The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-10

the cutters could swim in the sea that
was running, and whether they would |
be sufficient to hold all the people. 1t
was extremely doubtful whether they 4
would do either. one thing or the
other; but he ordered them to be seen
clear, all ready for lowering, and then
said: Ny lads, the ship will no
doubt stick together until daybreak;
if we can manage to hold on till then,
we shall, have a better chance of get
ting ashore; by that time, too, the
weather, may have moderated. 1t
would be more dangerous to attempt
to land now than it is to stay by the
ship He then ordered me to go
down with the mates into the cabin,
to try to lay our hands upon the blue
lights, also some cartridges for two
small swivels, which we had on the
taffrail. Moreover, he directed me to
bring UP some wine, or spirits, to serve
out to the crew. This [ managed to
effect with some difficulty; and very
useful the allowance was to the wet
and shiyering men. We learned af
forwards that our blue lights and guns
certainly gave notice to the people on
the island of our whereabouts, but
produced no other effect, nor, indeed,
did we look for much assistance from
shore. s.rzsq .i5.l...,s 65fseeToa +.
A dreary night we passed, nor when
day broke was the prospect much
more inspiring but that our com
manders advice was good in urging
the men not to take to the boats du-.
ring the night was evident, as we, could
now perceive, what we should proba-
| bly, have missed in the dark, that there
! vas short stretch of sand ,shingly
beach, where we might have some
| chance Of running the boats ashore,
and even of saving our lives if they
CHANGED to be rolled over in the heavy
surf, which we could not help con-
sidering was more likely than not. Be
that as might happen, the. trial was to
/ be made; and Captain Harrison pro-
iceeded to tell off the crew of the first
cutter, which he plated under the
charge of Mr. Monsell. With him
she would carry twelve in all. This
divided the crew and officers equally
between the two boats, with the ex-
.ception Of the captain, and made one
over the complement for the second
cutter
/ This having been arranged, we low
cred away the boat, with two hands in
her tending the falls, and, thanks to
the shelter afforded by the position OF
the ship, we managed pretty well, and
| got the people into her without acct
! dent. But she swum very deep, even
dangerously So AS long as she was
under the lee of the wreck, this was
not matter of so much consequence
but it was a ticklish moment when
they let go the painter and put hel
head round for the shore We watch
ed her progress for minute or two
and then proceeded to lower the Sec
ond cutter, the captain saying, Now
Gilbert, it is your turn.
The boat was successfully lowered
and the hands passed safely over the
side, leaving Captain Harrison, Mr.
Gilbert, and myself Then the cap
tain addressed the mate, and said
Gilbert, | must be the last man OF
board to step over the side. Stedman
fetch me my glass; it lies in the com
panion-h1tch." 5.o
! / brought it to him, and he ordered
me into ais boat. As he followed me
to the ships bulwarks, I of course
obeyed him, never dreaming of any
thing but that he would follow me
But when he saw me safe on boart
, the boat he called out, to the surprist
of all +
Thirteen is an unlucky number
, Gilbert; you are too deep as it is, ant
will do better without mesoI shall
! stay aboard to take care of the ship
! Give way, my ladsl"
Take care of the ship, indeed Go,
|, help himl The ship was breaking u
fast, and the cargo coming up along
), side. iav q sI9 .a1Ca
} As he spoke he cast off the end 0
the painter where it was made fast OF
: board, and we were at once swep
: twelve or fifteen feet from the wreck
} and if we had not pulled the cutter
+ bow around should have been cap
, sized instantly. saao
3 We could not have returned to tn
5 ship now if we had risked our lives t,
, the utmost In attempting to do so
l Had we been able to accomplish it
, we most certainly should have beer
t compelled to use force to remove The
Captain. We saw him wave his hant
3 to US, and walk deliberately to tn,
! weather quarter, where he crouchet
down, and leveling his glass, LOOKED
S out to the windward. q
You see, although he was so cool il
e taking command when the ship struck
and in arranging for the safety of the
: men; yet as soon as the first great ex
Y element was over, his ideas wen
!, back to their former channel.
$ He had no care now for his wreck
t ed ship, for his good men in extrem
0 danger, or even for his own life, fas
e drawing to close Mono, hi
5 thoughts we're fifteen hundred miles
+ away, with a deserted ship and los
e crew, whom he would have given hi
q lffo IN ,.aeia,lo eO,, L l.