Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-02
The Pilots Story.

The Pilots Story.
It was just four years ago last March, as
we were cruising off the Capes, having run
out of Hampton Roads, jus, after hard blow
from the eastward was over, and the breeze
had sprung up from the westward.
We were running out under jib and MAIN
sail, when, early in the morning, we made
something on the weather how which looked
like wreck, which we knew in reason il
could no, be. but there not being any sails
in sight, and, as we had plenty Of lime, we
luffed up TO see what it was. That's whit
people ought always to do, whether they have
time or not God knows how many a poor
fellow has stood alone on wreck when a
vessel had passed in plain sight, supposng
il TO be abandoned. All, yes, it was aban-
doned after that vessel had passed on, and
the agony of despair endured by that poor
soul, as the sail disappeared in the horizon,
was n balance in the scale of human iov, and
wo to all the happiness those cruel, careless
deseriers could ever know. Oh, wish that
people could think Of this, for what is the
satisfaction OF few hours shorter passage
TO that of rescuing a fellow creature, or of
having the will 10 do so, from miserable
death. Yes, n man, who, from such mo-
tlves, has boarded wreck even should it
prove that there was 10 one on board Of her,
can fill away his mainlopsaiI again with a
feeling of greater satisfaction with himself
for having done his duty. than if the whole
world had congratulated him upon having
made the shortest passage OF the most profit
able voyage on record.
However, as we hauled our wind, you see
it was no credit to us. il not being out Of The
way of our cruise. Pretty soon we made il
out; it was vessel bottom up, and might
be OF hundred and fifty tons or so. She
wns SO far under abalt thai we could not
make out her name; and, don't know as
we did il for anything in particular, but as
the sea was smooth, we launched the canoe
and went alongside, and some Of us got upon
the vessels bottom. Think of our surprise
on hearing some one knocking from the in
side AT first we thought il might be some
of the cargo floating about in The wreck, but
as we listened, we heard indistinctly, but
surely, human voice.
Instantly returning 10 the boat, we pro-
cured the few tools that We're Oh board-an
axe, a hatchet and saw-and commenced
cutting hole near the larboard, but in our
haste The axe went overheard upon the first
blow, and was lost and this carelessness,
how bitterly was il afterwards repented of!
Well, we worked away with the haIchet and
the saw, so that in a few moments we made
a hole in The plank under which we had
heard the noise, large enough for person
TO show his face, and for us TO hear from be-
low the shout of Joy of those who had hailed
us as their deliverers. Never were men des.
tined TO be more disappointed than these
poor wretches were. For a few moments
they gave themselves up TO the deirum of
Joy, aud hen-when the awful truth dawned
upon them, that we, instead OF saving them,
were sending Them 10 IL more speedy de.
structioii-lhere came 4 contrast no pen can
describe, no tongue can tell. The hole
which we had made, although not large
enough to extricale a man, allowed the air,
which had kept The vessel aHoat, 10 escape,
and 10 our horror, we saw that the vessel
was every moment sinking, we ourselves
coming near TO the surface OF the water.
We worked with the hatchet and the saw,
with all the energy men are capable of, but
could only cut the plank. In vain we hack
ed with our little hatchet uron the close Tim
bers of the schooner. Our axc we would
have given worlds for il now; it might have
saved them. But soon they, as well as our
selves began TO perceive thai all our exer-
tions were useless, and they crowded TO the
two small apertures we had made, putting
through their hands, aud seizing ours with
cOnvulsIve grasps.
They cursed the light which hroke in up.
on them, the sooner 10 shroud them in eter-
nal darkness, aud then they vehemently i'm.
plored forgiveness.
Amidst this confusion, the captain Of the
SChnnnpr made his IN, he
arrestng the disorder beneath, asked of US
in cool manner and perfectly calm voice
how much Of the hull seemed yet to be out
of wafer. We told him, and then heard him
communicating The information 10 those be-
low, and give his order to maintain silence,
while he related to us his story, which was
necessarily short.
They were from ali eastern port, bound TO
Charleston, nearly in ballast. When they
were capsized in the laie gale, two men
were lost; but most of them being below,
as the schooner was lying 10, they were able
upon her going bottom up, to get thrOugh h
the rnn-scultle into the hold. The confined
air had held the vessel up till now but they
had despaired of succor, knowing how i'm
probable II was that ;he wreck should be
seen, or if seen, that any one would search
for them.
Thus they had been for four days, having
found sufficient provisions for subsistence,
but without expectation Of release, they had
resigned themselves TO fate that seemed
inevitable. Bat when they heard the sounds
of our footsteps. then they thought their pre-
servaiion sure-but now their disappoint-
menl was the phrensy Of despair.
But that captain was a man! There he
hung on by the floor tinibers. and told his
story--gsve his name and the names Of his
crew---bade tbs good bye in q firm voice,
which only faI,ered a. he gave bis last mes
sage TO his wife and children.
Put your hand through he said 10 one Of
| Us, and let me kiss it. When you land, 20
to my homo, and let my dear wife put her