The New York herald., 1872-12-15


went to another boat which contained nine men.
He jumped into this boat. He thought he was
saved--at least for the moment The vast stormy
ocean was before hun, but he left the
burning ship behind. The boat was dashed
against the ship, and It seemed as though the frai
little craft would be shattered to pieces. At last
she was cast adrift. They were out on the ocean,
After they had been drifting fifteen or twenty
minutes they saw another boat. The men who
were in it gave them bucket Smith and his
companions tried to BAN their boat but the sea ran
30 high that it was impossible to empty It, The
nine kept rowing till three or four O'Clock They
saw another boat, which was bottom up. Two
men were clinging to it, Smith abandoned his
companions and swan to the capsized boat for the
purpose Of righting her. The painter connecting
the two boats was cut and Smith and Stewart were
left alone the capsized boat at the mercy OF the
waves. The men whose place smith had taken had
joined the nine in the other boat 1t was dark and
they had given up all hope of ever seeing the ship
again but all OF sudden there was hollow peal
OF thunder and nash Of lightning seemed to rend
the black dense mass Of driving clouds over their
heads. ~
THEY HEARD WILD SCREAMS, tt.tj
and could distinguish the voices OF men, women
and children. The cries became fainter and fainter
1t was terrible to hear these heartrendng screams
and still be unable to give help. Smith, as he
clung to the boats keel, and as the wild waves
washed over him, heard these cries. Sometimes
ne thought he heard some familiar voice. ''They
must perish in the names" he thought; ''wnat a
and as he looked out and could see nothing
but waves and clouds and foam, and the lurid
sSs Of the snT he 9s ss es
dren-how they screeched In agony! Smith
bowed lns head and tears came to his ewes. He
thought not OF himself, half-naked, starving, left
to the mercy Of the storm; but he thought OF the
many who were dying q miserable death IN the
did not see the ship. After five or ten minutes
Smith saw her again The sea seemed to become
mass OF flames The waves were like fire. and at
. little distance Smith saw the ships masts. They
tottered and fell. t.t.f. +.
beneath them opened and closed again. We saw
the masts no more, but heard u terrible
crash, as though the ship had burst asunder. A
hood OF fire delugud the sky, and then the Naming
gulf beneath seemed to open and to close again.
All was dark. THAT'S the last OF the ship" Smith
said to Stewart, who was unable to say a word in
reply so Mortified was he by the spectacle.
The two men at length succeeded in rightng the
the other end. They had no shoes and the boat
was full OF water. They lashed the across the
boat, to prevent her from again capsizing. The
storm was terrible. The waves ran mountain high,
and tossed the boat though 1t were football
Every moment they thought the little craft would
again be capsized. Smith lt
PRAYED TO GOD II.
to save them and to. let them pass through this
eyes, his mouth, his nose-it almost blinded him
They could not sleep; they were kept awake by
the lightning and thunder and by the dreadful
The sun.rose at last. The two ocean waits broke
the seats OF the boat and made paddles OF them.
They kept padding all day, and when night came
Smith filled the plughole with broken pieces Of
rope He tore up his drawers and wound them
and Stewart prophesicd that they botn would
perish in the boat.
ayes you willl'' Smith replied. ''rrust to Coo;
as long as there is life there is hope.r
w a qfrai nf fba shark Thnvfp al
the boat constantly and Smith frequently hit them
with his oar. At night, when trying to get mo-
and out Of the dark waves the eyes or the sharks
would look at him and the monster jaws would
open, ana as it seemed to his excited imagination,
THE SHARKS
Withdraw his head with an exciamaton of horror.
On the morning OF the third day the two frlends
succeeded IN bailing the boat They rigged sail.
They tore the canvas of one Of the liie-preservers
and made q sail out OF that They felt very thirsty
The salt water, in Keeping their faces constantly
wet, mad parched their mouths. What would they
not have given for drop VI fresh water to wet
their dried, withered lips wths The Keen sense OF
thirst made them insensible to hunger Smith
went down on his knees and prayed again. hut
one drop OF water No, there was no hope 1t I
seemed as though they must perish OF thirst
The third night came. No sail in sight, not
morsel OF food not drop Of water, no human aid
near. They could not sleep. Smith was sitting ut
noise. Help help!" voice cried. IL was Stew
art, who had fallen into the ocean. Smith Jumped
time A shark had seen stewart from afar and,
ike flash OF lightning, the monster darted at the
boat As the shark opened its jaws stewart rose
out or the water. Smith was already in the boat.
They were
SAVED FROM HORRIBLE DEATH. 4 q
The shark remained all night alongside the boat
smith hit II with his oar, but the hideous monster
always returned, and the boat was soon sur
rounded by huge sharks that seemed to be waiting
for their prey. Stewart was very much excited.
He fell round Smiths neck dozen times and
thanked him for having saved his life He said he
horrible death. This night seemed to last an age.
Al daybreak they saw sail. They rowed towards
the ship, they shouted ana signalled but II all
In vain nobody could hear them, and the ship ~
SAILED OUT OF SIGHT. esr e 1881 -
As the dark outlines OF the ship became fainter
and fainter their hearts sank In them, and II
seemed indeed as though they were to perish on
hungry sharks. SIaith felt no hunger, althoughh ne
had tasted io0d for four days. II he could only
land Ian how happy be @ Mould S, be he forgot the cold
one thought OF land. He looked lor and until his
eyes became weary and he could look no
could at last wet their dried lips. what
pleasure IL was to ieel the cool fresh water once
more on their parched upsi The boon vas dearly
paid ior. The rain poured down In torrents, the
wind whirled the boat round every minute and
CLOUDS and waves seemed to be
ONE MASS OF DASHING FOAM.
10 the simple language OF Mr.. Smith. at blowed
and s0rmed rs though heaven and earth were
the few drops OF water they could catch with their
1ps Had it not been Tor this awful rain storm
nhey woua have probably died OF thirst.
Four days and i0ur nights passed away. Every
mour was IN ifscli story OF suffering. OF sorrow.
The sharks and the thunder, the spray and the
yowling wind the bitter cold and the dark, threat
snibg sky-tbese were their only comrades. Al
las. they saw land. i was on the eighth day.
Land What sghti They embraced each other; /; |
tiey shed tears OF JOY Land What magic In the |
simple werd IL transported them from sadness |
and despair TO paroxysm OF JOY. They had
STRUCK REEF
about o mile and half from Abaco II was three
O'Clock in the morning, and they kept the boat |
back as much ~ they could. Al six O'Clock they
climbed the ROCKS. IL was wild. lonely spot.
Tnere were no eln vs OF vegetation Both were ex-
hausted from climb,pg, and Smith crawled on his |
hands and feet on ile Tocks looking Tor something
to eat Bcw ma heart pcst when 10 iovha some J
rstSa1oo torAts y.