat number 2 was alone on the sea. The first distribution of rations now took place* and a biscuit, a morsel of beef, and a small can of water was served out to each hungry individual. .At noon Mr Raymond made a reckoning, and declared -that they wqre within two hundred miles of 'the. Island, Covo, on the coast of Newfoundland: , ■ t A brilliant, starlight night followed., The air, though , bitterly cold, \vas very oalm, and the.Bea was very' quiet.,- The boat r Bteered N.N.W., glided smoothly over the waters.] , ,* , ' • u > * I ; .Atj midnight the sailors were relieved <. at the , ,qare,« « several passengers . taking „ their* , placea,^vbije Sallust Rowley volunteered fo>

"spell" Mr Raymond ab the tiller. But 1 even these fatigued men did nob yield tO" sleep. The night seemed very long ; but, with the exception of the intense cold, it was nob so bad. The starlit sky was clear and brilliant, the sea calm and smooth, and the boat glided over its surface. In truth, never had a life-boat a>more prosperous voyage. Her passengers werestyfedvfrom all the horrors that usually atiie'rid such a situation. They were neither tossed with teni pests ' nor drenched \with rain, nor famished with hunger, nor parched with thirst. On tho second morning a light breeze sprang ud from the northwest. The ''sun rose clear on a gently rippling sea, and^displayed to the anxious voyagers — oh ! sight of joy ! — a largo ship, tacking and bearing down upon them from the north-east. Their souls were filled with rapture and srratibude. Expressions of fervent delight and thanksgiving burst from them. And then a unanimous huzsa arose from all the. men. Then the men, nerved by the certainty'of safety, took the oars, and rowed towards the ship— which was now lying to, waiting for her. " What is she ?" inquired Sallusb Rowley, of the world at large. "Don't know ; but she carries the stars and stripes," answered the man with the telescope, as he politely passed his instrument to the questioner, that the latter might look for himself. " An American ship !" said a chorus of voices. " A merchantman," added Sallusfc Rowley, squinting through the spyglass. " If she happens to be homeward bound, we shall not be so badly off, after all," observed one of the passengers. Gertrude fervently hoped that she might be homeward bound, but said nothing. They drew nearer and nearer the ship. They could plainly see the men standing on, her deck. In five minutes more they were almost? under her bows. The oarsmen pulled alongside the starboard gangway, where they secured the boat, while the chilled and stiffened women were helped to climb on deck. The captain, who with several of his officers and men, stood on deck to receive the women as they were handed up, one by one, welcomed them all heartily, condoled with them on their late heavy calamity, but congratulated them on their luckyescape, and cordially offered them the use of his after cabin, with every aid and service in his power to bestow. Gertrude, on behalf of herself and her companions, thanked the kindly sailor and accepted all his offers. The captain then sent for the stewardess — a fat, good-natured-looking mulatto of about fifty — who came forward to take the women below and provide for their com fort. She took them down to the cabin, which was comfortably warmed by a large iron stove, around which all the women immediately gathered to warm their chilled and benumbed limbs. " Dear me ! And how did ifc all happen, honey?" exclaimed the good - natured stewardess. "Our ship, the Zanzibar, from Southampton to New York, struck an iceberg." "Lor' bless us! so many ships be wrecked that way ! I most swear every time I get to port that I never will trust myself on shipboai'd again. But I have been so ng with Captain Wailes and the Becky that I do suppose I shall end my days here." "Captain Wailes and the Becky?" echoed Gertrude, anxious to know all about the destination of the ship with which her fortunes were linked for the present. -i "Yes, honey— Captain Wailes and the Becky. The Becky, of Baltimore, though him, and me, and the two mates, and [the cook, and a good part of the crew, be from the neighbourhood of Charlobbe Hall, St. Mary's County, Maryland. And most of ub have sailed along of Captain Wailes for twenty years or more. Me and my husband — he's the ship's cook — have sailed with him for twenty-two years. Just you think, honey, of sailing in the same ship -vith the same mates, and pretty much the same crew, for so many years ! Don't you think it jusb miraculous?" " How do you account for it?" inquired Gertrude. " Why, honey, ib is jusb because we" all love Captain Wailes so well we won't leave him. Why, there is the first mate, Mr Burroughs, and the second mate, Mr Estep— they have both been offered "the command of merchant ships time 'and again— there was tempbation ! and they refused— they refused them ! There' was fye-dility. Why, child, what do you think the officers and crew of the Becky did, once ?" " What did they do ?" Ib was aboub bwo years ago lasb winter and the Becky was at Canton. And whea Christmas come around, I'm blessed if them fellows didn't combine to present Captain Wailes with the completest and beauti fulest set of Chiny you ever beheld ! There was a full breakfast set, dinner set, tea set and toilet set, too, if you will believe me and every single piece, every single cup and saucer, dish and plate and bowl anc basin, had burned into ib, in red letters — •God bless Captain Wailes and th» Bpoky ' "What do you think of that, now f triumphantly inquired the stewardess. "They must have loved and honoured their captain very much," said Gertrude, , smiling. " And now, ladies, if you would like to go to your state-rooms, to take a good wash off, I'll wait on you." The women all rose to follow her. The cabin was a very comfortable one, though quite plainly fitted up. It was provided with twelve state-rooms, six being on each side. All the party were* comfortably quartered, Gertrude getting a stalo-room to hei'self. By the time tho women had refreshed " themselves with a partial bath and hairdressing, and,reburned to the cabin, a man put his head in at the top of the companion stairs and notified them that breakfast was ready in the main cabin. The weary women, longing for the comforting cups of tea or coffee, moved as promptly as their still stiffened limbs would' let thorn, and went up. The captain book the head of the table, and the first mate the foot. "How soon do you expect to get into . port, Captain Wailes?" inquired Gertrude,:in, the first pause of the feeding. "Do you think you' will be in within ten days ?" " ' Within ten' days !' Whyj .my dear madam, where do you think w,e are bound.?" exclaimed the captain, in surprise. "Homeward! to Baltimore/ of > course,"' answered Gorbrude, uneasily. - . > " Wo aro bound to San Francisco,' by way of Cape Horn." , , > •> >\' m > (To be continued.) < •' >**•

s—;•5 — ;• i .; . . , ii — ~ — r— m < An old bachelof says < It is all nbnken^e to pretend that -live is 'blind.' u £ : ' jieyer knew a pan in lp'ye t'hatAid *npt^ se,e ten .ti/ne^'a^mucn in W;s\^eet-.' heart as I could." ! _.»•'• l" t • > '• ' 4i