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

II was pltlful TO hear the SilrlckS
OF those poor fellows as was left be-
hind, as they swan with all their
might to get up to the boat, and it
was pitltul to see, for it was as light
as day, and the waves that gently
rose and fell seemed waves of blood
glowing hlOod-With golden crcSts
as they softly broke. But though
one man swan SO fast Tat he 90,
up to the boat, they pusl ed him II
with the oars and then | say linn
cling to them, and one man pulled
ont ahnife to stab at him ifhe came
nearer /; while just then saw the
at.hook rise up and fall with a
heavy thud ON the poor fellows head,
help him !! for he ,me up no more.
There were two more swimming
} after them, and when the next saw
all this, he just turned round, and
looked back at the ship, and pad
died with his hands a bit, and then
stretching them straight up towards
the sky, he gave one wild, bitter
shrek, and he went under and
this time | tried to say, God help
him" but it was only my lips that
moved.
There was the other, though,
tn,, luSty young fellow, and as
soon as he SAW what took place, he
turned off to the left aud tried to
reach the nearest boat of the other
three and manlull.y he swan for it
every stroke, gradually lessening
the distance till he got close up to
the stern, where | could see quite
plain some one holding out his hands
to him. and he was taken aboard
the boat.
Now all this took place in very
> few minutes and, in spite of the
danger, we, the two last on board,
could not help stopping to gaze at
the terrible incident; but now the
captain comes up and takes my
Land, and says:
Brother, it was a cowardly, cruel,
selfish action and don't know but
} what I'd ratLer die with a brave
man than live with curS,'
| know my hand shook, but
don't think my voice did, though |
, thought Of life being sweet, as |
said to him.
is it very hard to die, captainT
: Yes he SAYS, Il believe it is, to a
strong man, ana as God gave us
life, and we've done our duty SO far
| why, we must finish it by trying t,
save two more
D But how 2 / says getting hold o
b. him.
e Don't leave the Wheel he says
t and then, again. But 1t don't mat
/ tcr-she makes no way. Lend /
hand here
And | helped him, and together
roasting almost we dragged three
, great towl-crops and grating TO the
, side. and he tied them together
lashel them, he called it--in nc
; time then we showed them over
board and as the vessel slowly
n swung round, we were out o sigh
y o. the boats, which were about ;
t quarter of a mile OFF. He had
Il rope to the coopS so that they GO III
s not float off, and as he told me,
$ slid down on to them and sqnatte'
there trembling, while he lowered
| down to me the little water-keg
G some rope, the bacon, and two o
t the biscuit bags. Then he pitche'
; some loose pieces Of woodwork ant
1 the cover of the cabin stairs and .
1 hatch thing and tarpauin into th'
4 water by NE slid down the rope
Z and was by my side III few minutes
with the coops sinking about, Sc
c that | was glad to lower myself into
s the water and hold on.
S That's right he says, opening
b, his knife With his teeth and cutting
the rope, and then getting the tar
| paulin and bits of wood and thing
V in the centre in the handiest wa,
+ possible-Same as only sailo
c could do. He tells me to hold o.
G light, and then lowering himsel
Il into the water he pushes OIL iroi
d the burning ship and begins swim
IS ming and guiding our bit Of raj
o away very slowly, but still turthe
II and further off.
y 'I'll lash the coops and the gratin;
,. together he says, as soon as we'r
:, out of danger
e 'Out Of danger = l says ant
y when will that beg
n 'Well,' he says, Il mean when W
IS are out of the reach OF being sucke
j; down when she Sinks
1t will she sink p says.
+, eyes he says, 'and before lon
,. and then he went on swimming hare
t, willie could 90 nothing but waite
It first the boats and then the burnin
rs slip.
:; 1t was grand though awful, to Sc
~ the noble vessel standing there lili
II u pyramid Of fire whose heat "
y could yet feel on our schorche
y faces. From every part now IN
H. flames were rushing, even from IN
e cabin windows beneath where nae
IT. so lately been standing, ana coui'
a hardly keep from shudderins as
ID thought of the awful danger.
to II was hard work forcing the RAJ
rs through the water on account OF th'
breeze which set towards the snip
rs but we got furtherand further away
,d and were some distance of whcl
Il. the mizcn mast went blazing owe
o, the side but still the captain salt
q. - ..a.. noi unTn mud sMam Nh iil