The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-03-07

perceived that the vessel was clos
to the shore Of a large island. O
course I did not know where W
lWere at the time, but I may as vel
lsay now that I afterward discovereC
it was the island of Hayti, the fri
gate having been bound to Jamaic.
when we unfortunately met her, anC
she had now reached the Mona pas
sage on her way thither. This wa
most providential circumstance to
me, as you win soon learn, but Al
this melancholy moment the sight
OF Its smiling green shores and pic.
turesque cliffs was an intolerable
aggraVation Of my misery.
1t seemed as if Heaven had given
me this glimpse of firm land and
freedom, only to overwhelm me with
an awful sense Of my utter HELPLESS.
ness. Like the patriarch of Old /
was ready to curse God and die, for
there, within half mile, was liberty
and safety, but above nv head
swung the engine of my apparently
inevitable doom, and I felt as if the
Preserver himself had quite forsaker
me. The lesson 1 received has Civ
en- me a steadfast faith, and, amid
the most fearful perils of my subse-
quent life, l have never since doubt
ed His almighty power to save.
The morning was beautiful be.
yond description. The air was soft
and balmy, the water calm and still
and the rosy light of a dawn shed q
radiance like that of paradise upon
sea and shore. But the supreme
moment Of my death was at hand,
and though every feature of the
scene has remained indelibly i'm
pressed upon my memory, it did
not seem to me then that l saw any
thing. Even the misery of my fel-
loW-suferer made no impression on
me. Sel6shness in such an hour
may be indeed pardoned in mere
mortals, and though 1 did perceive
that he was at the point Of fainting,
my own peril engrossed my whole
attention, and prevented me from
offering him any consolation, even
had I been permitted to speak to
him.
The astonishing occurrence of the
next few minutes took away from
me all power to think of anything,
but how to profit by them. Two
whips had been roved through jew
el-blocks on the starboard mainyard
arm, and their nooses hung close
down over our heads. Their other
ends were manned by score or
more Of stalWart sailors, who were
to run us up the yardarm, and when
the report of a gun ready at our feet,
gave the awful signal.
The lieutenant and his marines
had halted at the foot of the scafold,
and we were now attened by two
braWny, sunburnt seamen, whose
rough hands were busy tying our
feet together at the ankles, and see
ing that the fastenings which secur-
ed our hands behind our necks were
firmly knotted. At least this was
the duty they had been sent to per-
form, but 1 suddenly became con-
scious that my attendant was loos-
ening the rope around my ankles so
that a slight exertion would serve to
free me from it.
Astonished at this, 1 attempted to
turn to look at him, but he grasped
me firmly so as to prevent any mo-
ton, and instantly afterWard a thrill
ing whisper II my ear caused every
nerve in my body to qviver with ex-
citement.
"Csn you swim?"
Imagine if you can, the food of
hope that surged through my brain
at the sound of this singular ques-
ton; I could not reply, but my looks
must have told him that 1 under
stood his meaning, for he continued
while still pretending to be
busy with my bonds.
"The young woman has promised
to pay us well for trying to save you
two. We believe she will keep her
word, and besides, we think it's q
shame that you should be strung up
for nothing. Now, listen? I've cast
loose the rope around your ankles,
and there is only one turn of the
line on your wrists. When l stop
speaking, I'll cut that line with one
slash of my knife. Keep your hands
as if you were still bound,
and jump overheard the instant l
say Now Dive deep, and come up
on the other side of the ship. Swim
to the rudder chains, and hold on
there until night. They'll think
you wanted to drown yourself rather
than be hung, and won't lower a
boat. When night comes, you must
try to swim ashore. There! that's
all 1 can do for you. Be ready"
lean scarcely make you under
stand how rapidly all this was said,
but vet how clearly / heard and
treasured every word. There was g
pause sharp tug at
my wrists, as with one slash the keen
knife severed my bonds-and then
the loW-whispered but fearfully clear
signal-Word, "Now~
1 stood Just inside the hammock
rail, and without hesitation l threw
myself overheard, head first The
shout of surprise that rang upward
from the frigate's deck, reached my
ears before / struck the water, and
then down, down 1 went as if /
meant to dive to the bottom. was
an excellent swimmer, and had no
difficulty in following my preserver's s
When / turned to come
up, 1 could plainly see the loom Of
the frigate's hull through the clear
water, and easily guided myself so
as to reach the surface on the port
side of her rudder-post Once there
l seized the chain under water, and
keeping my head out only far
enough to breathe, prepared to keep
a vigilant watch so that 1 might con
ceal myself entirely ifa boat should
be lowered.
This did not occur, and clung
there quite safely all that weary day.
What happened on deck, of course l
could only guess at, but heard
shots fired into the water on the
starboard side, as if the marines