Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-05-16

There was a low moan in the water, which
sounded varningly in our ears, and told US
Of approaching darser What was to bo
done, must bc done speedily. We hurried
forward. Rimmer rushed to the cabin.
went into the hold, and into the engineers
room. All was empty here, all was water.
Tho waves were sporting with the works Of
man. Suddenly, was startled by a noiso
upon the deck Tho heavy footsteps Of ono
running, as though in mortal fear, sounded
in my ears. Then my heart throbbcd wild.
Is; for il was fearful thing to hear. far
down in the silent depths Of the ocean.
hurriedly nscended the deck by the first
outlet that appeared. When speak Of
hurry, Tcak Of the Quickest movcmcn.
possible, when cumbcrrd with 80 much ar
NOR. But this movement Of mine was
quick rushed upwards; | 'rrans out on
the deck.
II was Rimmcr.
He STEPPED forward and clatchcd my arm.
lie pressed {, with a ccnvul'iyc grasp, and
pointed to the cabin.
attempted to 60 there
/ ITc stamped his foot, and trici to hold mo
hack H. pointed 90 tlo boat, and implor.
"a m,, with frantic gestures, to 90 mp.
appalling 70 witness thchorror struck
soul trying to express itself by signs. It Is
awful to SO tbc,o signs when no face il
plainly visible. snl nc voice i, heard.
could no, SO his face plainly, but his eyes,
through his heavy mask, glowcd like coal,
of fire.
"IrWro!" exclaimed. Ispnng from
him. lie cla'rcd his hands, bu. darod no:
follow.
Good heavens, Thought, wha, fearful
thing I. here? What sscnc can be 50 dread
ful a, 10 raralyzc tho soul Of practical
diver. Twill see f5r myself.
Iwalkcl forward. came to tho cabin
door entered the forward saloon, but
saw nothing. Afrlin, or contcmp. camc
to me. Rimmcr shall n1. come with mo
again, thought. Yc, / was awe struck.
Down in the depths Of .hc sea there is only
,ilcncc-oh, how solemn Traced the long
saloon, which had cchod with the shriek-
Of n, drowning passengers. Thus thinking.
walzod the altcr-calin and cnicrcl-
oh, heaven
Had not ms hand clcuchci the door With
a grasp which trrr5r hlI made convulsiyc.
should have fallen 10 the ioor. Tacrs bc-
fore mo stool a crowd Cr reorlc-men and
womcu-causht in the last death struggle
by the overwhelming waters, and fastened
to the spot, each in the position in which
death hal found him. Zach one halsprung
from his chair "a, ihc--lock ol tho sinking
shin. and, with one cjmmo,ian, all hal
started flr the door. Bat the waters Of III.
sea had been too swim or them 10 then
somc wildly gri.pins the table, Others tho
sides Of the cahin--thcrr they all stood.
Near ,hc door was a viofpcorlc, hcapel
upon one anJthcr--somo on the lloor, others
rushing over thcm-all seeking, madly, to
gain the outlet. Thcr, was one who s1ught
% Chamber over the table, and siiil was
there, holding on t5an ir5npo'; sp'irons
wa, each couyu'igo grasp, 30 fierce tho
struggle Of each with death, that their hold
had not vet horn rraSoi but each ono
stood and looked rnnticilly 20 the door.
oh, what woe and torture whatunut.cr.
able agonic. appeared m the Departing
glance Of thc'a iaccs-.Caccs twisted into
sTasmoiic contorticns, with the souls tha'
lighted them were writing and struggling
f,r lir.
hcclcl not The dangerous s'a which,
even when we had touched the steamer, had
slightly rolcl. Down In thee awful depths
the swell would not be very strong, unlcs.
it should increase with tcniold fury above.
But il bad been Increasing, though hal
noticed Il, AMI the motion of a., water ho-
gan 10 b. felt in the, ahysscs. Suddenly
the steamer W., shaker and rocked by tho
swell.
At thi, the hile5u' forms were shaken
aal Tell. The heaps Of people rolled a..
saundcr. The demon Cn the table seemed
to make a spring towari'mc. llcd, shrek
ins-all were after mo, thought, rushed
out, with no purro'c hut 70 escape. 1
sought to throw Of my weights and ris,
My weights could not be- looscuci-I pull
cd at them with frantic czcrtions, but could
no, loosen them. Tho iron f,icningS had
grown stia One " them wrcs;cl on in
my couyul.iyc efforts, but the other still
kent Inc down. The tubs, also, was lying
down still in my pass s,gc-way through the
machine room. did not know this until
had exhausted my strength, and almost my
hope, in vain efforts to l5oscn the weight,
and still the horror or that scene in tho
cabin rested upon mr.
Where was Rimmcr? Tho thought lash.
ed across me. lie was not here. lie hal
returned. Two weights lay near, which
seemed thrown or IN terrible haste. Yes,
Rimmcr had gone. looked up; there lay
the boat, tossing and rolling among tho
waves.
rushed down into the machine room, 10
60 back as to loosen my tube. had gonc
through carclcssly, and this lay there, for j!
was unrollcd from above as went on.
Fear lent wings to my feet. | hurried