The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-14

the ocean, within a coup1es Of Inches
Of being shocked to death. Well. as
/ said, e was new to the work, and
having banged at him with Z pickaxe
till I was tired-and he slipped away
from me just like oil Thought i
would be an easier thing to sufocate
him than me, so I didn't turn no air
on for ever so long, and found myself
getting black in the face, while the
animal was swimming and gliding like
a gentleman in easy circumstances
enjoying the spectacle, and every now
and then splashing with his tail for
moderate applause. So I gave up
that dodge just in time, and resumed
my pick. The more 1 picked, how
ever, the less he chose, which was an
unappreciatcd joke I made to myself
during those trying events themselves,
and was obliged to try summit else.
L Laid bare the floor of the bell, (which,
we can do within an inch or So got
hlm into shallow water, and very soon
finished him off. The skin is in the
big chest, in my bedroom, and mea-
sures a hundred and twenty feet from
tip to tip. I regret to s.. y that the
key is lost, or I should have great
pleasure III showing it to you
Il will tell you," continued Mr..
Headfurst, after q pause, 'sof an oc-
c'lrrence that happened to my brother
within the last few years; he has be-
come an altered man since, assure
yoi1, and generally takes n religious
work down in the bell with him.
''Therc was a friend of his, matc to
a West Indi;nnan, that was outward
bound in a few days from Cork, and
Bill. my brother, and he had had a
difference. What the quarrel began
about don't rightly know, but the
mate abused Bills profession, and
called him an amphiberous lubber, or
something like that, and Bill abused
the mate and wished him under the
sea, with never an air-tubc; and tho
ship sailed without making it up.
My brother was very sorry when it
was too late--fOr amphiberous lubbcrs
have their feelings like other folks
and greatly shook when news was
brought, next morning, that the vessel
had gone down not three miles from
shore, with every soul on board.
just at starting, as it might bc-with
all her passengers so full of hopo,
aSoing to join their friends again
she struck upon a rock off Early
Point, and settled down. as it. was
supposed, about midnight. IN n few
minutes. There was Il good cargo of
spice, and Bill was, Of course, sent for
Immediately. There was but few bo-
dies tioated to shore, and, knowing
he would see some terrible sight, he
was not ovcr-pleased at the Job; but
until they could get more divers there
was no choice, so down he goes to the
vessel, and finds her fallen bctwixt
two reefs of rock, bolt upright, with
nlasts standing and sail set, just as
she settled down. She looked, he
said, for all the world like any ship
upon the surface, except that there
was Il hole broken in her side where
she had struck. Her boats were sllng
almost Uninsurcd, coils of rope were
lying on the Nsain-deck, the matches
were open, and the door above the
chief cabin stairs, The wet, swift
fishes darted in and out Of it. and the
crabs were going about their work
already when my brother descended.
There We're siX or seven men in the
cabin, gentleman passengers, and o
card or two that f!oated about showed
they had been playing when the vessel
struck. Some OF them were even
then standing upright, just us they
started from their seats when they
felt the shock, and one had a dreadful
look, with pale, parted Lips, as though
a cry of agony had just escaped them
A young man and girl-so like as to
be sworn brother and sister--wor,
embracing for the last time. The
heaving of the sea, scarce felt at such
deplh, swayed all the figures to and
fro. Without a touch Of decay, and
instinct with all but life, was that
ships company. The captain, in his
| cabin S1nnt l>ic Loot c1oo,> IN