The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-07-07
ABBEVILLE,, S. c., THURSDAY MORNING JULY + 1859

hold on by, the unfortunate young lady
rolled to the eagc, and then with fright
ful, hcart.rendering scream, she was buried
in the waters beneath.
Dalton and heard the piercing shrek,
ane fastening to see from whence it had
proceeded, VIC were Mortified by seeing
the young creature from whom we had
parted but II few moments before strug
Cling to sustain herself on the surface of
tho briny deep.
In an instant, without moment 5
thought, Dalton pulled of his coat and
boots, and without u,tering a word he
jumped tho railing and sprang maly into
the sea. He struck the water near the be
ing for whom he was risking his life and with
few powerful strokes he reached her Just
rs she was sinking. There were several
life preservers laying on tho deck near me ;
| seized = couple Of them and tossed them
into the sea, and then ran to where several
men who heard Miss Banc-oft's scream were
lowering boat into it jumped with
severa! others, and in 4 few moments were
on the water
Though but about Ave minutes had
elapsed from, the fall of Miss Bancroft into
the water and the lowering Of small
boat, she and Dalton were q considerable
distance astern, owing to the speed at
which the Falcon was going at the time.
The news ofthe accident was soon spread
throughout the ship, aud as we pulled
away from her side the passengers came
hurricjly on deck, and the vessel WAS stop
ped as soon as possible.
Pull, my men, for your lives, we may
yet save them ; shouted the mate, the or.
ly officer Of the ship with US, and who was
standing up on the after part of the boat
steering.
We did pull, and strained every nerve
i'll our exertions, until the boa. almost
leapcd out of the water, and every mo.
ment brought US nearer to Dalton and his
now unconscious burden. He had fortu-
natcly got hold Of one of tho life prcser-
vers which had tossed over after him,
and it was by that that lie sustained him.
self on the water, and it required all his
strength, even with the assistance of the
life preservcr, to keep himself and the be-
ing he had i'll his arms from sinking.
We had got to within about one hun
dreG yards Of the pair when l observed the
mates check turn pale, and thought they
had sunk, for being rowing Of course had
my back to them bu, such was no. the
case, although it was something equally
iea.tal Is his words told us, tla. caused
that check 10 pale.
MY God, there's shark - exclaimed
the mate, and = cry Of horror broke from
all in the beat as they heard the fearful
words and he is a making straight for
them, too, continued the mate so pull
with all your strength my fellows few
more strokes will fetch US along side of
them, and we must be there before the
shark, or they are lost
A thrill of horror ran through nv frame
but spoke not, and pulled on with renew
ed exertion, as thought of the fearful
death that might be the fate of my two
friends if We were moment late All of
the others. actnatcd suppose by the same
feeling, strained themselves to tile utmost
and we quickly neared the pair whose
life was i'll such imminent peril.
The shark is down, my men, said the
mate as VIC approached Dalton, but here
we are at them now. so pull them in be-
fore he can come up, and we will save them
yet
We wero now close upon Dalton, and
several of US pulled in our oars and pre- :
pared to pull him and his burden in as we
came along side Of him.
Take her, take her first said Dalton, as
two of US seized him by the collar to drag
him in if you pull me in she will
drop out of my arms, for l have not
strength TO hold her.
We took hold Of the unconscious and
apparently dead voting laly and lifted her
out of DaIton's arms into the boat. and
then laid hold of Dalton. We had lifted
him partially out of the water when q
sharp cry Of pain broke from him, and VIC
saw the body Of the ravenous shark in the
water below him; we pulled him hastily
| but alas we were too late, for both hi.
feet see.e gone!
We. stopped the Aow Of blood, which
however was not very great, and strucl
out for the ship by tue time we arrived
there, Dalton was az unconscious As til,
being for whom he had risked his life
They were handed carefully over the sid,
of the vesseland conveyed to their berth
where they received every medical atten
ten, there being fortunately three mediea
gentlemen on board, and in short time
10