Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-07
OVERHEARD.
"a man overheard |"

"A man OVcrDOarQ
| heard the cry distinctly as the angry dark
stern. ''Who?" "Where?' and ''Let go
way!" These were the orders in rapid sue
cession, followed by the hurried rush of feet,
and creaking of blocks, as sail was shortened
and the ship brought to the wind which rose
above the sounds Of the whstlug squall and of
the roaring water in which I 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 fell overheard the ship was under
double-reefed top-sails and courses the top
gallant sails had just been taken into a fresh
holding on to top-galant backstay, when it
parted, and the next moment was plunged in
to the water
At first went down like lump of lead but
IN few seconds began to ascend. When |
reached the surface, however it was to find
myself whirling from the vessels side, with
confused noise of the hosng wind and the
bubblng waters in my ears.
| was so blinded by the water that I could
not Immediately see. | spun round and round
as in whirlpool, for | was caught in the ed
bilow, 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 | to
perish, and within hearing too Of my ship
mates?
Alloy! Aho-oyl Aho-o-oy!" I
shouted, strainlng my voice to its utmost-the
last call painfully prolonged, and watched its
effect for full minute with the most anxiety.
was fast drifting to leeward, and her boats pull
ing from, Instead of towards me-
After giving way for some moments to des-
pondency, l rallied myself, and began to con-
slider my situation more calmly. l knew that
that part of the Mediterranean was crowded
with vessels, that the squali would soon clear
off, and that even if night came before I was
picked up, the glorious moonlight would enable
me to see any vessel that might happen to be
near me; so [ turned over OH my back to hus-
band my strength as much as | could. As a
swimmer, had seldom met my equal; besides,
calculated that the life buoy, and anything
else that might have been thrown overheard,
would have foated in the same direction, and
nearly as fast as myself
Nor was mistaken, for shortly perceived
an oar not far from me. Swimming to it, got
it under my arms, and then felt that by God s
providence still might be saved. My first OBJ
ject, 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
without much difficulty, having often practised
doing SO for sport, little dreaming how useful
such practice would eventually turn out.
| remembered that just before | fell over
board, there we're three or four vessels in sight,
one of which, French brig, was not far from
US; and calculated that my drift had been in
her direction, and as the squall cleared away, l
endeavored to make her out Of course my
vision of distant objects was cut off every mo-
ment by my being carried down into the trough
of the sea.
No one who has not been in similar situa-
ton can appreciate the aWfulness with which
gazed on the dark, glistening sides of the waves
as saw myself sinking away from them, as if
to the very bottom of the ocean. With what
horrid mockery the CLASSY waters seemed to
rise all around me Suddenly, when was at
the lowest, [ would begin to ascend, as if by
magic, from the gloomy gulf, my velocity in
creasing every instant, until at last l would
shoot upwards to the crest Of the wave like an
arrow from the bow A toss of the head to
shake off the water, long-drawn breath, a
hasty glance all round, and then | was whirled
down again, half smothered, In the wild abyss
had been overheard, | fancy, nearly an hour
before caught sight of the French brig
When at last beheld her, | could not restrain
shout of joy. How beautiful she looked !
Now she would pitch headforemost into the
sea now slowly rise, dripping from deluge,
every moment nearing me. OnAon she came,
but no token was shown that was seen. What
if there was no lookout? The thought was
horror. Raising myself as high as | could up
on my frail support, | hailed with all my
strength
'Brig-a-hoy! Brig ho-oyr'
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 passed me.
''Hillo, hillo, hilo-o-o!'' frantically cried
but no friendly voice sent back my cry. Heaven
grant that none who read these words may ev-
er experience feelings similar to mine at that
moment. Slowly the brig faded from my sight,
and with her went nearly all my hope.
Alone on the ocean Alone while night was
drawing on! Alone, with no earthly hope o1
escape remaining Far, far, to the leeward
just visible occasionally over the distant waves
| saw one vessel; but except this, the horizon
as far as 1 could see, was without speck.
burst into tears. The tension of my nerves
had been unnatural, they now gave way an(
as saw nothing before me but long, linger
ino cruel death. Wept like child. Thought