Butte record., 1856-06-14
a Man Overheard.

The clipper ship Flying Cloud, Cap
tam }. P. Creesy, on the last passage
from China to New York, was, in the
vicinity Of Madagascar, going along
at the rate Of twelve knots, with a fine
breeze on the quarter, when a young
man who was passing a studding sail
tack aft, outside of the bulwarks, fell
overheard. The watch was busy On
the forcastle, and did not notice him
Fortunately, Mrs. Creesy, who was
IN the cabin, looking out of stern
window, saw him and Immediately ran
on deck, and threw life-buoy over
board. Still the ship was going along
steadily on her course, for as vet, Mrs.
Creesy alone knew that there was a
man overheard. The captain was on
the forecastle, busy among the men,
preparing TO set another studding sail;
the helm man was intent upon keep
ing the ship her due course, the ready
aye, aye, SIR" might be heard, in
response to some command, when
Mrs. Greasy rushed forward, with ex-
tended arms, too agitated to speak,
What Is the matter with Mrs. Cree
sy?" asked one of the men who was
near the captain. "Eh! whatr re-
joined the captain, casting a glance on
deck, & the next second his voice rang
fore and aft: ''Hard down the helm
one man aloft to look out-clear
away the lea quarter boat-call all
handsn' He comprehend d in an in
stant the disaster, which Mrs. Creesy
could not speak.
The ship was hove to and the GUAR
boat ahoat, with orders to pull in the
wake of the ship until recalled by
signal Sail was shortened and the
ship pat about to rctracc her course as
nea ly as the wind would permit. The
sea was raIler rough but the boat pull
led steadily to windward, at the rate
of three knots an hour. Capt. Cree
sy went aloft and scanned the horizon
with his glass, but could see nothing
Of either the man or the life buoy
When the boat had been absent an
hour, the officer who had charge re-
turned to the ship, but was again sent
off, with imperative orders not to re-
turn till sunset, (the sun was then
three hours high,) and in order to
spread the chance of falling in with
the man, another boat was al.o des-
patched. Two hours had elapsed,
when the life buoy was discovered
close to the ship-but not the man.
Both beats were now about three
miles from the ship, one on each side
Of her course, and the captain, at once
inferrlng that the man, if ahcat, must
be between the beats and the ship,
signalized their return, in the hopes Of
their finding the man, for he still be-
lieved him to be alive, as he was
young fellow of good pluck and an ex-
cellent swimmer. The weather boat,
when about a mile from the ship, was
seen to "stern hard," as the whalers
say, until her way was stopped, when
three men reached over the bow, and
dragged inboard their long looked for
shipmate. 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. The man had been over
board three hours and half and was
so much exhastcd that he could hardly
speak his thanks; but his self-conf-
dence was unsubdued for he afterwards
stated he knew he would be saved, the
moment he saw the ship rounded to.
He was sure capt. Crreesy would not
give him up as lost until night set In;