The Blue Clipper — page 75: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- A TERRIFIC CRASH, ' "7 Meanwhile Tom Bend, the Cape Cod man, coolly disobey- ing orders, had slung himself over the qnarter by a staging, and, with a huge ax, was endeavoring to force open the plank- ing. hoping in this way to afford an exit for Mary Clare. The strength this. man exerted was tremendous. The pon- derous ax swept the air with lightning rapidity, and at every blow, did good work. The plan might have succeeded, admirably, but for the powder magazine. By the time the lowered boats were twenty fathoms from — the cutter, and Bend Was anticipating success. with a few more blows, the fire struck the magazine. The wetting of the powder and the canvas upon it deadened the explosion, As it was, however, it was terrific enough to appal the stoutest heart. The whole forward part of the cutter was ripped up, and some of the planks and timbers sent flying many feet in the air. For several moments a thick.emoke enveloped the remnants of the vessel; then lurid flames were seen bursting from the black canopy. The foremast went over with a terrific crash, the muinmast followed. The after part of the vessel, which, with the exception of a few timbers, projecting here and there like broken ribs, forward, was the only part of the wreck remaining above the water, was enveloped in a sea of flame, ‘Pom Bend,though thrown many feet from his. position by the shock, and scorched and blackened, was not seriously: in- jured. He struck out and. soon reached the mainmast, to whieh he clung, until be was picked up by the foremost boat from the frigate. “ Where is she, Bend?” inquired a quick, eager voice, and looking up, the man beheld Wand, no longer a prisoner, stand- ing upright in the bow of the boat.- - She is where no one can help her now,” answered Bend, ‘despairingly; “shut up in the midst of that sea of fire, in the cabin.” Wand instantly divested himself of his coat and shoes. The officer of the boat remonstrated, but the young man was not to be deterred from his purpose. He plunged over, ran along the mainmast, and was, a moment later, lost to the view iz the rolling canopy of smoke. GOMMEDOOKS.COM ss