The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-09-16
GALES, ghsttbes, 5netOotes, dc.
''OVERBOARD."

J
ed me under the counter and astern
''Who 81 ''Where 2" and "Let 90 the
life buoy - ''Call the life boats crew
away y These were the orders IN rapid
Succession, followed by the hurried rustic
of feet, and creaking of blocks as sail
was shortened and the ship brought TO the
wind, which rose above the sound of the
whistling squall and roaring water in
which l was immersed.
We had been out from Genoa about
three days on our way TO Malta. The
weather had been very squally, with thick
driving rain, and at the time l fell over
board the ship was under double reefed
| top sails and courses, the top>gallant sail
had just been taken into fresh squall.
l was standing on the weather-netting,
holding on to a top-gallant back stay,
when it parted, and the next moment
was plunged into the water. At first
went down like lump of lead, but in a
few seconds began to ascend When l
reached the surface. however, it was to
find myself whiting from the vessel with
confused noise of the bowling wind and
the 5ubbling water in my ears.
l was so blinded by the water that
could not Immediately see. spun round
and round as in a whirlpool, for l was
caught in the eddies under the stern. AS
l rose on the top of the billow, / saw that
the ship was hove-to, her quarter boats
were down, and her rigging full of men
anxiously endeavoring to get sight of me
but the darkness of the approaching night
was increased by that of the squall, and
another driving cloud of rain coming
down, effectually hid me from their sight.
How my heart sank within me. Was
1 TO perish, and within hearing, too, of
my shipmates ?"
"Ahoy Aho-y! Aho-o-oy l
shouted, straining my voice to its utmost
the last call painfully prolonged, and 1
watched its effect for full minute with
the most intense anxiety. Alas no an
swering hail was heard the ship was fast
drifting to leeward, and her boats pulling
| from instead of towards me-
After giving way for some moments to
dependency, rallied myself, and began
knew that part of the Mediterranean was
crowded with vessels, that the squall
would soon clear off, and that even if
night came before was picked up, the
glorious moonlight would enable me to see
any vessel that might happen to be near
me; so / turned over on my back 10 hus-
band my strength as much as | could.
AS swimmer had seldom met my equal !;
besides l calculated that the life buoy, and
anything else that might have been thrown
overheard, would have floated in the same
direction and nearly as fast as myself.
| Nor was l mistaken, for l shortly per-
ceived an oar not far from me. Swim
ming to it got it under my arms, and
then felt that by Gods providence might
still be saved. My first object in this new
frame of mind, was to get rid of my boots,
which were by this time full of water,
and dragging me down. This did with
out much difficulty, having often practiced
doing so for sport, little dreaming how
useful such practice would eventually
turn out.
l remember that just before fell over
board there were three or four vessels IN
sight, one of which, a French brig, was
not far from US and calculated that my
drift had been in her direction, and as the
squaII cleared away endeavored to make
her out. OF course, my vision of distant
objects was cut off every moment by my
being carried down into the trough OF the
sea. No one who has not been in a SINH
lar situation can appreciate the awfulness
with which gazed on the dark, glisten-
ing sides of the waves as l saw myself
Sinking away from them. as if TO the very
bottom of the ocean With what horrid
n,ockery the CLASSY waters seemed to rise
all round me. Suddenly, when | was at
the lowest, would begin to ascend, as il
by magic, from the gloomy gulf, my velo-
city increasing every instant, until at last
[ would shoot upwards to the crest of the
wave, like an arrow from bow. A toss
of the head to shake off the water, a long
drawn breath, hasty glance all round,
and l was whirled down again, half
smothered, in the wild abyss.
had been overheard, l fancy nearly
an hour before caught sight of the French
brig. When at last / beheld her, | could
not restrain a shout of joy. How beau
tiful she looked. Now she would pitch
neau loTeuOSt IntO LHe sea HO" SlO"lJ }
rise now slowly fall, dripping from the
deluge, every moment nearing me. On
ON she came but no token was shown
that was seen. What if there was no
lookout? The thought was horror. Rails
ing myself as high as l could upon my
fraiI support, 1 hailed, with all my
strength.
BRIG ahoy brig ahoyi"
No answering hail came back, no sign
was made, no signal waved. On-on she
came. Again hailed, but all in vain
at distance of hundred yards she pass
ed me. "Hillo hillol hilio--o--o!
frantically cried but no friendly voice
sent back my cry. Heaven grant that
none who read these words may ever ex'