The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-05-08
A MAN OVEisBOAED.

! The clipper ship Flying Cloud, Capt
j. 2. Creesy, on the last passage f'on
China to New York, vas in the vicinity
of Madagascar going along at the rate
Of twelve knots, with Ene breeze on
the quarter, when a young man who vas
passing a studiiDg sail tack aft, outside
the bulwarks, fell overheard. The
watch was busy on the forecastlc, and
did not notice him. Fortunately, Mrs.
Greasy, who was in the cabin looking
out of the window, saw him, and imme-
dately ran on deck and threw a llie-
buoy overheard. Still the ship was CO.
ing along steadily on her course, for as
yet Mrs Crecsy alone knew that there
was a man overheard. The captain
was on the forccastle, busy among the
men preparing to set another studdlng
sail 'the helmsman was intent only up
on keeping the ship on her due course
the ready 'aye, aye, SIR might be
heard in response to some command,
when Mrs. Greasy rushed forward, with
extended arms, too aeitatcd to speak.
'What is the matter with Mrs, C.e ~ ?
asked one of the mon, who was near the
captain. Ell ! what rcjuinCd the
captain, casting glance on d.ck, and
the next second his voice rang fore and
aft Hard down the helm-onc man
aljft to look out-clear away the lee
quarter boat call all hands ! lie
cumprehcndel in an instant the d!sas-
ter, which Mrs. Creesy could not speak.
The ship was hove to, and the quart
er-boat aAoAt, with orders to pull in the
wake Of the ship until recalled by the
,ignal. Sail was shortened aud the shlT
put about to retracc her course as near,
y as the wind would permit The sea
was rather rough, but the b at pulled
steadily to wiudward, at the rate OF
three knots an hour. Capt. Creesy
went aloft and scanned the horizon with
his glass, but could see nothing OF eth
er the man or the life buoy, When
the boat had been absent an hour, the
officer who had charge Of it returned to
the ship, but was again sent off, with
imperative commands not to return till
sunset the sun was then three hou
higl F.; and, in order to spread the chance
Of falling in with the man, another boat
was al.o dispatched. Two hours had
elapsed, when the life buoy was discov-
cred close to the ship-but not the man
Both boats were now about three
miles from the ship, ono on each side OF
her course, and the captain, at once in.
tcrring that the man, if ahoat, must be
between the boats and the ship, signal
izcd the boats to return, in the hopes of
their finding the man, for ho still be-
lcvcl him to be alive, ns he was a
young fellow Of good pluck, anl most
excellent swimmer.
The weather boat, when about 'Nle
rom the ship, was seen to stern hard,
as the whalers say, until her way was
stopped then three men reached over
the bow and dragged on board their
long looked.fo shipma'e. All hands
were on the alert, cycling them from the
rigging, and when they saw what we
have just described, saluted the boats
crew with three times three.
Tho man had been overheard two
hours and half, and was 50 much g,
hausied that be could hardly speak his
hanks but bis selfconhdence was un-
>ubducd, for he afterwards stated that
he knew hc would be saved the moment
he saw the ship rounded to. lie was
sure Capt. Crecsy would not give him
up as lost until night Set in (; but it
seemed small eternity TO him from
the time he fell overheard until the ship
was brought to the wind. He never
saw the life buoy. Upon his arrival on
board he VS. taken into the cabin, and
intiusted to tho care of Mrs. Greasy,
who put him in working order in ten
days. He was very sick at times de.
lirious--during the first five days but
constant care and watcbfulness, such as
woman only can bestow, overcamo the
fever with which he was threatened,
and gradually restored him to hoalth
! He vas grateful even 70 tear, Ir,ky