The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-10-17
SELECT STORY.
A SWIM FOR LIFE.

smart Indiaman Skinner of the Seas
with Col. Tyghtfytte lin command of
troops) "only let this breeze hold on,
and we shall get sight of the Desertas
before nightfall! Mr.. Workemwell
(chief oficer), let them leave the log,
land see what she is gong"
"Aye, aye, sir! Heave the log" shouts
the mate.
"You know" continues the captain,
sit will be most satisfactory to get a
sight of the land before dark. Ali
that's how one likes to see the line fly
out. What is she going?"
Twelve knots good, sir"
Twelve knots goodp' repeats the cap
tain. "Ah! ahl hoorah for the Deser-
tas p
The Skinner of the Seas had thus
far made most favorable passage, and
left the frogs of old England far behind.
We were now in a most lonely climate,
and only nine days out. Troops and
passengers, quite recovered from sea-
sickness, had shaken down in their
places, and if appetite and good spirits
be a criterion, then had reaction entire
ly set in.
The decks were alive with animated
nature; cut off from the world, alone on
the ocean, the Skinner of the Seas rep
resented world in miniature. Detach-
ments of troops to reinforce their respec-
tive regiments in her Majesty's Eastern
Empire; officers, military and civil, re-
turning from furlough, etc., grass, wild
ows, happy in the idea of soon rejoining
their husbands; larking cadets, batch
of bright-eyed merry girls, "going out
on spec"-enough, one would imagine,
to make of India itself Paradise; mer-
chants, planters and others; the busy
crew of the ship; the lowing of COWS,
bleating of sheep, an incessant chorus
from poultry of ali descriptions, every
one busy about their respective duties,
or amusing themselves in various ways.
Capt. Chawthewind was a Scotchman
by birth, and cousin to all families OF
note in the country. He was tall,
bony man, with gray sandy whiskers,
: small gray eyes, and red nose; and
though by no means bad-hearted man,
J was exceedingly choleric. He vas de-
scribed by the sailors as half-alligator,
half-rattlesnake, with the strain of hip.
popotamus sort of a man. He had
! been many years in command of ar In
/ diaman, was noted for making quick
passages, and never spared sails or sail
ors when there was a chance of going
ahead, in which he was seconded by Mr.
: Workemwell.
The Skinner of the Seas had now 8
ratt1ing breeze right aft, studding-sail=
set on both sides allow and aloft; ever
the royal studding-sails and main sky.
sail were still set, although expected
: every moment to be taken in, as it ap
peared something must give way, such
a tremendous press of canvas was she
now carrying in a breeze SO strong, max
ing the spars and ropes sneeze and cracE
, as she dashed along; but all the geal
was of the first class, and the captain
not the man to spare her; and as the gal
liant vessel surged and rolled and flew
on her course, she appeared not les
= anxious than her commander to get 6
: sight of the Desertas before nightfall
There was pretty good sea on, which
: broke fercely; but, as we were scuddint
along before it, We felt little of it.
1t was the fashion with Capt. Chaw
thewind, as with some other men whel
running before the wind, to have tn,
wind up in case of the ship broaching
to from the negligence of helmsman o
r from other causes; it is of course be
+ calmed by the other sails, and sweep
g over the jib-boom from side to side a
n the ship rolls.
s About 2 p. m, a seaman, by name O
e John Neville-a stout and powerful
q west-countryman, twenty-three years G
: age-was sent to secure some hanks tha
were adrift on the flying jib. AS h
IL was passing out on the jibboom, tn
ship gave a rather heavy roll, and tn
p jib by some means swept him overheard
le he was lightly clad, having on only
blue flannel shirt, with canvas trowser
p The cry of "Man overboardw ws
y echoed fore and aft; dozen voice
E. shouted out, "Put the helm down!
g The helmsman, who happened to b
= Neville's own chum, and who had onl
er left him few minutes before, immed
y ately put the helm hard down, withor
n waiting for orders from the officer oftl
watch. Orders were at once given to l.
~ fly tacks, sheets, halliards; in fact to le
y. everything fly, to cut away the life-buo
to clear away the boat, etc. All W;
- confusion; the ship was already up
!, the wind, and soon came aback. tt
- row caused by the shaking of the sail
he cracking of the boouas and mast
and the general smash aloft, was som
!. thing terrific.
of The life-buoy that hung over Il
to stern was at once cut away; it consiste
"a of two small casks connected by b
ur of wood about four feet along, that pas
IS ed right through the center of them;
as had no protection from the sun, no o.
b. knew its age, it was regularly with Il
ad ship, and looked all that could be desi
sw ed, but on striking the water one ca
,r- collapsed without hesitation. T.
all hoops started on the other, and in le
Ike than two minutes the life buoy had d
ID. appeared. Many other things tn
We would float were cast overheard, and
nd party of soldiers seized the spar
en-, which the carpenter was working a
nd launched it overheard. 1t would ha
been godsend for poor Neville, W
was a long distance off, but he ST
naught of any of the articles hove ov
'u' board.
- The second officer, Mr.. Weldon, W
"a had kept his eye on Neville (who v
,;.o now at least mile away sprang il
- the cutter as she was being lowered,
which he found the boatswain and