Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-05-25
An Affecting Scene

a Gay or Two since, brawny son of
Scotia was riding in one of our street cars.
A fine open countenance bespoke the hon.
est man. certain sun-burnt, weather.
beaten appearance, with which old Nep-
tune seldom fails to brand his votaries, in
dlcated that the stranger was accustomed
to a seafaring life IF there could have
been any doubt on the point, it was COM
pletely dispelled by the badge around his
cap. Those letters at once filed the heart
Of the spectator with mingled feelings of
horror and sympathy-horror at the
thoughts OF the sad catastrophy which had
IN almost moment of time overtaken
noble ships company-sympathy with
the one who stood there wearing the mark
that so surely indicated that he was one of
the few who had, as it were, escaped from
the very jaws of death. The letters SO preg-
nant with meaning were these: Oneida p
On the opposite side of the car sat one of
San Francisco's esteemed citizens. He, too,
was "canny Scot, and a worthy scion of
worthy race, known among us, Familiarity,
as ''Alick Austin" The kind-hearted Alick
no sooner saw the talismanic initials than,
under the impulse Of such feelings as have
been imperfectly described, he addressed
himself to the stranger. Soon they discov-
cred that they were countrymen, and be-
came deeply concerned in a mutually inter-
estlng conversation.
The story of the collision, of the rapid
sinking, of the firing the signals of distress,
and of the agonizing scenes which for a
momert preceded the final denOatenaent,
were all told; and well told, for there is an
eloquenee which, like beauty, "when I'M
adorned Is adorned the most" The inter-
esting stranger was the very gunner who
had fred the guns which ought to have
carried to the ears of the wretched English
captain an irresistible cry for help. Loud
rolled the thunder of the guns, but no re-
lief came. Whilst it has heretofore been
denied that any such alarm had
been given, because Captain Eyre
must have heard it if it had been made
here stood the man who fired gun after
gun, by the orders of his commander, I'M
til the water began to rise to the level on
which he stood, and compelled him re-
| luctantly to desist from the ineffective duty
| IN which ne was engaged. He is in this
| city, having been chosen as one of those
whose testimony is most essential to a right
understanding of this deplorable event in
Washington. When asked if he would
have any objection to be interviewed"
! by reporter with the view of having
! his deeply interesting details placed before
the public, he replied that sit was his duty
to make his statement first at Washington. -
The conversation turned upon the ''auld
countrle, and the stranger inquired with
some eagerness of Mr.. Austin if he knew
anything of brother of his, who many
long years ago was supposed to have emf
| grated to California At the same time he
mentioned the trade and full name of his
brother.
Mr.. Austin had belief that he knew the
man described well, but being unwilling to
create feelings Of hope that might alter
ward lead to the pangs of disappointment,
he babe his countrymen accompany him to
| his Office, in order to search the directory
Directories were doubtless unknown in the
little village in Ayrshire, from whence
hailed the open countenance and honest
relic OF a dreadful catastrophe. None but
the great or the wealthy there succeed in
! getting their names into books. Hence, he
could hardly understand how his brothers
name could be found in a goodly-sized vol
ume Search, however, was made, and
sure enough there stood the name correct
~ spelled, with the initials exact, and the
trade precisely the one he had learned in
= his youth. Standardization street was
the address ga mon, said the stranger,
"can it be possible that my brither's name
is in print? Nay, nay, it Gamma be So
Mr.. Austin assured him that he need not
have any doubts on the point. The tears
began TO roll down his cheeks thick and
fast. The strong man was utterly subdued
and unable to control himself for long time.
At length he exclaimed, Sand shall see
my bonny Jennie?" Aye, she was bonny
lass you. Ye ken she was an auld sweet
heart of mine, but l was the sne'er do
weer' of the family, and her friends would
not letme have her. They did right. She
was over guide for the likes of me, and sc
my brother married her. God bless then
both; I've often prayed for them" The
two strong men together shed tears. The
one touch of nature had made them boil
kin. Arm III arm they started in search oil
No. = Jackson street The address was
reached. The trembling hand of the ex
peetant brother knocked at the door; il
opened; sure enough, ''my bonnie Jennie
. was there. The scene-we will not de
scribe it. The reader has been told all tina
he has any right to know.-Sae Francisco
Morning Cal.