FROM AN OLD SCRAP-BOOK.

In The New York Tribune of September —, 188–, appeared an article of interest to the readers of this narration. And here is a portion of it:

“... All facts as to the loss of the steamer Old Province, the absorbing subject of public attention since last week, seem gathered now from the various sources available. Captain Widgins, Mr. A. Y. Arrowsmith, the mate, and several others of the crew and of the boatload last to leave the ill-fated vessel and make Knoxport Cove, have been repeatedly interviewed without developing any facts not already made known. The steamer lies in a considerable depth of water. The question of raising her is under consideration. Cargo and baggage are almost a total loss.

“It is now certain that the mysterious explosion in the hold, which caused the leak and disabled the vessel with its terrific shock, was[144] the work of the infernal machine shipped from this city to Halifax by the two men, O’Reilly and Hand, who have so far eluded all detection. That they intended mischief to the steamer or those aboard is not likely. Their big ‘oblong box,’ of which so much has been said in the papers, was probably expected to make a quick journey and be duly received at Halifax by the so-called ‘Mr. Patrick Heffernan,’ to whom it was addressed. It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr. Patrick Heffernan is still a myth. It is supposed that a very prominent member of the Non-Resident Land League is identical with him, and was to call for the box. The machine, by some accident, did its dastardly work too soon. The cowardly constructors of it are thus responsible for a direful calamity, the loss of many lives and of thousands of dollars’ worth of valuable property; another example of what dynamiters are willing to ‘risk for the Irish cause.’

“The divers agree with those who tried to stop the ragged hole blown in the hull that the force of the explosion was awful. A wreck of packing-cases, bulkheads, and freight of all descriptions, blown to atoms, was hurled about the[145] ship. The water must soon have poured in like a torrent, as was described by those who fought it. Whether the ship could have been beached successfully in the fog, had the explosion not disabled her, is doubtful.

“Had the Old Province carried her usual load of passengers, panic might have made the death-list far longer. All agree that there was remarkable composure shown every-where. The highest praise is given to Captain Widgins and to his assistants for their coolness and devotion to the safety of those committed to their charge. The presence of mind of the unfortunate young Mr. Eversham (who was afterward lost in the boat that was swamped) is also warmly praised. His body was to be buried in Brooklyn to-day. The other bodies washed ashore at Knoxport Cove and Sweetapple Reef have been in some instances identified, and are being forwarded elsewhere; others will be buried in Knoxport.

“Many corpses have been found in sad witness to the swamping............