Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-10-06
A SWIM FOR LIFE.
Third InterposItion of Providence.

From the Springfield Republican, Sept, %.
Among the numerous disasters to the
coast fishing vessels in the recent great
gale were the complete wrecks of two
liockport schooners, with their crews, save
one survivor. Charles Jordan, of the
schooner Helen Eliza, returned to tell the
tale of his peril and escape; the rest of her
twelve brave sailors were swept ont of life
as their craft went to pieces near Peak
island in Portland harbor, leaving desolate
five widows and seven orphans. besides the
mothers, sisters or sweethearts who will
mourn the unmarried seamen. The cap
tain became alarmed at the threatening
skies on the morning of the fatal day. and
ran for Portland.
The violence of the storm, however,
came upon the vessel too soon; both an
chors were thrown ont and lost, the cables
swapping like thread; the rudder was pow
erless rs feather, and in twenty minutes
of ungoverned running the vessell struck
the ledge. Mr.. Jordan was in the fore
castle, stripping off his heavier clothes for
the chance of life, when the bow was
smashed in, and five men near him were
instantly killed. He Immediately ran into
the hold, when tremendous sea knocked
off the deck and he was swept into the
raging waters. With n GOODNESS hardly
creditable, he realized his position, and
swan fer the wreck, which he reached,
and clinging to it regained his breath.
Soon after he was fortunate enough to catch
an empty barrel, for which he abandoned
the wreck. The waves ran fearfully high,
and as he was borne along he passed two of
his sbipmates, clinging to a plank. He
heard them each speak of their fearful po-
sitiOn, and doubt whether they would be
able to hold on: and heard them inter-
change the promise that if either Was saved
he would tell the folks at home all about il.
Ii required Jordan's utmost efforts to keep
the barrel in position, rs the undertow was
very powerful, and so more perilous still
was the endeayor TO safely land upon
rocky ledge amid the terrible surf; the
waves at one time heaving him toward the
ledge, then retreating, would engulf him in
their treacherous grasp, threatening every
moment to bury him beneath the water
When he finally succeeded, then came
toisome passage up the Jagged ledge, and
he reached the top completely exhausted.
While resting, he heard the voice OF ship
mate hailing some one. He answered tell
ing where lac was, and encouraging the 9TH
er TO try TO get upon the ledge, but that
was the last heard of him. He soon found
tilti tue ltuSe uiu not form n part OF tue 4
island, but was covered at high water, and
the tide was already coming in. So with |
brief respite heagain plunged into the seeth-
ing waters; another terrible conflict with the |
surf followed, in which he was unable |
10 make any headway. as his strength was |
fast failing Words are inadequate to de-
scribe such situation. Moments seemed |
like hours, and the sullen roar of the wa
ters rs they beat upon the rocks was an aw-
fnl accompaniment to the burden of his |
fears. After his desperate efforts had clear
ed him from the breakers, his misfortunes /
were not over, for he dropped into fresh
water pond, as he climbed over a wall in !
his progress inland, which was a supple
mentary calamity quite unnecessary 10 the
poor ft blows comfort. An especially re-
fact is that this is the third time
that MIR. Jordan has been the sole survivor
of disaster. Ont Of company of eighty
confined in Libby prison during the way.
he was the only one who lived to return
home; and out of crew of thirty men
wrecked on Cape Cod, he was the only one
saved. He has certainly fair right to con-
slider himself the subject of proyidential