Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-05


position, and Todsley, dropping the poker
grasped his coat and shoes, and 6astened to a
securer situation, which example was by no
means negligent to-imitate. Hurrying on my
clothes, ascended to the deck, where all who
were not PROSTATE with sickness, had congre-
grated. 1t appeared that the boat had been
broached round into the trough of the sea, and
that our danger had been imminent The
aspect of the waters was terrible to look upon,
and while | gazed in awe and admiration on
the huge white-crested waves, shaking hand
was laid upon my arm | turned, and 10 |!
there was Todsley, livid, and aquaking with
horror, the white night-cap, which he had for
gotten to dislodge still surmounting his globular
Uranium.
He is lost now !" he cried in a hardly
audible voice, half interrogatory, half exclama-
tory. | could not offer him much consolation
for my own fears were excited and shortly
after, descended to the cabin. Todsley follow
ed, and through the remainder of the night
adhered to my side with almost childish trust
in my companonship. His misery was too
intense to be any longer source of amusement
He seemed at any time to be devoting
thoughts which he presumed to be last ones to
his distant friends, for | heard him, now and
then, utter q name, with endearing epithets-
Every frequently plunge of the guards in the
meantime elicted an g Oh, my |" Of agony, and
sometimes stifed sob.
Day dawned, and we were in smooth water,
off Stonington,'to which, the nearest harbor,
our course had been directed for security We
lay therein uutl the afternoon, and then an
attempt was made TO resume our course We
braved the violence of wind and wave until into
the night, but the courage of the officers be-
came exhausted, as well as the stock of wood
forcing them put about into New London
to reach which, required the consumption, as
frewood, of every practicable article We
reached that port somewhat before daylight
on Sunday morning.
Sunrise brought change of wind, and
cessation to the storm, and by nine o'clock,
with a replenished stock of wood, we once
more turned our PROV New York-ward-
Todsley had all this time said very little, He
showed the strongest symptoms of the con-
tinued possession of his faculties, when he
discovered, on Saturday afternoon, some fifteen
or twenty life-preservers strung upon apole.
"Vot's them ere p he asked forgetting his
anxiety in spasm of curiosity | explained
to him the intent of these articles, so interest
ing to the drowningman A smile of satisfac-
ton lighted up his countenance at the informa-
ton and somewhat composed in mind at the
propinquity of this resource of danger, he went
to his BIRTH to refresh his nature, exhausted by
long watching and mental distress. The majori-
tyof the passengers, equally wearied, were sunk
in the oblivion of sleep
For myself being acquainted with the cap
tain, | went to the wheelhouse, and while
engaged in conversation with him, a clergyman,
a passenger, came to the door and suggested
that as there might be those on board who
would be pleased to attend divine services, if
they knew clergyman was among them, de-
sired that notice might be given to that effect
The captain readily complied, and gave orders
to the steward to arrange accordingly. stood
on the cabin stairs with him, as he merrily
iingled his bell, and shouted Divine services
will now be attended in the saloon !" The effect
of this announcement had not been anticipated.
But this one idea seemed to possess all stimuli
taneously that we had sprung leak, or burst
the boiler, or that some mischance of equal de-
vastation had occurred and that these divine
services were in the light of extreme JUNCTION"
prayers that Heaven would have mercy on
their souls halting on the verge of eternity !
The words had no sooner left the stewards
mouth than from every berth jumped miscr-
able wretch and without thought of his lack
of attire, in his extremity of fear, rushed, amid
shrieks and yells to the stairs. instantly APP
preciated the terrible error, and escaped to the
deck but the poor steward, dumb and rivcted
to the spot with amazement was knocked over
and trampled upon by the eager throng.
Attaining the deck, some ran wildly to and
fro while others, possessing a degree Of self
possession, dashed into the ladies cabin, shout
ing aloud the name of wife, sister, or child
The alarm was thus communicated to the fc-
males, of whom there was a goodly number
and who, rendered equally careless in the
abandonment of fear, poured out upon the deck
in night attire, their countenances blanched
with alright. [ was too much disconnected for
a time, by the general phrenzy, to explain
matters and when | recovered myself, and
was about to speak to those around me, sight
struck upon my eyes, that made me laugh out
right There was Todsley, with every one OF
the fifteen or twenty life-preservers grded about
him, and not a solitary one of them inflated,
skulking in corner for fear of being seen and
robbed of his treasures. But his precaution
was vain The negro wench, who officiated as
chamermaid, and who was of enormous bulk
espied him, and darting upon him, commenced
direful struggle Encumbered with the life
preservers, Todsley could not offer effectua
resistance, and soon measured his length upon
the deck, the nesress falling plump upon him.
There they lay, rolling over and over in the
continued conflict, Todsley holding fast upon
his possessions and kicking and humping, while
the black pulled, scratched and tore. f..
The smiling faces and explanatory words Of
the crew and myself, who now mingled with
the half naked crowd, gradually brought them
to their senses and as they severally detected
their semi-nudity, and the peculiar intermngline
of the sexes, males and females retreated blush
ing to their cabins. could not persuade
fneh