Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-04-18

movement possible, when numbered
with so much arrnor. But this move
ment of mine was quick; rushed up
wards; sprong out on the deck.
1t was Rimmer
lie stepped forward and clutched my
arm. He pressed it with convulsive
grasp, and pointed TO the cabin.
Iattempted to go there.
He stamped his foot, and tried to hold
me back. He pointed to the boat, and
implored me, with frantic gestures, to
go up.
1t Is appalling. to witness the horror
struck soul trying to express itself by
signs. 1t is awful to see these signs
when no face is plainly visible, and no
voice is heard. | could not see his face
plainly, but his eyes, through his heavy
mask, glowed like Goals Of fire.
81 will go!" exclaimed. l sprang
from him. He claspcd his hands togeth-
cr, but dared not follow.
Good heavens l thought, what fear
fal thing is herc' What scene can be so
dreadful as to paralyze the soul of a prac-
ticed diver. I will see for myself
walked I forward. came to the cab
in door. I entered the forward-saloon,
but saw nothing. \ feeling of contempt
came 10 me. Rimmor shall not come
with me again, | thought. Yet I was
awe-strucls. Down in the depths Of the
sea there is only silcnce-oh, how sol
emn paced the long saloon, which
had echoed with the shrieks Of the drown
ing passengers. All there are thoughts
which sometimes fill the soul, which are
only felt by those to whom scenes Of sub
Unity are familiar. Thus thinking, |
walhcn to the attcr-cabin and enterel--
Oh, God Of heaven
Had not my hand clonched the door,
with grasp which mortal terror had
made convulsive, | should have fallen to
the floor | stood nailed to the spot
For there before me stood crowd Of
peopic-men and women-causht IL the
last death struggle by the overwhelming
waters, and fastened to the spat, each in
the position in which death had toaad
him. Each one had sprung from his
chair at the shock of the sinking ship,
and, with one common emotion, all had
started from the door. But the waters
OF the sea had been TOO swift for them.
Lo then--somc wildly graspiag the ta-
bic, others the beams, others the si!es Of
the cabin--thcre they all stood. Mar
the door was crowd Of people, Aea2el
upon one anotAcr-some on the Gaor,
others rushing over thcn--a1l seeking,
msdly, 20 gain the oatIet. There was
one who sougln to Chamber over TIE table,
and still was there, hqil.n1 on 70 an iron
post. So strong was each ooayuisiyc
grasp, SO fierce the struggle Of each with
death, that their hold had not yet been
relaxed; bat each ono stood aa1 looked
llan.ically to the door.
To the door-good God. To me, to
me they were looking! They we're glanc-
ing at me, all those dreadful, those terri
bic eyes. Eyesi in which the dra OF life
had been displaced by the chilling gleam
OF death. Eyes which still slared, like
the eyes of the maniac, with no express
sion. They fgoz1 me with their cold aid
city stare. They had no meaning; for the
soul had gone. And this made it still
nor. horrible than it could have been in
my lie iog tho appalling contortion OF
thail faoes. expressing fear, horror, de-
spair, AMI whatever else the human soul
NAV feel, contrasting with the cold and
CLASSY eyes, made their vacancy yet more
fearful He upon the table seemed more
tiendish than the others; for his long,
black hair was dishevelcd, and hoated
horribly down--and his beard and mus
tache, all loosened by tha water, gave
him the srimness Of demon. Oh, what
woe and torture! what unutterable ago
nes appeared in the despairins glance of
those faces-faces twisted into spasmodic
contortions, while the souls that lighted
them were writhing and struggling for
life.
needed not the dangerous sea which,
even when we touched the steamer, had
slightly rolled Down in these awful
depths the swell would not be very strong,
unless it should increase with ten-toll
fury above. But it had been Increasing,
though had not noticed it, and the mo-
ton OF the water began to be felt in these
Al.