Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-10-18

could not help it- 4 covered my lace Win
my hands and dared not look, till heard
a loud cheer and saw the boat safely float
ing within very few yards of the half
extinct mast, which had narrowly missed
falling upon the little haven of safety.
And now they were going to get the last
boat out, and the three others lay off at lit
tie distance, while above the hoarse orders
of the captain there was the cracking and
roar Of the flames, now leaping up at fear
full rate. And yet it was splendid sight,
in spite of the horror fol every now and
then pieces of the copper wire rope used IN
the rigging regularly caught fire and burned
with most beautiful blue light, brighter
than any -works-I, ever saw; while now.
the foremost had taken fire, and the flames
were tearing along the riggingtin the ropes
seemed illuminated with little beads ana
tongues of fire. The heat grew awful, and
every now and then little pieces Of blazing
rope, spars ana blocks fell red-hot and
glowing into the sea, sending up little
smoking columns Of Kissing steam. The
whole Of the centre of the ship was now on
fire, and the flames rose prodigiously, float
ing off and flashing. amidst the clouds OF
smoke, while far away still lightly fitted
and spun about the golden iaky snow, ed
dying amongst the smoke, and darling far
on high in the most beautiful way mag
Unable. .. ,t-alt
| think said before how the tremendous
heat caused regular draught to set to-
wards the fire, 50 that you were almost
scorched before, the wind came with quite
a cold rush behind; but then how it made
the flames roar again and burn more fierce
ly than ever. It was sickening sight, for
every now and then the cruel forky tongues
seemed to keep tapping at and threatening
us, and then dancing and licking every
thing up, as if in devilish joy at the pros
pect of soon devouring us poor sinners.
1t was a horrible sight, and though did
not show it, yet could feel my heart sink
every time | was idle for few moments,
when | went at it again like savage. |
didn't go down onrmy knees to pray, but
don't know think prayed earnestly in
my, heart then, and though would gladly
have been with the wife in the other boat,
vet couldn't feel as it was suited to fel-
lows duty to leave such a man as that cap
tain had showed himself all in the lurch;
so says to myself, {" Be man., too, Phil )"
and did try to, anyhow.
All at once the flames seemed to veer
round, and began blowing towards us, while
the position of the boats was changed, and
couldn't understand it till saw the cap
tain run from helping to get the last boat
the one as was on the deck close to the
mizzen mast-oyer the side, and then
found it was the man had left the wheel,
and had run up towards the boat.
"Back!" heard the captain say "back,
or III fre!'
i" Fire away, cap," says the man sulkily,
"one may. just as. well die by fire one way
as another, and won't stand there and be
burnt" f;...
And then the captains hand--the one as
held the pistol fell down by his side, and
he looked regularly done,
"What's up?" I says. +'sCan | do?'
and | followed the captain to the wheel,
which he turned on as to put the head of
the ship right once more; and as he did it,
she just changed round again; but while
all this had been going on, the mizzen or
third mast took fire, and now was blazing
away fercely. 81 o1e'
".Hold on here, my man." says the cap
tain. "and keep the wheel just as it is.
That's right; hold the spokes firm and if
her head swings round, call to me to come
and help you" -s.. Eoe
sAll right / says s'but minG, don't
understand it bit" And now my troubles
seemed to begin for though it was bad
enough to be busting. about fancying that
the ship would either go down or you'd be
burnt every moment, yet to stand stock
still holding on the spokes of that wheel
was awful, and do what | would to stop it,
regular tremble came over it, a regular
tremble came all over me; and my knees
kept on shake, shake, shake. 7a
They got the boat over the side, and then
the men rushed over another to get in, and
it was only by stamping about and hitting
at them that the captain got the poor chaps
to take in the things they wanted; such as
food, which he fetched out Of the cabin
himself; and water, which they did sling
in, but dropped one little cask overheard.
But, one way or another, he got them at
last to take in a good many things such as
they'd want, and a compass; and then,
with three more men, he rushed down to
the cabin again for more food, biscuit-bags,
Saying that the other boats would want
more, and that we must supply them. And
then up they came staggering and shaking,
one man with little water key, and the
captain with side O. bacon, and two men
with bags O. biscuit; and they goes to the
side, and i wished my job was done as |
saw 'em go. lre sos a 's.
All at once one of the men gives yell,
throws down his bag, and leaps back over
board, and the others running after him,
did so too and then could see that the
cowardly beggars had pushed off,-for they
lay close under the side, where couldn't
see 'e1n before, and now they were rowing
hard to get away, and 1 could see that the
boat was SO full that the least thing must
make her fill and sink.
1t was pitiful to hear the shrieks Of those
poor fellows as was left behind, as they
swan with all their might to get up to the
boat, and it was pitiful to see, for it was as
light as day, and the waves that gently
rose and fell seemed waves Of blood, glow
ing od,-with golden crests as they soft
ly broke. But though one man swan so
fast that he got up to the boat, they pushed
him off with the oars; and then | saw him
cling to them, and one pulled out a knife to
stab him if he came nearer; while just
then SAW the boat hook rise up and fall
with heavy thud on the poor chaps head,
and he went under, and l.. said, "God help
himn' for he came up no more.
There were two more swimming after
them, ard when the next saw all this, he
just turned round, and looked back at the
ship, and padded with his hands bit. and
then stretching them straight up towards
the sky, he gave one wild bitter shrek, and
he went under; and this time Itried to say,
"God help him!" but it was only my lips
that moved.
There was the other, though, fine lusty
young fellow, and as soon as he saw what
took place he turned off to the left and tried