The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-09
acknowledgement.
A FIGHT WITH A STORM.

got first to TO be mate when quite {
younGish fellow; the owners were toll
somehow or other that I'd worked hard
on the last voyage, and they made mt
mate of the ship, and gave me gooC
silver watch and chain; watch thai
went to the bottom OF the sea five years
after in q wreck off the Irish coast, by
Wexford, when / and six more Swan
ashore, saying our lives, thankful for
them. For the sea swalled up wonder
iul store Of wealth every season. and II
meant to have our ship, too, that year |
was made mate, only we escaped 1t.
1t happened like this, We were bonnd
for Cadiz in large, handsome new brig,
having on board rich cargo; for besides
n heavy value in gold, we had a lot OF
valuable new machinery, that had been
made for the Spanish government by one
of our large manufacturers somewhere
inland. But besides this there was vast
quantityOf iron, in long, heavy cast pill
lars. A huge weight they were, and we
all shook our heads at them as they were
lowered down the hold, for we thought OF
what nice cargo they would turn out II
we should have heavy passage. We
had about a score Of passengers, too and
among them was fine, gentlemCnly tel.
low, going out with his wife, and he was
disappointment the fitting up oil the machin-
cry, several Of the other passengers be-
ing his men.
II was new, well found vessel, and
fresh in her paint; and with her clean
canvass, and all smart, we were rather
proud of that boat But we'd only Just
got beyond the Lizard when 1t came on to
blow, just Us 1t can blow off there in Feb.
ruary, with rain, and snow, and hail, and
we were at last glad to sCud before the
gale under bare poles.
Night and day, then, night and day fol.
lowing one another fast, with the patches
battered down, and the ship labOring so
that 1t seemed us II every minute must be
our last. She was lar too heavily laden;
and instead of her being q ship to float
out the llcrCGst storms, here we were load.
ed down, so that she lay rolling and pitch.
ing in u way that her seams soon began
to open, 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 seemed 10 get tlerCer
and ferCer, till at last, worn out sailors
and passengers gave up, the pumps were
abandoned, refusing, one and oil, to stay
below, men and women were clustered TO-
gCthGr, getting the best shelter they could.
81 don't like to see n good new ship go
To the bottom like this" | shouted in one
Of my mates ears, and he shouted back
something about iron; ind ! nodded, for
we all knew that these great pillars down
below were enough to sink the finest yes.
Scl that ever iloatGd.
Just then saw the skipper 60 below,
while the gentleman who was going out
To supcrinlCnd was busy lHshing one of
the lifC.buOys to his wife.
That amt no good ] shouted to him,
going up on hands and knees, for the sea
NJ times was enough to wash you over
board, rs she dipped and rolled us though
she would send her mAsts over the side
every moment got TO where they were
holding on at last; and seeing that lands.
man.likG he knew nothing Of knotting
and lashing, | made the lile.buOy fast just
~ u great wave leapGd over the bows and
swept the ship from stem to stern.
As soon as | could get my breath !
looked 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 look.
ing over there was nothing to be seen but
the fierce rushing waters.
got back to where those who were
left were Clinging together, and, though
feeling selfish, rs most men would, !
couldn't help thinking how sad 1t would
he for n young, handsome couple like
them TO be- lost, for knew well enough
that, though she was lashGd to the lie.
buoy, the most that would do would be
to keep her ailOat till she died Of cold and
exhaustion.
"Can nothing be done" Mr.. Valance
for that was his namc-shoutcd in my
ear.
"WCll," | said, shouting again, III |
was Captain, should run all risks, and
get some Of that iron over the side"
"Why don't he do 1t, thCnY' he cx.
claimed and of course, being nobody on
board that ship, | could only shake my
head.
Just then Mrs. Valance turned upon
Inc such pitiiul look, rs she took tighter
hold OF her husbands look that seemed
to say to me "Oh, save him, save himW
AndI don't know how II was, but feeling
that something ought to be done, | crept
along once more to the captains cabin,
and going down, there, In the dim light,
| could see him sitting on locker, with u
bottle in his hand, and n horrible wild,
stupid look on his face, which told Inc in
n moment that he wasn't n fit man to
have been trusted with the lives Of forty
people int good new ship Then | stood
half bewildered for q few moments, but
directly after l was up on deck, andAlong.
side Of Mr. Valance.
"Will you stand by me, sir" says, "it
I'm took to task for what dO2'
What are you going to doY he says.
"Shy that iron over the side
ITO the death, my man."
"Then lash her fast where she is L
said, pointing TO Mrs Valance, "and, in
Gods name, come on"
saw the poor things arm 30 tight
around his neck, and, though | couldn't
hear n word she said, know it meant
Don't leave me-; but he just jumped up.
ward moment kissed her tGnderly, and
then, helping, we made her last, and the
next minute were alongside the matches,
just over where knew the great pillars
to lie.
knew IL was n desperate thing to do,
but II was our only chance; and afor
swinging round the forcynrd and rigging
up some tackle, the men saw what was
meant and gave bit Of II cheer. Then
they clustered together, passengers and
men, while shouted to Mr.. Valance, of.
iering him his ChOiCe-to go below with
another, to make fast the rope TO the pill.
lars, or TO stay on deck.
lie chose going below, and, warning
linn that ypn ot,nulI rlnn m ihn hnirhno