Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-05-03

4 tncy raced anu cnaSeu one anotner III eNt'y
direction. Here shoal of porpoises tnnbled
| along in clumsy gambols, there grampus
might be seen rising slowly to the surface ;
here an immense number of sH aler fish float
ed post us. there some huge ones with pom.
derous forms Hoated in the water lazy.--
S omptimes three or four placed themselves
| dire, lily before us, staring at us. and soemnly
rking tleir gills. There they would re-
m ,in till we came close up TO them, and then,
with a start they would dart away
All this time we were waking onward,
| along the bottom of the sea. while above us,
| lik. black cloud in the sky. we could see
onr boat slowly moving onward uron the sur.
| face Of the water. And now, not more than
| hundred yards before u.s. we could see the
TOW eiing form Of that ebony rock which had
at first greeted our eyes from afar. AS yet,
| we could not he certain that this was the
place where the Marmion had struck. But
| soon round, black object became dscerna-
BILE ns We glanced at the rocky base.
Rimmer struck my arm and pointed. /
signed assent. and we moved Onward more
quickly.
a few moments elapsed; We had come
nearer 10 the rock. The black object now
looked like the stern of Il vessel whose hull
lay there.
Suddenly Rimmer struck me again, and
pointed upward Following the direction Of
his hand. looked up and saw the upper
surface Of the water all foan>y and in motion.
There was momentary thrill through my
heart, but it passed over. We were in q
dangerous condition. A storm was coming
on
But should we turn back now, when we
were so near the object of our search Alrea-
dv it lay before us We we're close beside it
No, would not. ! signalized TO Rimmer to
90 forward; aud we still kept our course.
Now the rock rose up before us, black
rugged. dismal. Its rough sides were worn
10y the action Of the water, and, in some pla-
ces. were covered by marine plants, and
nameless ocean vegetation. We passed on
ward. we clambered overa spur, which iutted
from the cliff, and there lay the steamer.
The Marmion-there she lay upright. with
everything still standing. She had gone right
down. and had settled in such position,
among the rocks. that she stood upright here,
Just as though she lay at the wharf. We
rushed eagerly and clambered up her side
There was low moan in the water. which
sounded warnine'y in our ears, and told US Of
a swift approaching danger. What was to
he done must be done speedily. We hurried
forward. RimmPr rushed to the cabin.
went forward to descend into the hold. ] de-
scendrd the ladder walked into the engi-
nrers room. A was empty here, all was
water. The waves of the ocean had entered.
and were sporting with The WORKS Of man..
went into the freight room. Suddenly was
startled by an appalling noise upon the deck
The heavy footsteps of some one, running, as
though in mortal fear. or most dreadful haste,
sounded in my ears. Then my heart ,hrobhed
wildly; for il was fearful thing to hear, far
! down B Ike silent depths OF the ocean.
Pshaw it's only Rimmer.
hurriedly ascended the deck by the first
PE'is sb5RRSRtt 5RRt Ns,a Mhsn speak Of hnr-
| Die. when covered with so much nrmor. But
this movement of mine was qnck | rushed
upwards. sprang out on deck.
1t was Rimmer.
| lie stepred forward and clutched my arm
lie pressed it with convulsive grasp, and
pointed to the cabin.
] attempted to 20 there.
He stamped his foot, and tried to hold me
back. lie pointed to the boat, and imploreC
me, with frantic gestures, 10 go up.
Itis appalling to witness the horror.strucl
soul trying 10 express itself by signs II il
awful 10 see these signs when no face is plain
" visible. aud no voice is heard. could no
sec his face plainly. hut his eyes. through hi
heavy mask glowrd like Goals of fire.
Il will 90" | exclaimed. ! sprang from
him. He clasped his hands together, bu
dared not follow.
Good heavens. I thought what rearfr
,, thing is here? What scene can be so dready
, as TO paralyze the soul Of practiSed diver?
will see for myself
walked forward ! came to the cabi
, door. I entered the forward saloon, but sa'
nothing. A feeling Of contempt came to M
, Rimmer shall not come with me again,
thought. Yet was awe struck. Down
the depths Of the sea there is only silence
: oh. how solemn! paced the long salool
; which had echoed with the shreks Of til
4. drowning passengers. All! there NJ
:, thoughts which sometimes fill the soul whic
are only felt by those TO whom scenes OF 81
r blmity are familiar. Thus thinking, wake
= to the after cabin and entered
"Oh, God of Heaven" :"
@ Had not my hand clenched the door with
# grasp which mortal terror had made convu
II sive. | should have fallen to the floor.
j. stood nailed TO tho spot. For there beio
:. me- stood q crowd Of peope-men and wom'
h caught in the last death struggle by q
Is overwhelming waters. and fastened to Il
spot, each in the position in which death ha
d lound hin. Each one nau sprung from !
chair at tha shock of the sinking ship, al
t. with one common emotion, all had started
the door Bnt the waves of the sea had he
n. too swift for them. 10! then--some wild
rs grasping the table, Others the side of the {
bin there they stood. Near the door wa;
n crowd of people, heaped upon one another
- some on the floor. others pushing over the
,e all seeking, madly. TO gain the outlet. The
WAS one who sought to Chamber over the
Sc BILE. and still was there holding on to an ir
ar pGs ST. So strong was each convulsive graz
es so fierce the struggle of each with death, Il
10 their hold had not yet been relaxed; t
II. each one stood and looked frantically at
N. door,
ri. To the door-good God To me, TO
they were looking They were glancing
Id me, all those dreadful, those terrible eyes
Eyes in which the fire of life had been
sa- placed by the chilling CLEAN Of death. +.
of which still glared like the eyes Of the mani
with no expression. They froze me with Il
,x- cold and icy stare. They had TO me min
OF for the soul had gone. And this made it s
es more horrible that it would have been in j
VA for the anDallinp contOPtioDs of their ia,