The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-09

, MI utterly worn out and painting, we
/ called on Mr.. Valance to come up, when
we once more securely battened down the
, hatch and waited for the morning.
We agreed among ourselves that the
ship did not roll so much; and perhaps
she was little easier, for we had sent
some tons overheard; but the difference
was very little; and morning found US all
numbed with the cold, and helpless to a
degree. / caught Mr.. Vallance's eye, and
signalled to him that we should go on
again; but ii required all we could do to
keep the men 10 work, one and all saying
that 1t was useless, and only fighting
against our fate. ....
Seeing that fair words wouldn't do, |
got the tackle ready myself, and then with
the marlinspike in one hand, went up
to the first poor, shivering fellow / came
to; and halfled, half dragged him TO his
place; Mr.. Valance followed suit with
another; and one way and another we got
them to work again; and though not so
quickly as we did the day before, we sent
over the side tons and tons Of that solid
iron-each pillar on being cut loose dart.
ing over the bulWark with q crash, and
tearing one end Of the planking away, but
easing the vessel so that now we could
feel the difference; and toward night,
though the weather was bad as ever, /
began TO feel that We might have chance;
for the ship seemed 10 ride over the waves
more, instead OF dipping under them, and
shuddering from stem TO stern. We'd
been fortunate, too, in keeping the water
from getting into the hold; and, one way
and another, what with the feelings OF
duty done, and the excitement, things did
not look so black as BEFORE when all at
Onece q great wave like green noun
tain of water, leaped aboard OF the
poop, flooded the deck, tore up the tar
paulin and another hatch, and poured
down the hold, followed by another and
another; and, as chung 10 one Of the
masts, blinded and shaking with the wa.
ter, could feel that In those two minutes
all our two days work had been undOne.
God help usP / groaned, for l felt
that had done wrong In opening the
matches; but there was no time for re.
pining. Directly the waves had passed
on, rushing out ut the sides, where they
had torn away the bulwarks, ran 10 tho
hold, TOR felt that Mr.. Valance and the
poor fellow must have been drowned.
shouted-Once, twice, and then there
was a grOan; when, seizlng hold of the
tackle that we had used 10 hoist the pill.
lars, was lowered down and began 10
swim In the rushing water that was surg.
ing from side TO side, when felt myself
clutChed by drowning man, and, hold.
ing on to him, we were dragged up TO.
gCthcr.
But | did not want the despairing look
Mrs. Valance gave me to take me down
again, and this time washed up against
something, which / seized; but there
seemed no life In II when we were hauled
up, for the poor fellow did not move, and |
II WINS pitiGill to see the way in which bis
poor wife chung TO him.
Another sea coming on board, It was
all We could do TO keep from being swept
OIL and as the water seemed TO leap and
plunge down the hatch with O hollow |
roar, a chill came over me again colder
than that brought on by the bitter wealth.
er. was so worn out that could hard. |
ly stir; but 1t seemed as II l did not move
no one else would; 30, shouting to one
or two to hel p me, crawled forward, and
got the matches on again, just as another
wave washed over us; but before the next
came, with my marlinspike had con.
trived to nail down the tarpaulin once
more, In the hope that though water. |
logged, we might float little longer.
II seemed strange, but after q little pro.
vision had been served round, / began TO
be hopeful once more, telling myself that,
after all, water was not worse than iron,
and that il we lived to the next day, we
might get clear OF our new enemy without
taking Oft the matches.
We had hard work, though, with Mr..
Valance, who lay for hours without
seeming TO show sign Of life; but toward
morning from the low sobbing murmur
heard close by me and the gentle tones Of
a mans voice, KNEW that they must have
brought him round. YOU see l was at
the wheel, then, for II had come round to
my turn, and as soon as l could get no.
lleved, went and spoke 10 them, and
found him able tosit up.
As the day began TO break, the wind
seemed " lull little, and soon after IT. |
tie more, and again little more, till, with
joyful heart, ! told all about me that the
worst was over; and II was 30, for the wind |
shifted round to the south and west, and
the sea went down fast. Soon, too, the |
sun came out; and getting little sale on
the ship, began to steer, as near as
could tell, homeward, hoping before long
TO be able 10 make out our bearings, which |
| did soon after, and then got the passen.
gers and crew once more In regular spells
ut tho pumps.
We were terribly full of water; and as
the ship rolled the night before It was
something awful to hear II rush from
side to side of the hold threatening every
minute TO force up the decks but now
keeping on regular drain, the scupperS
ran well, and hour by hour we rose high |
er and higher and the ship, from sailing |
like n tub, began TO answer her helm |
easily, and to move through the water.
1t was toward afternoon that, for the
first time, l remember the captain, just,
too, as he made his appearance on deck,
white looking still, but now very angry and
important.
| had Just sent some OF the men alon, |
and we were making more sail, when In
n way there was no need for, he ordered
them down, at the same time saying some.
Thing very unpleasant TO me. Just then
saw MIR Valance step forward to where
The other passengers were collected,
many OF them being his own mem then
after n few words, they came all together
to where the captain stood; and Mr.. Val.
lance acted as spokesman.
captain Johnson he said, al am
speaking the wishes Of the passengers Of
the ship when | request you TO go below
to you cabin, and stay there until we
reach port"
"Are you mad, sir !" exclaimed the cap.
tain.
UNnt ,unra than II,n rnuI IF tha ,oosap