Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-05-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Man Overheard.

The following thrilling sketch was written by a
correspondent of the New York Tribune:
y In moment that most terrific of all
cries at sea, &C A man overheard! a man over
boardp' flew like lightning over the ship. |
sprung upon the quarter deck just the poor fell
low, with his fearful human tace,' riding the top
of the blIow, fled past In an instant all was
commoton; planks were cast over for him to seize
and sustain himself on, until the ship could be
pat about, and the boat lowered
The first mate, bold, fiery fellow, leaped into
the boat that hung at the side Of the quarter deck,
and in voice so sharp ard stern, seem to hear
it yet, shouted, " In men-in men!" Butthe poor
sailors hung back-the sea was too wild. The
second mate then sprung to the side of the first, &
the men, ashamed to have both their officers alone,
followed. "Cut away the lashings," exclaimed
the officer-the knife glanced around the ropes
the boat fell to the water-rose on the huge wave
far above the deck, and drifted rapidly astern.
thought il could not live n moment in such a sea,
but the officer who held the helm was sIillful
seaman. Twice in his life he had been wrecked,
and for moment forgot the danger in admlra-
ton of his sef-possession.
He stood erect-the helm in his hand; his flash
ing eye embracing the whole peril in single view
and his hand bringing the head of the gallant little
boat on to each high that otherwise would have
sunk her. | watched them till nearly two miles
a5tern | saw them lie to and look around for the
lost sailor. just then turned my eye to the hor
ION, and saw squaIl, blacker and heavier thar
any we had before encountered rushing down up
on us. The captain also saw it, and was terribly
excited. He afterwards told me that in all his set
life he had never been more so. He called for
flag, and springing into the shrouds, waved it fo
= their return The gallant fellows obeycd the sig
5 nal, and pulled for the ship. But it was SLOW
work, for the head of the boat had be laid t.
almost every wave. 1t was now getting dark; ant
if the squall should strike the boat before it reach
ed the vessel, expected ever to see it again
1t would either go down at once, or drlft away IN
to the surrounding darkness, to struggle out thu
night as it could. shall never forget that scene
All along the southern horizon between the hlacl
water and the heavens, was white streak OF tos
I sing foam.
= Nearer and clearer every moment it boiled ant
roared on its track. Between it and us appeared
at intervals that little boat, like black Speck oil
the crest of the pillows, and then sunk away, ap
parently engufed forever. One moment the Squal
I would seem to gain on them beyond the power o
3 escape, and then delay its progress. As stoo
and watched them both, and yet could not tel
2 ted to perfect agony. Seconds eoo..,eA l4nnth
b, ened into hours. could not look steadily on tina
gallant little crew, now settling the question o
= life and death to themselves and perhaps to us
- who would be left almost unnamed in the middl
= of the Atlantic, and encompassed by storm. Th
J., sea making fast, and yet that frail thing rod
S it like a duck. Sometimes she sunk away for
J. longer time than usual, and thought it all over
o and would cover my eyes in horror-the next mo
d ment she would appear between us and the blac
S rolling cloud, literally covered with foam spray
n The captain knew, us he said afterwards, that
h few more minutes would decide the fate of his Of
g ficers and crew. He called for his trumpet, an
d springing up the ratings, shouted out over tn
N roars of the blast and the waves, "PuU alcGy, M
ID brave ones, the squat IS cOming-giUe acay, m
le hearttest' and the bold fellows did "gve way,
a. with will; could see their oars CULVER as the
& rose from the water, and the G(e-boat sprung
:. their strokes down the pillows like panther o
J. the leap. On she came, and on came the blast