Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-19
dNurtester DaiIp Spp.
From Once a Week.
A STORY OF CORNISH WRECKERS.
How Ned Smith won Hi. Medal.

now throbblrg like arteries through the land
were III existence, went with two friends to
lodge in Cornwall. The place was the most
retired | ever saw. Far removed from the
cross-country road, and only reached by ven
turing over track-tor it could not even be
called a patE-winding along the edges OF cliffs
often two or three hundred feet above the
beech, it was p ace TO delight all whose good
fortune had carried them within sight Of H.
The sOuthermost end Of the bay closed in
steep slope of living green, caused by land
slip, in which the turf had slid down like a vel
to hide the ruin it left behind, or hicl moth
ing was seen from, the beach but a back ground
of towering rocks Like some old Norman
castle, we fancied them still resisting step by
step the advances of decay. 1t was near this
southern point that the traces OF former law
less dOings were still to be seen. a small hole
apparently only fox den, led into cave
where thousand kegs OF French brandy had
often been stored in single night.
We were anxious to learn whether the tales
we had heard OF Cornish wreckers were true,
and it was some questioning on this subject
which drew from the old miller the following
story
Il can't say [ never heerd OF such things,
but l never seed no such dOings myself. |
have lived here, man and boy, these seventy
years" he said ''many and many s the night
we've been watching OH these bleak cliffs lor
chance to help the poor creatures as had only
u frail plank between them and death. Scores
of lives I've seed saved, but never one took
no, not even the brute beast that came to shore
from all the multitude of wrecks I've seed.
Pm not going to say that when the ships, poor
things, are all broken up and the timbers come
ashore-l'm not clear to say, there is not some
small matter as never gets reported to the
kings man. Little | blame them that take it,
for, as the Lord above knows, | believe it is
more the fault of those thai keep back the hon
est dues for the salvage.
II remember in the time that barwOod"
land he pointed to some pretty things made
by his son, OF the bright colored l0gwoOd)
"was coming in, there was those as worked
night and day, landing it, ami after all their
toni they wanted to pay them of with just
quarter OF what was the right money. So if
they that are SO well off try TO cheat like that
pd ask your honors If it is not setting an ex-
ample to the poor
''There's Ned Sneeth, now, he as got that
fine medal from that grand place up to Lon
don,-I am sure he is as tender hearted as
child, but you'll never make him believe there
is any sin in taking stray bauIk or two the
tide brings IN, and nobody owns while, al
ter he'd been working for whole week, e,
they wanted to pay him with a little more
than nothing. That's what l call stealing!
"But my old head is forgetting the story.
Well, well, you must please to excuse it 1t
does make nv blood bo;l to hear surh talsitips.
"'rwas seven wears last November mind
il wpll-,ne and Ned were standiny ms vnnr
honor and me is nnw bv NV old hnt hero II
had been bitter night of weather. and was
still so dark we could not see even the clods of
foam that kept flying in our faces. III Just
put tile mill going with some barley. and
was minded to lie down for 4 nap, (tor you
see l always wake when the corn's down.
and so doujl trouble about The mill ! when
thought heard gun could not make sure,
for the wind was ashing the waves noun.
taus high, and the rake of the beach was
most enough to stun a body SAYS | 10 Ned
Ned. you're a more spray man than me, lust
fake a look out TO sea We'll. he'd not pone
but a step or two when the report came again
full and true, and even my old eyes could see
the fash stepped up and turned off the
water and Ned and me went ard called up the
neighbors. | sent boy on horseback to IRE.
bartoot to bring more help and getting the
ropes and things we should want if anything
could be doue for the poor creatures on board
the distressed Ship we went TO the point we
thought she would strike on We had no
help from cur eyes, but were guided by our
knowledge OF the wind and tide.
1T might be about five. or between that
and six o'clock, when we got to Saltstone. We
COul IOI Stdilu dHdliSl tIe Wlllu, Dul were
Obliged to lie down on the edge OF the cliff 10
try to discover the vessel. Ii seemed whole
night, though l suppose it could not be more
than an hour, before we could see or hear any
thing more than the flash OF the gun and the
roar OF the ,"ind and waves. After a bit we
touched hands, and went back to a more shell
tered place 20 talk over what was best to be
done. Some were for lighting fire, to try to
guide them into Widemouth Saud-bay, but
knew twas no use for | was sure the vessel
had not rag of canvass standing to help her
helm, even if the helm itself was still servicea-
bic, and so she could never make reach to
clear Deadmans Corner, and might miss the
only chance OF running into deep quiet water
near the Cupboard Rock.
"All at once, W hile we were doubling what
to do, we heard crash and cry, such as ouIy
stranded ship and the perishng souls on
board OF her can make. All! you talk of
Cornish wreckers-but there was wet eyes
among us then, and mems hearts that never
knew fear futtered like leaves on the lime
tree.
awe stood right above where the vessel
struck, Sheer up from the beach--we meas
ured it alterwards--two hundred and fourteen
feet. A mouse could not have found footing
down that cliff, and as it was within an hour
of high water, no help could come TO them
pour souls but by letting some one down from
the place we stood on.
"lhe dim light of morning Just enabled us
to see each other, and the white line of the
shore-waves Some thought they could see
the wreck; | cannot tell if it was So For
certain we could hear now and then fainter
and fainter, the cry of mortal man.