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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 30, 27 July 1905, Page 27

powder in the forehold. It was get away from that volcano as^quickly as possibly or be blown up, and, the boats went over with a will. No one tried to put out the fire ; there was no time for that. The old ftu'b was insure^,, and the freight on the powder was prepaid, so it was get away everybody. We had the passengers in the boats, anri then the crew. I looked around the deck and saw Padre Ambrose moving towards the hatch. 1 " Padre," I shouted, (1 ' to the boat, quick ; there's not a minute t:> waste "

' " Amingo,",he said quietly, " there's a man in the stokehold who was reported killed. lam informed that while he is dying, he is not yet dead." 1 " jle can't be saved," I shouted ; " too late. Come, get in the boat."

'" If I have the time," continued^the padre, " I will administer the last rites of Ihe CWurch to this man. I trust God will allow me time to do so."

' I snatched at his soutane, but it was so old that it tore ; and the padre hastened ddwn the ladder into the stokehold.

' I shouted to him, and then he looked me straight in the eyes, and his eyes were glowing anti bright. I shall never forget that glance. Then he disappeared. ' The captain was shouting for me, and I slid down the rope into iihe boat,, which was lustily pulled a safe distance from the burning hulk. ' There was a dull, heavy explosion ; the oM fruit steamer rose amidships as if in agony, and then the two halves sank beneath the waves.

' " Whore is the padre ? " asked the captain,, looking around at the boats.

1 I told 'him what had happened. ' " He was a man after all,'' said he, and then he lifted his hiat and stood bareheaded in the boat for a few moments. "He was a man after all," he repeated. 1 Padre Ambrose was not according to sample.'— 1 .Men and Women. '