Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-20
ter, at the point of knife, they are
merged in equal insignificance.

merged in equal insignifcance
As an individual mite, however. be-
gan to feel cold, wet, and uncomfortable,
and commenced series of acrObatic per-
formances having for their object the at
tainment, first of the cabin stairs, and
then of mo berth. In time all this was
accomplished, though not without some
bruises; then, perched on my shelf, l sue
ceeded in getting rid of my wet outer
garments, and, rolling myself up ia q
blanket, was soon rocked to sleep.
Twas awakened bya violent concus-
sion. Have you ever, when going up
stairs in the dark, expected another step
when you were on the level, and got a
Jerk which tried every nerve in your
body? Well, that was the effect. Wheth-
er l was thrown out of my berth, or
Jumped down in panic, don't know. l
remember trampling on something, which
must have been the diamond merchant;
stumbling into the saloon, catching a
glimpse of three wild eyed passengers,
PROSTATE hitherto with sea sickness, but
now cured by fear; struggling up the
cabin stairs against a torrent OF water
which came pouring down them: and at
last reaching the deck.
The day was breaking. The wind had
gone down somewhat A low line Of
coast was visible in the distance. The
steamer was aground, heeling over on her
port side, and the waves were buttetlng
her to pieces. | managed to climb to the
starboard side of the funnel, the base Of
which prevented me from slipping along
the steep deck, while the bulwark and
paddle-box behind formed barrier
against the violence of the waves.
But this latter advantage did not last
long; plank by plank, paddle-box and
bulwarks were torn to pieces, and the
loose splinters were a fresh source OF
danger. A sailor, clinging to the sky
light over the engines, not far from my
station, had his arms broken by mass
of wood and iron which was hurled
against him and then the waves, which
now washed the deck without opposi-
ton, had him at their mercy. They
rolled him back, away from me, then
threw him back, almost to my feet, so
that | could see his pitiful, appealing
eyes but before could clutch him, they
snatched him away again. SO they wor-
ried him to death, and then sported with
his corpse.
There were two boats; the captain and
crew attempted to get one at1oat, but the
gear was out of order, or they were
| clumsy, or the situation was unfavorable.
Any way, the boat was capsized, and
some of those who were trying TO launch
it were, I think, crushed, Judging by the
cry I heard The other boat, which was
near me, had a side stove in, but among
the ruins Of it I saw the yellow rim of
life-buoy, which determined to have.
1t was task ofperil and difficulty to reach
the place, but effected it, and there, in.
side the boat, clinging to the thwarts, /
| found my old man, the diamond mer-
chant.
"Mine. miner he cried, when l had
| disentangled the life-buoy, and passed
one of my arms through it. Hecould not
have meant that it was his private prop
erty, because the name of the steamer
was painted upon it; suppose he had
| formed the intention to appropriate it be-
| fore / came, and his strength had failed
him. The boat proved better protection
than it had looked. When the large
waves struck the stranded vessel, they
rose up and enveloped her, flooding the
decks with water, which poured off then,
again in cataracts. | found on each oc-
casion that the boat was lifted at the same
time that it was flooded, and this of course
had not, as before, to cling hard to pre-
vent being dragged away, the gre of the
boat as it floated and subsidized easing the
strain
The vessel was settling down in the
sands. burying herself as she swayed,
burrowing like mudfsh; it was plain
, that no living thing subject to drowning
could remain with her long 1t had been
broad daylight now for hours; we were
in the mouth of some river, for land could
be seen on both sides. But no vessel COM
ing to our assistance was visible. 1t was
a mere question Of time, however; the
wind had gone down, and the sea was not
too rough for good boat; we were sure
to be seen. With the aid of the life buoy,
man might well float TIL he was picked
up, and its value was evidently immense.
"Mine." reiterated the old man, clutch
ing at it as the boat W as tioated for long
er time than it had been yet. And when
the water receded, and we were once more
stranded on the deck, he felt In his breast,
drew out a leather case, and cried: GA
fortune for it, fortune for itn
looked at the nearest bank; but it
seemed quite possible for a strong swim
mer to reach it, and l was very strong
swimmer. Not probable, perhaps, but
possible. Money was not worth steady
industry, self-denial, butt was well worth
striking one blow for.
ION your word as dying man." said,
"do you believe that if survive, | shall
get ten thousand for the seventy-five
Jewels !"
Double, on my oath-double!'
took my arm out of the life buoy, and
put it over his shoulder, at the same time
receiving the leather case.
had run up on deck in my shirt and
drawers, and was pocketIess; so | took
off handkerchief l had round my head,
tied the jewels up in that, and then Sc
cured it about my waist.
had hardly done this before the boat
ia which we were was washed clear of
the deck, and as, though broken and full
of water she proved too shallow and buoy
ant to go down, | still chung to her for a
minute or so; but the waves washed so
high over her gunwale, that l had to let
go, and swim to loose oar which was
floating near. The old man was kept well
out of the water by the buoy; saw him
couple of waves off with his shoulders
well above it. There was no spray now
to drown him, for the wind had sunk to
a whisper, and, if his strength lasted, he
seemed safe. He had made a good pur-
chase. AS for my own prospects, my
short trip from the boat to the support to
which now chung was sufficient to show
me that | had not enough left in me to
swim ashore; no, nor half the way, nor
quarter of the way. My weight Slightly