The Shasta courier., 1868-11-21
Terrible struggle for Life.


We have been permitted, says the San
Francisco Times, to make the following ex-
tract sfrom the diary of ]. I. Best, Esq. Of
the Light House Engineers Office of this city,
who has just returned to San Francisco, and
who, at the time of the event of which he
writes, was returning homeward from tip
10 Cane Blanco, whittier he had been on light.
house service. The young man Charlie refer
red to is a lad thirteen years Of age, and
son of Captain Reed, the well known ware
house man of this city:
October 6th.-This has been a memorable
dav 10 us. and one that will long be remem-
bered We left Lower Gold Bluff mining
eamp nj A.. NJ Our trail was along the
beach at the foot of the bluff. We got along
however. very well for about two miles. when
we came to a point of rocks that projected
considerable distance from the bluff. Around
this point, and by narrow gap between it
and another point of rocks was our only way
of getting along. as there was other trail.
thought that by waiting until heavy sea
receded and then dashing by at full gallop.
VIC could get past without getting wet. |
therefore waited until three heavy seas had
broken, and as the last receded we started
our horses. but the sand being very quick
the animals sank to their knees in it, and be-
fore we got half way across. heavy sea
broke in and swept us off our horses into the
surf The next sea swept me back, and for
tunately, | managed to keep from being
swept out again. As soon as | regained my
feet and got the sand out of my eyes | look
ed about 10 see what had become Of my boy
and the horses. and, to my horror, could
see neither. NV feelings were indescribable.
Looking toward the sea, saw Charlie S scarf
as the sea receded. 1t was the most terrible
sight that ever met my eyes. heSltated for
moment. for fully realized the danger,
and thought that | could not get out alive, as
| was then exhausted | saw another sea
coming, and no time to lose | started for
Charlie. and had got within about eight feet
of him. when the sea combed ready to break.
| threw myself forward and fell on the edge
of the surf, and Just within reach Of Charlie.
| caught him by his shoulders, just as the sea
broke, and the next instant we were both
swept up the beach with the velocity OF light
ming. We were washed under the bottom nf
a large root, and such was the force OF the
sea that We were FIRMLY wedged under 1t
As the sea receded, it washed US out. felt
that we were going, and let 90 my left hand
from Charities jacket. and caught at the root
Fortunately. got firm hold. 1t was ter
ribe grip for me, for the force of the water
was such that it almost pulled my arm out
of its socket Up to this time Charlie had
not spoken, and could not tell whether he
was dead or not When the water left us,
told him to climb up the root. The poor boy
locke around at me, and to my dying day,
shall never forget that look-it was 50 i'm
ploring, and showed such terrible fear |
told him that no time TO be los, and that
he must try to get over the tip OF the r OF,
and on the rocks, or we should both be lost
| had helped him halfway up. when another
sea broke in and threw us over the top of
the root and on its trunk on the other side.
Here we managed to hold on until he water
went out again, when we both climbed up on
the rocks. and were out of danger.
We looked about us. and found our horses
had got out all right. but were trembling with
fear ! found that Charlie had a severe cut
in the back of his head. A piece of driffwood
had struck him while in the surf. and had
stunned him, leaving him perfectly helpless.
We both felt perfectly thankful for our mar
row escape from death. We then caught our
horses and had a ride of twehty-three miles
to Trinidad. where we dried our clothes, and
made ourselves in some degree comfortable.