The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-25
LIFE ALONG SHORE.
THR wRECYERs AND THE WREcAsp
fcoxcIunRp.l

. II
nhout arose from the watchers Az VI. ~
trsme edge OF the tumbiing SUIT sur, 1870 its
peAt bayond the influence OF tne aa 49,,
white aides glistening in the a.a
sh~.r sr,,s,, ia crew was borne on the wings Oh
~ nssss rsn,ain MANLY, who had accom-.
rant~i Ms nnparatus 70 the beach, told us thaI
~ craft WAS boat. which had been lying
in the harbor's mouth LOT u'e puapose Va -, " =,
1is,ress. he had issued orders TO his crew; and
the nobic. hsarted old fellow lifted his beaver,
and cheered them as they passed on their dan.
eeroas crrand Of humanity.
The violence Of the gale and the roaring OF
the sea had now sensibly abated. Several wo-
men, the wives and relatives Of the wreckers,
Joined the group by the fire, and spoke IN
merry tones of tho expected pron's Oh 'he
The dog next attracted the attention OF the
beachmen. He rose from his couehant attitude
by the fire, and bending his gaze towards inc
sea, uttered a low and meianchoiy Wht ne
which gradually increased in force I'LL II De.
came q confirmed howl of the most disih1i
tone. Cajoleres, threats, and blows were
vainly tried 20 stop his hideous NOISE SUDDEN
towards the boiling surf and dashing rapidly
into the waves, was seen struggling WIN
human form. iuIl of longer duration man
usual enabled him to drag his burden WITHIN III,
our reach, but he refused to quit ms noid III
the body was deposited upon the SAND by the
Preside.
The rescued form was that of a young man
of elegant exterior; flowing curis OF raven
black hair, q small moustache, and the deep
olive complexion, told of his foreign BIRTH
The dog licked his hands and face with eager
fondness, the woman chafed his palms, ana
Jenny poured moonshine spirit down ms
throat; bnt the destroyer had fastened ms
grasp around his victim-the eyes rolled, ana
the breast heayed-the death-rattle sounded IN
the throat like the gurgling cry OF drowning
man, and the dropping of the jaw, ana the
glazing Of the eye, too surely told that the
spirit had departed.
The women, convinced of the futility OF
their exertions, quilted the senseiess corpse;
but the dog. unconscious OF his loss, mes tied
closer to the form of his master and watched
the actions of the wreckers with Keen ana
suspicious eye. A gold chain crossed the breast
of the drowned man. a breast-pln giistenen III
the freight and rings of value orn;lmenteo
the fingers of either hand. Such prizes We're
not likely TO be unnoticed by Skinny Jenny
With much cunning, therefore, he endeavor-
to conciiiate the dog, and watching his oppor-
tunity he lifted up the head Of the recumbent
corpse and endeayoured to draw off the gold
en- chain. But his greediness cost him dearly
the faithful dog flew at him with savage Jury
which it was impossible to resist. The wreck
er was tufnbled over in the sand, and forced
amongst the burning embers of the decaying
fire. The bystanders laughed at the distress OF
their brother-wreeker but moved not hand
or foot to his rescue i seized the dog by the
throat and tore him from his grasp. The al
most suffocated Jenny sneaked into the gloom
of the surrounding darkness, and the dog re-
masters corpse.
An officer in the service of the coast-Suard,
for the prevention of SID nggling, now passed
our fire, and told us that the yawl had made
the beach about n mile below the ietty; that
the crew had informed him of the vessels sep
aration before they could reach her, and Of the
total loss Of her crew.
"And in good time, too, lads" said the big
wrecker: athe flood is now making and every
thing that is not swallowed by the sand, must
be ashore afore daylight. II the ebb had lasted
an hour longer, not stick nor rag would
have been left upon our coast"
"Wonder what she's laded with" again NUT
tered Skinny Jenny, as he raked together the
smouldering remnants of the fire. "Shem must he
a foreigner, by the look ofthat ere teller what's
been washed ashore. Dash his dog, say L. Not
but what Scotc snacks is good things, if there's
plenty of passengers, md the luggage is not
slowed away in the hold. But them GOLFERS
/ dominates. Goals is not eatabcs, nor walu-
bles, rnd il takes long time to get sachtnl
by picking 'em.up plecemeal amongst the sand
Trunks and boxes is convenient but carpet
bags is a bad invention. Big Bob do you re-
member them ere Handicapped leather boxes
what was washed ashore from the Russianl
Didn't they roll along the shore nicely! There
ought to be an obligation on all travellers TO
have such things; IT saves trouble So"
"Get up" said Big Bob. as Jenny termed
the ferocious- looking wrecker-''get up said
he, kicking a weather beaten old woman from
her seat by the fire. Light your lantern,
Moll, and let us mizzle down the beach-every-
body else has gone up' and the wrecker and
his companion, Journeylng the opposite way
to Skinny Jenny, quilted the neighborhood
Of the fire.
Scarcely had the suspicion of the destruction
OF the vessel been confirmed by the preventive
officer, ere the main body of the wreckers dis
persed themselves along the shore, i'll eager
anticipation of cleaning harvest from the
matters of wreck cast up by the roaring seas.
A long line of glittering lights gemmed the
shore on either hand far as the eye could reach.
The glad shouts of the successful groups, and
the imprecations of the disappointed, coming
freely on the ear, and mingling strangely with
the meanings of the dying storm.
The old beach-man whose son had been lost |
In the upsetting of the yawl remained by the |
nreside, sobbing piteously, and gazing with |
sympathetic eye upon the body of the master |
OF the dog, which began to exhibit some tokens
Of appreciating his loss, by whining over the
motionless carcass at his side. A loud exult-
ing shout from Skinny Jenny told Of his sue
cess. The old man raised his head, and dried
his unavailing tears. The shout was repeated;
old habits proved unconquerable and he has
tened TO join his mates. As walked home, l
heard the old mans voice in high dispute, mixed
with frequent oaths and violent oblurgutions;
he was daring another wrecker to the fight for
disputing his right to the watch Of drowned
sailor whom he had hauled from the sea
At the suggestion of Captain Manly, we
placed the dead body of the dogs master in
the cart which brought the apparatus 10 the
shore, and prepared for our return to Var
mouth. The dog did not interfere with our
intentions; but when the corpse was safely de-
posted, he jumped into the cart, and crouched
down by the Geld remains of his only friend.
As we walked slowly homeward, along the
sandy paths OF the Denes, l could not help
upon the many dangers of all "who
90 down to the sea in ships sit We're surely
better" thought |, "to gain hard and pre-
carlous living by cleaning the refuse corn upon
another's land, than strive for the golden but
dangerous harvest to be gathered by plough
ing the surface of the treacherous MAIN
Journal.