Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-15


mion had struck. But soon. round, black OBJ
.ject became discernable, as we glanced at the
rocky base
Rimmer struck my arm and pointed |
signed assent, and we moved onward moro
quickly.
A few moments elapsed we had come nearer
to the rock. The black object now looked like
the stern Of q vessel whose halllay there; i =
Suddenly Rimmcr struck me again, and
pointed upward. Following the direction of
his hand, | looked ny, AID saw the upper sur
face of the water all loamy and in motion
There was momentary thrill through my heart,
but it passed over We were in Il dangerous
condition. A storm was coming on
But should we turn back now, when we were
so near the object of our search Already it
lay before US. We were close beside it, No, |
would not. signalized to Rimmer to go for
ward, and We still kept our course
Now the rock rose up before US, black, rug
ged dismal. Its rough sides were worn by the
action of the water, and, in some places, were
covered by marine plants and namcles ocean
vegetation. We passed onward, we cambered
over spur, which juttcd from cliff, and there
lay the steamer
The Marmion-therc 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 her wharf. We rushed ca-
gerly along and clambercd up her side There
was low moan in the water, which sounded
warningly in our ears, and told us of swift.
approaching danger. What WAS to be done
must be done speedily. We hurried forward.
Rimmer rushed to the cabin. went forward,
to descend into the hold. descended the lad
der. | walked into the engineers room AL
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 appall-
ing noise upon deck. The heavy footsteps of
some one running, as though in mortal fear, or
most dreadful haste, sounded in my ears. Then
my heart throbbed wildly; for it was fearful
thing to hear, far down in the silent depths of
the ocean.
Psbaw it's only Rimmer,
hurriedly assembled the deck by the first out
let that Appealed When speak OF hurry, |
speak of the quickest movement possible, when
numbered with 50 much armor. But this move
ment of mine was quick | rushed upwards;
sprlng out on the deck.
1t was Rimmer
lie stepped forward and clutched my arm.-
He pressed it with convulsivc grasp, and
pointed to the cabin.
attempted to 60 there.
He stamped his foot, and tried to hold Inc
back. He pointed to the boat, and implorcd me
with frantic gestures, to go up.
1t is APPALLING to witness the horror struck
soul trying to express itself by signs 1t is aw-
full to see these signs when no face is plainly Wis
ibe, and no voice is heard. could not see Hi
face plainly, but his eyes, through his hcasJ
mask, glowed like Goals of fire.
81 will go" l exclaimed. sprang from
him. He clasped his hands together, but dareC
nov follow.
Good heavens! thought, what fearful thing
is here! What scene can be so dreadful as tt
paralyze the soul of practiccd diver. vii
see for myself
I walked forward. came to the cabin door
entered the forward saloon, but saw nothing
A feeling of contempt came to he. Rimme
shall not come with me again, thought. Ye
| was awe struck. Down in the depths of th
sea there is only silence-oh, how solemn
paced the long saloon, which had echoed will
the shrieks Of the drowning passengers. All
there are thoughts which sometimes fill th
soul, which are only felt by those to whom scene
; of sublimity are familiar. Thus thinking,
walked to the after cabin and ente. ed
Oh, God of heaven
Had not my hand clenchcd the door with
grasp which mortal terror had made convulsive
should have fallen to tho floor stood nailc
to the spot. For there before me stood crow
Of pcople-men and women-caught in the las
death struggle. by the overwhelming waters, an
fastened to the spot, each in the position i
which death had found him. Each one ha
> sprung from his chair at the shock of the sinh
ing ship, and with one common emotion, all ha
started for tho door But the waters of the sc
had been too swift for them. Lo then-son
wildly grasping the table, others the beam
Others the sides of the cabin-there they a
stood. Near the door was crowd of people
heaped upon one another-some on the foo
" Others rushing over thcm-all seeking, madl,
. to gain the outlet. There was one who songl
. to Chamber over the table, and still was ther
~ holding on to an iron post. So strQng was eac
e conyulsive grasp, SO fierce the struggle of eac
with death, that their hold had not yet been r
'f laxcd but each one stood and looked frantica
'r ly to the door.
!; To the door--good God To me they wei
ID looking! They We're glancng at me, all tho
= dreadful, those terrible eyes Eyes in whit
N the fire of life had been displaced by the chilir
n gleam of death. Eyes which still glared Iii
Sc the eyes of the maniac, with no expression
re They iroze me with their cold and icy stare
ID They had no meanings for the soul had gon
IT And this made it still more horrible than
ut could have been in life; for the appalling co
re tortion of their faces, expressing fear, horro
to despair, and whatever else the human soul m,
rt feel, contrasting with the cold and CLASSY eye
made this vacancy yet more fearful He up
lg the table seemed more 6endish than the other
for his long black hair was disheveled, and fos
at ed, horribly down-and his beard and mustacl
d all looseued by the water, gave him the nri