New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-29
4 FIGHT WITH, 4 STORM.

4 FIGHT WITH. \ STORM
got first 10 he mate. when quite - voun:
ish fellow: the owners We're told somehow
or other that III worked hard Oh the las.
voyage. and they made me mate of the
ship, and gave me d good silver watch ana.
chain: Il watch thai went to the bottom G.
the sea live years amer in Il wreck .,if The
Irish coast. by Wexford. when ! and II &.
more swan ashore. saving orr lives. and
thankful for them. For the sea swallows
Mp II wonderful store Of wealth every
season; and il meant to have our ship. too.
that year | was made mate, only we es-
capped it.
1t happened like this. We We're bound
for Cadiz i'll large. handsome new brig.
having on board Il rich cargo: for, besides a
heavy value in gold. We had lot OF valua-
bic new machinery. that had been made for
the Spanish government by one of orr large
manufacturers somewhere inland. Bat be-
sides this there WAS a vast quantity OF iron
III long, heavy cast pillars. A huge weight
they were. and VIC all shook our head, at
them as they We're lowered down into the
hold, for we thought of what a nice cargo
they would turn out if We should have a
heavy passage. We had about Il score OF
passengers, too, and among them was a fine
Sentlemanly fellow. going out with his wife,
siliu Iic WIS To Sul'.iiilIcllu luc Htllno uD 81
the machinery. several Of the other pas,cu-
gers being his men.
1t was a new. wcli-tOund vessel! and trc si
in her paint; and with her clean canvas, and
all smart, we were rather proud of that boat
But we'd only just got beyond the Lizard
when it came on to blow. jus, rs it can blow
OF there IN February, with rain. and SLOW.
and hail; and we were at last glad to scui
before the gale under bare poles.
kiOht and day then pirIt AVID .i,.- 81;
lowing one another fast. with the matches
battened down; and the ship iaborin" 50
that 1t seemed as if every minute must be
her last. She was far too heavily laden;
and instead Of her being a ship TO float ou'
the tiercest storms, hero we were loaded
down, so that she lay rolling and pitchin.
III a way that her seams began to O;icn and
soon every hand had to take his turn at the
pumps.
The days broke heavy and cloudy. and
the nights came On with the darkness awful.
and the gale seeming TO get tiercer. till at
last, worn out, sailors and passengers gave
up, the pumps We're abandoned, and retils-
ing, one and all. to stay below. men and
women were clustered together, gcttin. the
best shelter they could.
81 don't like to see a good new ship 90 to
the bottom like this l shouted in one of
my mates ears. and he shouted back some
thing about iron; and l nodded, for we all
knew that those great pillars down below
were enough to sink the finest vessel that
ever fioated.
just then l saw the skipper 90 below,
while the gentleman who was going out to
superintend, was busy flashing one of the
ebuOys to his wife.
THAT amt no good" shouted to him,
going up on hands and knees. for the sea at
times was enough to wash YOU overheard
as she dipped and rolled as though she
would send her masts over the side every
moment. But l got to where they We're
holding on at last, and seeing that,
landsman-like, he knew nothing Of knofting
and lashing, made the life-buoy fast, Just
as great wave lcapcd over the bows, and
swept the ship from stem to stern.
AS soon as could get my breath Hooked
around, to find that where the mate and
three passengers were standing minute
before was now an empty space, while on |
running to the poop and lookin. over there
was nothing to be seen but the fierce rush
ing waters.
l got back to where those two were cling
ing together, and, though feeling selfish as
most men would, | couldn't help thinking
how sad it would be for a young, handsome
couple like them to be lost for knew well
enough that though she was dashed to the
life buoy, the most that would do would be
to keep her afoat till she died of cold and
exhaustion.
"Can nothing be done,' Mr.. Valance
for that was his name-shouted in my ear:
"Well," / said, shouting again. IF l was
captain, l should run all risks, and get some
of that iron over the side
"Why don't he do it, then :" he exclaimed;
and of course being nobody on board that
ship, l could only shake my head
just then Mrs. Valance turned upon Inc
such ii pititul look, as she took tighter hold
of her husbands look that seemed to say
to Ese: "Oh, save him, save him. And
don't know how it was, but feeling that
something ought to be done. crcpt along
once more to the captains cabin, and, going
down, there, in the dim light, could see
him sitting on a locker, with IL bottle in his
hand, and horrible wild. stupid look on
his face, which told me in a moment that he
wasn't a tit man to have been trusted with
the lives of forty people in good, new
ship. Then | stood half bewidered for "a
few moments. but directly after was up
OH deck, and alongside of Mr.. Valance.
Will you stand by me, sir says, g if
I'm took to task for what do g
What are you going to do" he says.
Shy that iron over the side
''TO the death, my man.
Then lash her fast where she is" said, !
nodding to Mrs. Valance; land, in Gods |
name, come on"
his neck, and though couldn't hear word |
she said, knew it meant L" Don't leave me-"
but he just pointed upward moment,
kissed her tenderly, and then helping, wo
made her fast, and the next minute were
alongside the matches, just over where l
knew the great pillars to lie.
knew it was a desperate thing to do. but
it was our only chance; and, after swinging
round the fOreyard and rigging up some
tackle, the men saw what was meant, and
gave a bit of a cheer. Then they clustered
together, passengers and men, while |
shouted to Mr.. Valance, Offering him his
choice. to go below with another to make
fast the rope to the pillars, or to stay on
d elk.
He chose going below, and warning him
that we shuuid clap on the matches from
time to time to keep out the water, got
hold of a marln-spike, looscned the tar
paulin little, had one hatch Off, and then
two ON each side, to try and keep
the opening covered every time wave
came on board.
1t seemed little better than making way
in for the sea to send us to the bottom at
,ncc; but knew that it was our only hope.
sud pe1scyelcL AZ. ia4i.44lco .ua VIC "a