Butte record., 1855-01-13

aside. Frank drew himself together.
and struck out. He knocked him clean
off his legs 10 the deck, where he lay
stunned and bleeding.
"Sarved him right" cried Charlie
from the hatchway, an observation which
was echoed by the crew; and Frank had
no further difficulty in preserving disci-
pline at the station of which he had ta-
ken command. One by one pale and
trembling women, and bewildered little
children, pattering on the deck with bare
feet, and envelopcd in shawls, petticoats,
anything that had been first caught up
in the hurry of the moment, were hand
ed through the hatchwoy, and hurried
carefully over the side into the heaving
boats. There they clung together, shiv-
ering and drenched with spray, some of
the women with scarce any other cover
ing than their white night-dresses, their
long wet hair hanging about their shoul-
ders; but, even in that extremity, think
ing only of their children, and regardless
Of their own suferings and danger-
Poor things how scared they were by
the FIST minute gun that doomed from
the wreck; for the captain assisted by
Frank GOODNESS, and now equal to any
emergency, had not neglected the pre-
cautioa of making every possible signal
of distress. Then the male passengers
were drafted singly, and handed over
the side by the daunlless seamen. Some
behaved 9 llantly enough, and offered 10
stand by the ship and the captain to the
last; some trcmbled and covered, sub
missively obeying ever order given them,
and apparently rendered total y helpless
by fear. One sturdy little boy, OF some
ten or eleven years, clung manfu,ly to a
toy, the property of bis infant sister =.
and when compelled to lay hold of the
guiding rope with both hands, seized the
bluble between his teeth. and SO reached
his mother in the boat The rough sad
ors gave him cheer.
At length the passengers were dis
posed of; few cloaks and pea-jackets
were thrown in to cover the women ;
the slips compass was placed in one of
the boats a crew of seamen were told
off, and seized the oars; the mate took
the command ; strict injunctions were
given for the boats to keep together !;
and they showed off into that heaving
sea, 1t was now broad daylight, and
the rain falling heavily
"Thank God, sir" said the captain,
with a sigh of relief, "we've disposed
Of the passengers. The winds falling
now, with this wet, and they'll make the
land in three or four hours trust in
Providence every hair of their heads
will be saved and we've nothing to
think of but ourselves
" There's a dozen of Us left," said
Ffank, looking round on the dripping
group, who were clinging to different
parts Of the wreck, consisting of one or
two subordinate efficers, the boatswain,
and few old weather-beaten seamen :,
/" that boat will hold all of US if she will
swim but she rather a cookie shell for
such sea as this" he observed, point
ing to small, shallow sklf that hung at
the stern, and which had not vet been
lowered
I" It's our best chance" said the cap
tain, looking very grave, as another roll
ing sea made the wreck heave, and quiy
er, and strain, as if she mnst 90 to pieces :;
I" but she'll never hold us all. I'll stand
by the ship to the last and you two gen.
tlemen, to whose coolntss, under Provi
dence, the passengers owe their lives,
will bear witness that l did my duty
God bless you Bear away, men, cheeri.
ly, oh ~
So the boat was lowered, and as she
touched the water, she filed and sank,
and appeared again bottom uppermest,
some fifty yards away and so the last
chance OF escape was cut of. The lit
tie party looked at each other in blank
dismay; even Franks bold heart tight
ened itself for an instant in the pressure
OF despair Only the gruf boatswain
found woIds to say" That bit plug.
that didn't ought to have been neglect
ed, S worth exactly twelve mems lives.
This here's stopper over all, blessed if
amt" There WAS nothing TO be done
now but TO wait manfully for DEATH
Poor Charlie was already half dead with
cold; ; but Frank took off his own pea
jacket, and wrapped it round the lad,