Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-05-22

OIL At length the seas began 70 come
in such masses ms 10 lift us on their
cresis and then let us down again on the
bottom with hard, ,.quick, pounding blow
that always causes a peculiar weakness
in the knees Of those who experience il.
] knew very well that the best bottom
ship-earpenter ever made would not long
stand the hammering the poor old Mexi-
can was getting, and If she did not float
soon, her journey would suddenly end.
The captain begged me TO stand by the
wheel ready to cut the lashings OF the
ropes in the event the vessel hoated, and
steer her; and there was posted i think
until somewhat after midnight. | OBJ
served that the fires built on shore by
those who had assembled TO watch our
movements had burned down and were
deserted. Calling some one TO relieve
me moment, / dived down into the
cabin to get little warmth, and perhaps
cup Of coffee, and had probably been
below FIVE minutes when Mrs. Tomlin-
son called out from her berth where she
had been sleeping that ....tI
THE SEA WAS RUSHING IN.
In an instant the waters rose to the cabin
hoorl knew very well what that meant
the vessel had bilged and would fill,
and our only chance was 10 90 on deck,
and our only hope was that she would
hold together.
Iassisted Mrs. Tomlinson on deck. and
10 the main rigging on the starboard
side, where most of the people were
already assembled. To ease the vessel
we attempted to
CUT AWAY THE FoREMAsT.
Captain Tomlinson undertook the job in
person, and although it was performed
exactly according to the rules governing
such cases, it was not a success. The
lanyards of the lee rigging were severed,
few chips cut from the mast on tho
weather side, and the weather rigging
was parted by few blows with an ak on
the lanyards, but the mast did not tum-
ble, as we had hoped the wind not being
strong enough to make il break with its
ewn weight and that of the top-hamper.
There it stood, unsupported by the rig
ging and swaying from side to side as
the vessel rolled, acting as mighty
lever to pry her open. By this time
fHE BREAKERS WERE COMING on US FAST
AND FURIOUS.
We stood huddled in and about the
main rigging, holding on to ropes to pre-
vent being washed into the sea. AT times
the waves came so fast that we would
hardly get the water blown ont of our
noses and wiped from our eyes before
another would be upon US. 1t was sug-
gested that if the chains were cut the
vessel would be driven up high on the
beach before going to pieces; and our
good captain, although dreadfully bruised
and hurt by being dashed about in his
attempts to get the foremast over the
side, groped forward again between the
intervals of the deluging waves, and es
sayed to part the chain cables by striking
them sharp blows with an ak at the mo-
ment when they were strained by mo-
mentum of the seas. But as the seas
struck and engulfed the captain at the
same time they caused the chains to
grow taut, and he could do nothing.
But whilst he was trying to render ser
vice forward he came near losing his wife
aft. To a certain extent she had de-
pended on her husbands assistance to
resist the breakers as they swept down
on US; and when he left, she incautiously
loosed her hold of the rope she was
clinging to and was sent toward the
stern of the vessel and nearly overheard.
Fortunately, she was able to lay hold on
q stick of square timber, part Of the
deck load, WHICH stayed her progress;
but in some manner she got her head
under the end of heavy log whilst it
was ahoat, which came near crushing
her brains out when the water subsided.
heard her cries and sprang to her as
sistance just before breaker boarded us
again. Fortunately, | saw the situation
very soon, and knew that she WOULD be
extricated when the timber foated, and
therefore seized her dress to drag her
from the perilous and painful position.
We did not have to wait long to carry
out my programme, but when Mrs. Tom
linson's head was no longer jammed
WE WE'RE ADRIET IN THE BOILING SURE.
However, we were in the immediate vicin,
ity of the wheel and its ropes, which
/ recollected to have lashed in the
first part of the night with the end of
the head line. AS we were being car
ried nearly overheard | reached down
and fortunately caught the small line;
otherwise this writer would have been
buried in December, 1852, on that dreary
sandy cape, where the breakers ever
lastingly hammer and moan. In the
next breathing spell managed to get
tho lady uu to the holding place
again, aud remained With her until her
husband returned. For some years after
that Mrs. Tomlinson lived in San Fran
cisco, and if she happened to hear of
ne VIXEN in that city on visit, she in
variably hsd ne to dinner, which dinner
~as always concluded by such piuM
nuddinU as on, 10 true BTItons know how
to concoct. Thus you see / nave Al
my reward. -.
This adventure stirred my blood lit
tie, and | demanded of the pilot, who
vas shivering in the group, to know
what he thought we're our chances to be
saved.
"yoT A PARTICLE OF HOPE"
he replied. whereupon the carpenter
groaned and prayed very earnestly to
feel the firm ground under his feet once
more. l felt very much inclined to
combat these fellows, and | would have
been much gratihed 10 have done 1t
with a club. Even if the danger was
imminent they had no business to de-
moralize and frighten the landsmen by
telling them 50, aud l had very little re-
spect for this bar-room bully as the
leader of a prayer meeting. The chances
are that rather exceeded the bounds OF
propriety in my argument" to con-
vince the people that the pilot was
wrong. However. that is neither here
nor there. was not popular with his
or the carpenters s clique after that.
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