The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-06-08

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you?" l next asked
"There's more danger here than yot
knows on, boy, But, what's that?" he
exclaimed, peering into the gloom before
US. ga ship, as Pm sinner HARD
down hard down hard he yelled as il
all depended upon his being heard. 'SbiE
ahead" In an instant the captain was al
our side.
'sWhere is she, Dick 90
"Dead ahead, sir, she was, but now
right off our lee bow"
"Aye! l see" said the captain, "but
what in fury is she trying to do?-cross
our bows?"
''Id bet months wages she is" re-
Piled Dick.
"Stand by your braces there! Boy,
run and get my trumpet, and call Mr..
Egan!" were the rapid orders that came
from the skipper, as he Jumped down on
deck. 'How does she bear now?"
"Sou' west by SOU" half SOU STRIP
cried the helmsman.
''Let her off a pointT'
"Aye! aye! sir"
"Wheres the stranger now, Dick"
said the captain, coming up on the fore
castle.
"Clos't on Us, SIR" was Dicks brief re-
ply.
"By the gods, she'll run US down"
49, she will, sir" Dick replied calm
ly, for he had said bis last prayer, ex-
pscting every moment to bid farwell to all
on this earth.
The stranger now approached nearer
and nearer, until we were able to pre-
ceive that she was a clipper, of much
more tonnage than the Greyhound. Her
lookouts, if any she had, evidently did
not keep good eye to leeward, for she
kept on her course. which would bring
her across our bows. A collision seemed
inevitable, for at this moment | espied an
iceberg on our lee bow. The only course
Of action for us to pursue, was to erdeav-
or to pass the point between the iceberg
and the stranger before she came down
upon us. Our skipper saw this, for he
immediately ordered the main-top>ail to
be unfurled. 1t was the only course we
could pursue, through even this seemed
destruction, for the winds had not fallen
in the least, and the masts with the rig
ging seemed likely to snap asunder. The
sailors with the second mate, ran up the
rigging and lay out on the yard. AT
this moment, the lookout on the other ship
caught sight Of us, and her course was al
tered so that she might possibly pass ",
but flaw of wind or an extra wave
would decide our fate.
In few moments our topsail swurg
out to the 5teez, but almost at the same
instant the top-mast cracked, and as the
men reached the deck, with n loud clear
snap, it parted from the main-nast, and
lay over the side.
"Clear away the wreck" cried the
captain through his trumpet.
''Man overheard" yelled one of the
men.
"Let him COP answered the skipper.
1t was Harry, beloved by all-his first
voyage at sea found hima grave away
from n mother and sister of whom be
had ever spoken in terms Of fondest en-
dearment. There in the lev wat rs o.
the southern sea he lay while his friends
at home would wait long and anxiously
for the return of their boy whom they
would never meet again save In heaven.
One shrek, shrill and piercing, was all
that was heard, and the waves closed over
his form.
"The second mates killed." was the
next warning cry.
The captain ran to him, and lifting his
inanimate budy in his arms, carried him
into the cabin. The poor fellow was dead
portion of the topmast struck him as ii
parted from the stages, and with no warn
ing sent him into the presence Of his God
"Where's the stranger now" said the
captain coming from the cabin, and dash
ing a tear from his eye. by Geolge
we'll strike her. Ship ahoy"
No answer; the noise of the cracking
spars, the dashing of the waves, and the
winds shrill whistle, drowned his voice
After few moments, the ship having
approached somewhat nearer, he agar
hailed them.
"Aye, ayor' came from the stranger
"What in-are you trying TO do
run us downa" yelled our skippel
through his trumpet.
With all eagerness we awaited the re
ply. 1t was
} Our r,feel's broke =