Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-04-19
The Pilots Story.

blow from the eastward was over US, and
the breeze had sprung up from the west
ward.
We were running out under iib and
mainsail. when. early in the morning we
made somethingon The weather bow which
looked like a wreck which we knew in
reason couldn't be; but there being no
sail IN sight, and. as we had plenty of
time, we luffed up TO see what it WIS
That's what people ought always 10 do,
whether they have time or not. God
knews how many poor fellow has stood
alone Oh a wreck when a vessel had pass
ed in plain sight, supposing il 10 be aban
doued after that vessel had passed on, and
;he agony of despair endured by that
poor soul. as the sail disappeared in the
horizon, was a balance in the scale OF hu'
man JOY, and woe 10 all the happiness
those cruel. careless deserters 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 fellow creature, or of having
the will TO DO so, from a miserable death.
Yes, man who from such motives has
boarded a wreck, even should il prove
that there is no one on board of her. can
fl! away his maintopsail again, with
feeling Of greater satisfaction TO himself
for having done his duty, than if the world
had congratulated him upon having made
the shortest passage or the most profitable
voyage on record.
However, as we hauled or wind, you
see it was no credit to us. it not being out
of the way Of our cruise. Pretty soon
We made it out, it was vessel bottom
up. and might be of hundred and fifty
tons or so. She was SO far under abait
that we could net make out her name;
md don't know as we did it for anything
particular, but as the sea was smooth we
launched our canoe and went alongside.
and some Of us got upon the vessels bot
tom. Think Of orr surprise on hearing
some one knocking from the inside AT
frs, we thought il might be some OF the
cargo floating about in the wreck; but as
we heard indistincily, but surely, hu-
man voice.
Instantly returning 10 the boat. we pro
cured the few tools that were on board,
an axe. Ratchet, and saw. and com
menced cutting hole near the larboard,
but in eur haste the axe went owe, board
upon the frs, blow, and was lost. and this
carelessness, how bitterly was it after
wards repen,ed Of. Well, we worked
au-a-- --..i- to he,ahoi ora r----, shal
in few moments we made h Die IN the
plank under which we heard the noise,
large enough for person 10 show his
face. and for us to hear from below the
shouts Of joy of those who hailed US as
their deliverers. Never were men des-
tined to be disappointed as those poor
wretches were. For few moments they
gave themselves up TO the delirium OF
Joy. and then-when the awful truth
dawned upon them, that we, instead OF
saving them. were sending them 10 more
speedy destrucIion-ihere came con
lrast tina, no pen can describe, nor tongue
can tell. The hole which we had made
though no, large enough to extrica,e
man. allowed the mir which had kept the
vessel ahoat, TO escape, nnd 10 our hor-
ror, we saw that the vessel was every
minute sinking. we ourselves coming near
the surface Of the water.
We worked with the Ratchet and the
saw with all the energy men are capable
of, but could only cut the plank. In
vain we hacked with our little Ratchet up
on the timber Of the schooner. Our axe,
we would have given the world for it
now: i, might have saved them. But
soon they as we'll as ourselves began to
perceive that all our eXeriions were USE
less. and they crowded to the small uper-
lures we had made, putting through their
hands. and seizing ours with convulsive
grasps.
They cursed the light that had broken
upon them the sooner to shroud them in
eternal darkness. and then they vehe-
menlly implored forgiveness.
Amidst this confusion. the captain Of
the schooner made Tor the opening and.
arresting the disorder from beneath, ask
ed of US in a cool manner and perfectly
calmyoice. how much of the hull seemed
vi be out of water We told him,
andzthen heard him communicating the
information 10 those below, md give his
orders TO maintain silence, while he re-
lated to US his story. which was necessa-
rily short.
They were from an eastern port, bound
to Charleston. nearly in ballast. When
they were cnpsized il. the late gale. two
men were lost; but most Of them being
below. as the schooner was lying to. they
were able, upon her going bottom up, TO
get through the run scuttle in the hold.
The confined air had held the vessel up
TIL now: but they had despaired of sue
cour. knowing how improbable il was
that the wreck should be seen, or il seen.
that any would search for them.
Thus they had been for four days, hav-
ing found sufficient provisions for subsis-
tence. but without expectation of release.
they had resigned themselves 10 fate
that seemed inevitable. But when they
heard the sound Of our footsteps. then
they thought their preservation sure-but
now their disappointment was the frenzy
Of despair.
But the captain was the man. There.
he hung on BY the floor timbcrs, told his
story-gave his name, and the names Of
his crew. babe US good bye, and In a firm
voice. which only falIertd as he gave his
y 4 r Il.