Isn’t dearer to me at this moment―― My charger’s been shot in both flanks, But we can both straddle somehow in the saddle, And I’ll get you back to the ranks. What’s this dark hull that looms up against us? This great rush of steam, and this dash? For the ones that we love all things earthly above Great heavens! she’s on us! A crash―― Yes, we’re struck by the _Bywell Castle_. She has cut us in two with her prow, And our boat, _The Princess_, in five minutes, or less, WILL SUCK THREE HUNDRED CREATURES BELOW! “Let the women get into the boats there, Stand back-let the critters get in!” But some great hulking tramps crowd the boat, and she swamps, And loud o’er the engines dim, From the waves of the murky Thames, sir, Come the wails of the souls in the stream. “Keep afloat for God’s sake――sure some effort she’ll make, No――one last shriek――one horrible scream;” As our vessel she takes a plunge, sir, Ah! it sickens my heart with fears; The life-belts are thrown, as the vessel goes down, AND THE OLD MAN SITS IN TEARS! He looks at the glowing embers, He watches the straggling flame; But never a word from his lips is heard As he thinks of his daughter’s shame. How her sunny face, in the village, As a ray of sunshine was shown; Beloved by them all, both great and small, Till――till the gay young squire came down. Ah, me, ’twas the same old story, Of the trusting girl and the scamp, The careless miner――the unlit pipe―― AND THE UNCLOSED DAVY LAMP! A flash and a terrible rumbling, As loud of smoke from the shaft, Of wailing dread at the grim pit’s head, But along the wires was waft A word from the junction signals, “THE FLYING SCOTCHMAN’S THROUGH! Clear the line; she’s late.” And the 12.48 Is ten minutes overdue! I’ve hardly a second for thought, sir, The 12.48’s in sight. “Put steam, on, men, run her through, and then We may still pull ye through all right.” They hear my shout on the engine, And they run her through at a rate That the company never had dreamed about, But alas! for it’s all too late. But one more second and they’d have gained The siding. But down she swept, AND FEW IN THAT FATED HOUSE AFIRE That knew――for most sound they slept. The firemen hammered the door down. Is there life to be saved, and where? They plunge in the haze of the house ablaze; Their helmets lit up with the glare. A window opens above us, That’s on the second floor. And a maiden we sight――in the raiment of night―― And she calls midst the flaming roar―― “WILL NOBODY SAVE MY FATHER?” We are turned near to stone at the shock. We are glued to the street. I can hear my heart beat Like a five-bob American clock.