The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-07-09


| the only inn in the locality. 1t was
dusk, and beyond two or three squalid
cottages and CHEEKY radiance of the
| kitchen window before me, l could
| see nothing save moon and mist
There was not tree, not bush, moi
a twig, nor had we passed any Tor the
last two miles. Heather swept by the
keen breeze and q vast cloud curtain
| overhanging the cliffs facing the Sea
| closed In the prospect. l shivereC
and went In to find sour cider the
only beverage attainable, unless
tried the landlords wine and spirit
store.
Ye see, sir, us don't often get gen
tlemen here but in Summer, and there
isn't much drinking among the men.
The teetotal sect is a main trouble TO
tavern keepers" and so saying: the
host consoled himself with a pull al
cider, sharp" enough to cut MS
throat.
1 slept we'll for had the inn to my
self. and next day descended to the
shore. There was a magnificent sea
rolling into the little bay under a
brisk souwester, turbid and swollen
under the horizon, and breaking here
and there into angry foam, which was
overwhelmed forthwith by the sue
ceeding surge, as a luekless trooper
who falls into a cavalry charge is
trampled under foot by his comrades.
The coast was composed of serpentine
rocks, cruel and sharp, like VOLTS
teeth, where they receded from the
shore, but split into hundred Jagged
reef like masses where the sea roared
and leapt and chafed in sheets of surf
before me. A lurid glare over
head, athwart which dirty yellow
ish cloud drifts were hurried with
their ragged edges catching the CLEAN
for a moment aud then swept into the
mist, BODIED no good. / thought, for
mariners who should near these iron
bound coasts. 1t was a splendid spec
tacle, and as the day wore on l
watched with the old lighthouse
keeper the waves increase and every
sail seek the ofing. At nigatfall a
tremendous gale was raging, the wind
howled, and a legion OF demons
seemed disputing the cliffs with the
waves. Rain dashed down in tor
rents, and surf was seen lying In
sheets over the moor. The old salt
shrugged his shoulders, wished me
good night, and went in.
About midnight / was reused by
the shouts of men running under my
windows | could hear their anxious
voices over the roar of the storm.
The landlord came to the door,
Knocked hurriedly, and said, There
is large ship on the rocks off the
Old Head. sir; would you like to see
the life-b boat go out?" / did not wait
for a second invitation, but soon
Joined him, clad in a boating coat and
a SOU western tied well on my head.
We were almost carried off our
feet as we came out upon the cliffs by
the Head. 1t was an awful sight. BY
struggling moon we could discern
mountains of surf hurled over the
rocks beneath us and cleaning like
sheets of flying silver. Out to sea
was a writhing, bowling wilderness,
each surge striving to out-tCp its
neighbor. Half mile out. lit by a
couple of blue lights, lay the hall of
large vessel, broadsides on the
waves. You could hear them boom
and hiss, and shrek as they few over
her and overwhelmed her in foam.
Every now aud then a gun was fired,
and the sea, covered with topmasts
and wreckage, was wildly lighted up
for moment to pass into thicker
darkness than ever, as the report
reached our ears.
We ran down to the ZigZag path to
the cove. Her crew were already
hauling down the life boats. They
wanted one to fill up her quota. 1t
was not hatred of life now L had lost
my love that impelled me to offer my
services; il was that stirring desire
which comes over man in serious
issues to lend his arm and take his
life in his hand If he can only save
others. One who has pulled in an
Oxford eight oar is sure to get at
home even with the ponderous oar of
a life-boat. The crew hesitated, and
some preferred waiting for Simmons,
but he had some distance to come.
and no one could say for certain that
he knew anything about the wreck.
Meanwhile the Storm blew in furious
gusts, no more guns were fired from
the stranded ship, the waves were
evidently driving the men from be-
low. There was no time to be lost
will you obey orders?" asked the
eockswain.
IN do my very best and drown
with you, my lads, if we fall"
Hurrahl' they cried, put on the
jacket, and take your place."
Now then, easy lads, shove her
of" shouted the cox; "now's your
timel' -
The willing arms of the crowd
pushed US down the slips and ran us
i out well into the surf, some getting
knocked down and all thoroughly
drenched In the operation.
Bend to it, ladsi stick to your
oars and We'll soon reach her." Thes,
were the last commands l heard. A
huge roller sprang over us ere W,
could clear the surf. filed the boa
with water, and half stunned me
f" Hold hard, mattel said the man VIII
shared my bench, we shan't shil
any more" ttsAe t&&Af
| We did not for some time get far
Their wetting; the difficulty was t.
keep ones seat as the boat rode mad
ly up some mountainous wave t,
shoot headlong into its trough, anC
then be knocked about in the broker
water before the next swell came, anC
the previous movements were repeat
ed. 1t was desperate work, too, lay
ing hold of the waves with the oal
such was the swiftness with whicl
they few by, and the force wit
which they beat upon its blade.
was exhausted before we had mad
half the distance, while my compan
ion chewed his quid and pulled ava
with supreme Indifference. "Wha
ship is she?" / said to him.
thought collier, at first" he return
ed, but Bill tells me it's the You
fear-at-easel Us can't abide then
| f,rrir, manual Shol- an IuI;n.,,n..