The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-30
THE VICTIMS OF THE SEA.
WORKING A. PASSAGE FROM THE
OLD WORLD TO THE
NEW.

Queenstown tho following day, and did
not arrive in New York until the 10th
inst, having occupied period of twenty
one days on the voyage, including short
detention at Boston, where shc was obliged
TO nut in on the 18th inst. to renew her
coal. The journal Of the voyage, from
day to day, 10 a history Of storm and
tempest, with occasional accounts Of
portions of the bulkwarks being swept
away by the terrific seas which were con
tinually being shipped by the storm
tossed vessel.
The day after leaving Liverpool an
ominous incident occurred which cast
gloom over tho passengers, not dispelled
throughout the tempestuous voyage which
| followed.
| On Christmas day, as the vessel was
lying in the Mersey, preparing for her de-
| parture, man came on board and ex-
| pressed q desire TO work his passage to
New York. He gave his name MS james
| Brannagan, but beyond this, nothing is
known OF him. He was not a sailor, and
could not, of course, be shipped in that
department; but, observing that he was =
healthy, muscular man, the engineer, who
was somewhat short of hands, agreed to
take him In the capacity of a coal trimmer;
that is, one whose business it is TO convey
coal from the bunkcrs to the vicinity ofthe
furnsces, break up the large Jumps and
otherwise prepare it for the fremen.
In tho event of the bunkers' getting
choked, and the Goals not running freely,
O thing of frequent occurrences, the trim
mers are obliged to go in and loosen it.
Though requiring little or no experience,
their work is far more arduous and ex-
hausting than that of the fremen. Bran.
nagan, however, had no idea Of the ordeal
which he was about to undergo, and joy
fully seized upon the opportunity offered
him TO reach tho new world. The follow
ing day he was sent down to the stoke
room and set to work, and before the ves-
sell had been twelve hours out he bitterly
repsnted his rashness.
The steamer arrived at Queenstown
about 4 o'clock Sunday morning, and
Brannagan requested to be sent ashore
saying he was utterly unable TO do the
work required of him. 1t was too late &c
draw back, however. His name had been
entered on the ships books, and he was
told he must weather 1t Ms best he could
until he arrived in New York. Two
hours afterward, when the steamer was on
the point of leaving, the tender being still
alongside, Brannagan was found to have
unaccountsbly disappeared. A nasty
search was made, when it became evident
that he was not on board. The
tender was then overhauled, and the poor
fellow was found slowed away in the
hold, he in this last effort to escape the
dreaded voyage, had attempted in this
way to gain the shore unseen. He was
brought back, and at once sent down in
the sitting stoke-room, where, it is pre-
sumable, his attempt to evade the conse-
quences Of his self-imposed act did not
serve to tighten his labor. His miseres
were increased by the rapidly rising sea,
| which by this time was SO boisterous as to
render it.ditiicult for landsman to keep
his feet.
By o'clock the passengers were nearly
all sick, and the proverbisl discomiorts
attending the commencement of u sea
voyage were experienced with more than
ordinary force. About this time Branna.
gan was seen to drag himself up tho iron
ladder leading from the stoke-room, and
staggcr upon the deck in an utterly ex-
hausted and almost fainting condition
He remained leaning against the rail
close 10 the ash-shoot which was open
He was not long allowed TO enjoy the
cold wind blowing upon his heated fore
head, In few moments a fireman fol-
lowed him upon the deck and ordered
him down below. The poor fellow said
it was impossible 10 work any longer, adj
ding that he would rather be thrown over
board than to SO down into the stoke.
room again.
"Well, throw yoarself overheard said
the fireman, roughly. "You don't expec
! me to do it tor you, do you?'
In q moment b annagan collected al
his energies and with cry of "here goes
D them" he rushed 10 the ash-shoot, ant
/, attempted to jump through il. Hi:
shoulder, however, struck the bulwark
and no was violently flung back upon tn
deck. The fireman watched him as h
. rose to his feet, but did not attempt to in
= terfere, and Brannagan again sprang u
:, | the ash-shoot. This time he was NOR
) successful, and in view Of all on deck tn
n man WAS prscipitated in the boilin
waves.
; In moment the startling cry of ina
N over board" rcsounded throughout tn
= ship, and the Mortified passengers, fol
getting their ses-sicknsss, rushed as on
10 man to the side. As rapidly Ms could
gig lowered, but the confusion was yer
~ Sfchti uHh ~ "oo
before the boat, manned by fou
% men and in charge Of the fourth Office
a. started in pursuit.
Brannagan was strong swimmer, bu
no man could swim long in such sea
Was then running. lie could be see
quite distinctly about hundred ysrC
s.tern, keeping,himself ailoat in theIlroug
i, of the sea, and then disappearing as
," mountainous wave swept over his hes
az burying him for nearly a minute at II tim
A., The slow progress Of the boat was an
u iously watched from the deck OF Il
be | steamer, and great fears were entertain,
for its safety and that Of its gallant ere
~ Al length the drowning man was reache
x and a sailor seized him by the collar al
attempted to drag him into the boat
Al had almost succeeded. when Brannsg
sr slipped from his grasp and fell back Ia
the water. Leaning over the side, as /
~ man was sinking, the sailor plunged
K arm into the water up to his should,
and seized him once more by the ha
''' whilo the gig careened over until her gu
-. vale was below the surface, and tho
naming occupants OF the boat thr'
zen themselves to the other side, Just in til
in 70 avoid capsizing. The unfortunate IN
was then drawn into tho boat perfect
ov. unconscious. and with life almost extin
!, Propelled by the muscular arms of t
sailors, the gig WAS pulled back to t
OF ship MS fast rs possible, and IA rope bel
nm. lowered, tho insensible man was drawn
deck, and committed to the care of