American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-10-20
LANCASTER, OHIO THURSDAY MORNING OCTOBER. 2o 1889

been stove in was six feet long by eight
inches wide. and would Lave let in a stream !
Of water Of that capacity. It would have !
been bevond our reach long ere we could
have discovered it. and would have sunk
us in very short time. 1 knew it must
be where the ieeterg struck us.
Jack Wilhers was ttken 10 the cabin
and there he managed 10 tell his story
Shortly after put him in the hold. he
crawled forward. and when he became
used TO the dim glimmer that came through
the dead lights, looked ahout for snug
place in which 10 lie. Tor bis limits were
sore. He went to sleep, and when he
heard faint sound like water streaming
through small hole, he went 10 the open
place in the cargo, and looked down, and
he was sure II at ho saw a smallje Of WGter
springing up from the, ships bottom: He
leaped down, and in few MINUTES found
that the timbers had given wholly away,
and that the stream was increasing in size.
He placed his hand upon the plank. and
found it broBen. and discovered tbatihe
pressure Of water without was pressing i
inward. He had sense enough TO see that
if it gained an inch more it must all 90,
and tbe ship be lost and perhaps all bands
perish. And saw. too, that If he could keep
the broken plank in its place, be might
stop the incoming food. So lie sat him
self upon ii. and braced his foet against
the cask, and then called for help. But be
was SO far away. so low down, with such
dense mass of the cargo about him, thst
bis voice scarcely reached other ears than
his cwn. Some Of the men heard him but
thought he was taking to himself.
And there he sat with his feet Traced,
for four ard twenty dreary hours, with
the water sparting in my streams all over
him drenching him to The skin. He had
thought several times Of going to the
ha.chway and calling for help; but he knew
that the broken plank would lie forced 10
if he left II. for he could feel it feaye be-
meath him. His strength was failing him
Ibis limbs were racked with pain---tut
he would not give up. I asked him il be
should not have given up i'll had not come
as did. He answered that he could not
have done it while he had life in him.
He said he thought not Of himself--he
was ready to debut he would save the
rest If he c6uld--and be had saved us,
surely saved us all, from watery grave.
That boy lay sick almost unto death; but
/ nursed him with my own ifauds--nursed
him all through his delrium; and when
his reason returned, and be could sit up
and talk, bowed myself before him, snd
bumbly asked his pardon for at the wrong
l had done him. He threw his arms about
my neck. and told me If I could be good to
him, he would never give me cause for Of.
fence; and added as he sat up sgaiu--"I
am not cowsid--I couldn't be dog"
From that hour never forgot these
words: and from that hour / have never
struck blow ON board my ship. l make
/ men feel that they are men-that SO re-
gard them, and that / wish to make then
comfortable and bappyas as possible. and
have not failed 10 gain their respect anC
'confdeece. give no undue license, bu
maize my crew feel that they have fri nc
and superior in the same person. Fol
nine years sailed in three different ships
A man couldn't be hired TO leave me save
for an officers berth. Te
And Jack Wilbers remained with me Is
years. He was my cabin boys one oftht
foremost hands; my second mate; and tbt
last time he sailed with me be refused III,
command Of q new barque because h,
would not be separated from ne. But bt
is a captain now, and one Of The best thii
country ever afforded. Such gentlemen
I,is my experience in government and dis
cipllne on shipbosrd. q q