Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-05-04
A swIM FOR LIFE.

| About twenty years ago, man-of-war was
lying at anchor in the principal harbor OF
Antigua, which as most people know, forms
one OF the group called the West India Islands.
1t was a hot sultry day in the beginning OF
June. The heavy fog, which at that time OF
year occasionally hangs like curtain over
everything, had been dispersed by the heat OF
the SUMS ray, and like a retreating enemy,
was rolling slowly back to the horizon. Not
breath of wind stirred the water, not asea-
gull tapped its wing round the ship. The
| long pennon drooped lazily from the mast, as
though sharing in the general langor of nature.
The surface of the sea was like mirror, only
disturbed by an occaso onal black fin that rip
pied lazily through the water for little dis
tance. and disappeared as its possessor sunk
again into the depths beneath. AS the sun,
however, rose towards the meridian breeze
began to spring up-not cool and steady, but
coming now and then in irregular puffs, ard
hot as the breath of an oven. NotwIthstand-
| ing the suspicious appearance of the weather
and the rapid fall of the thermometer, party
of midshipmen asked permission to take the
| pnnace for few hours sail, and obtained It,
! but on the condition that they should not go
far from the ship. The party, consisting OF
| six middies and two mates, started according
ingly in great spirits, Notwithstanding the waI-
| ming growls of some of the old tars. Thought
| less and fearless sailors generally are, they
| paid little attention to the freshening wind,
aud the fast altering appearance OF the SKY.
/ The tide was running out with great force, and
| they were soon outside the mouth of the har-
/ Dor, and slipping down the SIDE of the island
with a fair wind, and sltft this full strength OF
| the ebb. One of the mates vas at the helm,
| MILDLY with the sheets, -le rest stretched lazi-
| ly about the boat, smoking and talking, When
/ like thunderbolt, Violent squall struck
| them and the light boat capSized in an instant
| All its crew were immersed, but soon made
/ their appearance again, swimming like corks
/ on the surface, and in short time were col
lected like flock of water-towls on the keel
of their upturned boat. When they had sha-
4 ken the water out of their eyes, looked about
| them little, and found their number undl-
| minished, they held consultation on their
| condition, and the chances for and against
| their rescue. The prospect of affairs was
certainly not inspiriting, and to people pos
| sesSed of less buoyant dispositions than them
/ selves, would have appeared hopeless. Ihey
were clinging to the wreck OF a small ooat,
| their ship was hidden from sight by clouds OF
1 rain-for the storm had now come On IN all ITS
4 fury--and the land was invisible from the same
Hcause. The sea was rising fast, the wind
4 blowing perfect hurricane, and worse than
Fall, they were drifting with full force of wind
fand tide into the Caribbean Sea; once there,
ont of the track of vessels and far from any
| land, their fate would be certain. Such being
the state of things, many hopes were express
ed that the ship would send boats in search OF
| them. Comfortable suggestions, but with too
| little foundation. At last the two eldest de-
termined upon plan, which nothing but the
| desperate emergency of the case could nave
suggested. 1t was to attempt to swim ashore.
The land was about three miles from them
they were both first-rate swimmers, and as far
| rs the distance was concerned, might have at
tempted it on calm day without much fear OF
failure; but in heavy sea the case was differ
ent, and both wind and tide, though not dead
against them, combined to sweep them down
l 4 A. IL. Ahnvn a
place swarmed with sharks. Nothing daunted
however, these two brave fellows stripped to
the skin, and after q short goodbye and a
hurried exhortation to the big ones to hold
the little ones on and all TO keep mp their
pluck, they leaped into the sea.
They had both resolved to stick to one an
other long as they lasted, both for mutual
encouragement and as some sort of protection
against the much dreaded sharks. For nearly
an hour they swan on, sometimes lying on
their backs to rest, sometimes striking out
again for dear life. Up to this time, although
much fatigued, they had seen no sharks; and
they were encouraged by glimpse, through
a break in the gale of the land, as it rose dark
and forbidding above its white fringe OF break
ers. But all at once, without moment
notice ,ihey were surrounded ON all SIDES Dy
the black fins. An exclamation OF despair
forced itself from them at this sight, and both
| waited in agony of suspense for the moments
of pain which were to end their existence
still they mechanically swan on, and to their
surprise, the sharks although playing around
them, did not touch them. They made con-
| tinual short rushes at them, and when the
poor fellows closed their eyes in all the agony
of death, passed by them or, turning on their
backs they would open their monstrous jaws
and close their teeth with loud clash within
few inches of their victims body. One OF
these men said afterwards that he felt at times
like mouse in the power of cat that play $
, with the poor wretch before she makes her
supper off it. Still however, they swan on,
} the thunder roaring, the lightning flashing a.
bove them, struggling against heavy sea,
terrific wind, and strong tide. tired and ex-
hausted, with these horrid monsters swimming
round them. One often reads OF nights OF
terror that turns q mans hair gray. Many OF
these may be considered peaceful when COM
pared with the horrors Of that five hours
swim. at last however, they succeeded In
nearing the extreme end of the island; the
sharks one by one left them. The last howev-
err made farewell plunge at the lad nearest
; him; and though he missed him with his teeth,
struck him violent blow in the stomach with
his strong tail. The poor fellow called out
and his companion, who swimming few
yards in advance, though thoroughly exhans-
ted, returned to his friends assistance. he
supported him until he recovered sufficiently
, to proceed, and at last they once more touched
the firm ground. They struggled up the
. beach, and lay down for few minutes, utter
, ly worn out 1; but the thought of their CON-
rades clinging to that upturned boat roused
them to fresh exertions. After staggering on
for about half mile in the direction of some
houses they met number of negroes, who a:
, our heroes were entirely naked, attacked them
/ with stones and they would in all probability
have fallen victims to this "ngger" sense c
decency, had not an officer fortunately passed
bJ at the moment and recognised them;