National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-05-03

I
twisted about like all eel to get
away and then | put him a little
neaIer; when he begged and pray
ed to be put down, and he'd work
till he dropped and then up comes
the captain, for he'd bOlted off into
the CABIN but now rushed ont again
with a revolver in each hand.
well done, my man, he shouts to
me, for he saw what | did and
then he gives me one of the pistols,
and swore he'd shoot the first man
that disobeyed, and I'm blessed if |
didn't believe he would if they'd
have tried it on; but they didn't,
but began pumping away like mad
again, and we too went to work
pouring in the water, while Pm
sure | heard regular groan from
the captain, though his face was
| like a bit of wood.
This didn't take above five min
utes but | believe it lost us the
ship, though we had seemed to make
such little impression when we
turned on the water. But five min
utes at such time was ruin the
flame rose higher and higher, and
the he"' us awful so that do
what We would, We were beat back,
and instead of quiet crawling
flame now, there was regular roar,
and the wind set towards the great
fiery tongues in fierce draught.
Stick to it, my man. says the
captain in low voice, 1T is our
only chance
And | wouldn't give much for it,
sir | says, in the same tone.
Hush! he says and then to the
men pump away, my lads"
/ They pumped away hearty enough
and kept trying on a cheer; but 1t
soon could be seen with half an eye
that the ship must 90, for the flames
darted up, and almost before you
knew it, the rigging was on fire, and
the tongues like leaping from rope
to rope, till the tarry things blazed
furiously, light up to the mainn asst
head, and little fiery drops of burn
ing tar kept falling on the deck, or
ciSsing into the sea; while for far
enough off. ont into the dark night,
the great tiakv sparks went flying
along, for all the world like beau
titul golden snow-Storm.
There says the captain, throw
ing down the copper branch with
which he had played on the fire, and
shaking his fist right in the flames,
so that they must have burned it,
there, 'he says savagely, i have
fought it out with you, and YOU
have beat. Now for life saving "
And then quietly and coolly, he
had one boat lowered down, with
the first mate in and crew OF sail
ors. and the shrieking women and
children lowered in, while the quiet
ones he Kept back. Then there was
a water-cask and a lot of biscuit
bags thrown in. and that boat well
loaded pushed off on the calm sea
and lay too watching us. Then the
second mate was ordeLed into the
second boat, with "A crew of sailors ;
water and bags of biscuit We're
thrown in; and then, well loaded
with women and children, and one
or two of the men passengers, that
was carefully lowered down, unhook
ed and pushed off.
The other two boats were not
swung over the sides, but lay be-
tween the masts of the ship, right
in the middle OF the deck, and were
full of stores and odd things put
there to be out of the way but the
, captain and men left soon, had tack
ling fastened to the boat that was
right in front of the fire, and it was
hauled mp, swung clear, and lower
ed down with couple OF men H.
and they rowed it back to the hinder
part OF the ship, while we who had
been launching it had to make a
; regular dash through the flames
: which now extended nearly across
l the deck. One man, however did
not dare to come through, but plung
= ed overheard and swan after tn,
boat till he was taken in
Now them said the captain ant
the rest of the women were sluns
> down.
!; l did not mean to 60 as long as
S could help the captain; and thel
e half dozen Of the men passenger
n were lowered down, and they wer'
just going to shove of, when shout
& out
o 'Stopr and the captain turn
II round angrily to me and says
:. NO water .
a Sure enough, they had none, an,
:, little cask that stood on the decl
Il was slung down, and they were &c
), ing to shove of again when ] hear,
e shrek as went through am
e through me, and saw a bright glare
the man at the rudder leaned over
v while ut the same moment tber
:: was roar and u Iush of iearil
o light, and the great main mast bla;
n ing from top to bottom, and covere
20 with turnilig rope and canvas, tol
10 pied over towards where the boa
- lay, for the fire had been eating int
Is it below deck for long enough.
N was all in a moment, and like til
o flashing of some great sheet of ligh
d ming, as in the midst of u teaitl
i cry it fell right towards the boat.
Of II.
" That was fearful moment, thu
he was, and we held our breath wit