Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-18
AUGUSTA ME. SATURDAY MORNING. MAY 1s. 1879
THE SHIPWRECK.
BY j. 8. BARRY.
CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.1

pushing tOWdTu ueT,
Gay, ay!" was the reply; and off we
went
We returned in few minutes, bearing
with US the basket of chunks and pot OF
Goals, and after some trials succeeded in
kndling a cheerful blaze. 1t was quite a
task to keep our bonfire from blowing
away, so sweeping and furious We're the
incessant blasts but by piling together
loose fragments of rock, we formed a
screen, and by placing fiat stones across
the sticks, we kept them in place.
Scarcely had we succeeded in kindling o
the fire ere the grating Of the boat was
heard on the strand, the resolute boys hav-
ing hastily drawn it from lis accustomed
shelter BY the lurid glare of our flicker
ing flame we saw them dimly-ghost-like
forms, gliding in shadow-and in momen-
tary lulls, we could hear their voices
speaking quickly, and issuing crisp, rapid
orders
"Io. Jim. for the oars, See that they
are in place
"Ay, ay."
Have You all your .jackets?'
"Ay,ay.1
Look out for the rope, then. Coil it
strong and stow it in the bow"
"Ay, ay."
"Al right in the thwartsP'
"All right"
"All ready, boys?'
"All ready"
"Aboard, then. and put in with will?"
And aboard they went, not a man of
them daunted,- all moved as with one i'm
pulse.
1t was an anxious time to us on the cliff.
Two or three neighbors had Joined us,
and others were on the beach, watching
the boat. All were eager, all were excl
ted
"Will they stand it, think you?' was the
query of one.
doubtful, was the reply. II never
saw the sea run higher than now. They
can but try This is no cats paw. What
More wood there" said | to Burgh !;
and she piled on the chunks till the flame
flared high.
"Hurrah!" from the boat; faint cheer,
scarce audible. 1t came floating up to us,
telling us the light was an aid to their
progress. The glimmer of the bonfire
was a help to US also, as it enabled us to
see them toiling manfully to reach the off
ing.
Their greatest peril was near the shore.
Here the breakers were perfectly terrific.
Scattered rocks were quite numerous.
Some of these We're completely barred, as
the waves swept DER them. Others were
pointed and sharp; but for the most part
they were smooth and covered with dulse.
In ordinary weather, they were easily
avoided, and only added to the picturesque
ness of the scene. Now, they were dan
gerous; and the sharp pointed rocks
bristled like teeth of a drowning monster.
1t was difficult to weather them, and in
more than one instance the escape was
narrow
As we'll as we could, we watched the
movements of the gallant boat. We knew
that all depended on her. If the oars did
not break or the strength of the men who
handled them fail; if they were caught in
no nip between clashing waves,-possi-
bly,, yes, possibly, they might reach the
ship.
'Boom!''
Another gun, sullen, deep-throated We
could picture to ourselves the agony OF
that crew. There they were, on shat
tered wreck. Masts were broken, sails
were rent, ropes were snapped. A chaos
of waters was weltering beneath. Eve
rything on deck was swept away clean.
Isolated in bowling, wilderness waste.
|
the shore? Helpless they were. at the
warks, grasp the chains. are lashed to the
capstain. Fiercely the wind beats and
Bullets them. The cumbersome mass
which hangs at the side, an agglomer-
tion of spars and ropes, strikes like a bat
tering-ram, loosening the planks.
"Boom.'
Another gun! That sounds nearer. Yes,
the vessel is drifting ashore. We can see
her now. There she is, near that ledge,
which is called 1.-The Graves" Many
vessel has floundered there. God help
them, if they are cast upon it
Hark sound it seems like a Shrek
cry of despair Family it comes to us
as we cling to the cliff. 1t quivers again
We cannot mistake. 1t is the last wall of
expiring agony. Thud THE vessel has
struck She is not far dstant-but half a
mile. See her there Bravely the life boat
is struggling to reach her.
"Lull there! quick! Steady, now ~
shouts Brewster to his comrades. "Pull
steady pull pull pull for your lives -
And they do pull.
A moment more and the boat has reach
ed her. A shout goes up from the gallant
eight! 1t is caught and echoed by q
shout from the crew. On reaching the
deck, as we afterwards learned, Brewster
found everything in confusion. Two.
thirds of the passengers had been swept
off by the board; yea, more. A few were
left; but their position was perilous. The
sea broke over them in constant surges
They were drenched and chilled. Scarce.
ly was one Of them able to move. The
weaker We're thoroughly paralyzed and
numbed.
"How many are left of you?" Brews-
ter inquired.
"Thirty, or more" was the Captains
reply
"How many had you, when you started
on your voyage p' =.