St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-06-24

creased in volume until now it OVerSprcad
half the horizon, the remainder OF the
heavens being yet bright and clear. The
dead silence Of expectation was broken
by a low growl of thunder. One breath
Of wind, cold as from charnel-house,
passed over-a few big drops of rain
splashed upon the deck. Then closed
round the ship the arch of the storm
cloud and with a mighty roar, lashing
the waters into foam, the tornado swept
down upon us.
Notwithstanding all our precautions,
the first, Shock threw the Pcntaloon nearly
on her beam-cnds for a few minutes of
painful suspense she rem lined in that
position, then suddenly righted-all her
timbers, groanin.-gradually yielded TO
her helm. Immediate danger was now
over, it being only necessary to keep the
ship driving before the wind until the
storm should subside. The officers, re-
leased from their deepest anxiety, were
now able TO nute-Somc even 10 enjoy
the magnificent spectacle of an Atri-
can tornado. In that rOarin" wind and
dcatcning thunder no man could hear his
fellow speak, or in the thick darkness see
the rope to which he clung or the deck
whcrcon he stood. save when the blind
ing lightning at quick recurring Intervals
disclosed the wild scene around him.
Two hours passed thus. and the fury
of the tornado began to decrease, when
with a simultaneous crash of thunder
the Lightning struck our torcma~t. Ga
reaching the deck the electric fluid wa-
first attracted 10y the chain cable along
which it ran kissing until, reaching the
quarter deck, it iCapcd with loud re-
port to the nearest gun until it plunged
INTO the water a-tcrn. the old hclmsman
aS it passed him ducking li- head as he
would an crrmy's shot. Happily no one
was seriously hurt, although ,-mc men
standing round the mast wer, partially
stunned The thunder now ceased. and
the wind tell. Qgilting my station on
| thc torcc;I>ilr, Joined the officers Oh the
quarterback, where We can-r"tu.u.cd
ourselves that the elements had done
! their worst. and SpycuIattd on III, cham
cc- Of the morning li.Lt gadicni;g our
eyes with Il view Of the lost SLAYER, la
all probability, though, the tornado L.:
either capsizcd or driven her beyond our
reach.
I 1t being now midnight, was stepping.
weariiy enough. towards the companions
/ ladder, intending TO 20 below, wL,u |
was met by an officer who rushed vi,l,nt-
lyup the ladder and attempted 10 pas, INT.
| Rec gnizing our Surgcru-who WAS >ut-
tering from 4 severe attack OF vclloS t.
>cr-i attempted to step him, bat. tear
u% himself from my "ra-p with the
strength of drlirium, he forced his WAY
overheard.
Giving orders to the boatswain'- mate
to call away the itehoat's crew, ~pruug
at; and let 90 the hle-buoy. The port
fire attached To the apparatus blazcd up.
and by. It's light tie form OF the doctor wa~
visible, floating rapidly a~;ern. Not Il
moment was 10 bc lost, and dlvr-tin-
myself oi my cuat and wai-t,oat. | wa
/ quickly in the water ut hi- side. BEN.
Il good swimmer, there was little difficult
~ III supporting him the shock OF the
plunge had apparently restored his >cu>e-
Tor he rccogniz ID me, and tccbly ~vllabcl-
cd my name. \ few stroke, bruuLht IL
to the litc-buov, and resting my feet on
the lower part under water, one arm
clinginL to the upper I'd, and the other
round the waist OF my friend, awaited
with impatirncr the approach of succor
from the ship. The situation was hv no
means agreeable the haf-drowncd man
soon lost ali consciousness that remained,
and hung Il dead weight on NV arm
The recent tornado had occa-ioncd
heavy sea and, though the Itt-buoy
bore our weight well. yet frequently the
waves, da~hng over our faces. hali-choh-
cd me. | WAS also myself much wcakcfI-
Ell, having only lately recovered from ;,n
attack of yellow fever; and as the light at
the ItuttiOOHS mgSthcld d!mmcd and
to my eye H. we drlttId more and more
from the ship, 50 also fainter AMI more
faint wancd my hopes OF delivcrancc
The portfre was quickly burning out, al
ready its brilliancy had much lcsscncd.
and the fine volume of linht it had at first
given was dwindling into tittul gushing
Of spark, as in u badly-prepared school
| boys squib | knew well that, if the lght
should indeed 90 out entirely, the boat
sent to our aid would row in vain quest
of such spcck rs the buoy; when
morning broke it might be discovered.
but long before that time my exhausted
arms would have loosened their hold. and
our bodies found the sailors grave. With
despair in my heart gazed upwards at
the porttire, which now suddenly shot
forth an expiring gleam-tinting with
All 'c ,@earthly glare the closcdeyes and
s.. ,.> .yrm Of my companions; and
all was darkness. But, cvenat that mo-
ment, | heard the welcome sound of the
measured beat of oars. Gathering all
my "h, | hailed; the hail was an
swered cheerily by many strong voices,
and guided by my shout the boat dis
covered our position. Soon friendly
hands grasped US, and N another minute
| was safely seated in the boat, with
the doctor, still unconscious, by my side.
The boats crew gave way cheerily for
the brig, towing the lite-buoy astern.
Overhead the sky was clearing, the stars
again shonc out; and as the black form
of our floating nome once more became
viSible-her hull looming large in the
obscurity of night reveled in antlci-
patton OF the comforts and of the rest in
, my own little cabin, which a few mo-
ments more would bring. But not east
ly were these enjoyments to be gained
: : not Jet we're the dangers Of this eventfu!
l night passed.
AS we neared the ship it became per-