The Jasper weekly courier., 1874-07-17


| remembered that my matches were safe
ly deposited In my sock. and | thought
that, perhaps. the water had not pcnetrat-
ed the silver box which held them. | ac,
oor,iingly extracted cigar from pocket
OF my 0vercoat, and placed II In my mouth.
Alas the cigar was soaking with sea-
water. | allowed il 10 fall from my lips.
while continued my journey, which was
of more vital importance.
When | had reached the center Of the
steamer, observed boat coming from the
island. IL appeared 10 be extremely small.
was without seats. and the fishermen by
whom il was manned seemed afraid 20 ap-
proach too near the wreck. A few mo-
ments later. a larger boat put of from the
island, and came 10 the rescue of the pas
sengers. had now reached the part OF
the steamer where the miZzcn-mast
is situated. and here found my friends
Welch and Kew. We exchanged greet
ings, and l placed myself literally. and
not i'm the Spanish sense of the expression.
lat their feet While conyersing with
my friends. some of the passengers and
crew were being removed from the wreck
by means of rope, which. as afterwards
heard had, by the bravery OF the
first officer, been connected with the
island. Those who availed themselves OF
this means of escape were sadly beaten by
the waves, which rose higher and higher
every moment. Many of them. exhausted
with their efforts. and frost-bitten with
the cold, fell dead on their way along
the rope.
Amongst those who remained on the
hull awaiting the approach of the boats.
were not few whe went raving mad.
slipped into the sea, and Were drowned.
My frozen hands and feet rendered me
powerless TO leave the wreck by means OF
the rope, SO made no effort In that direc-
ton. Occasionally raised my wet over
coat from my chest. 10 see il my body
continued warm. and was greatly thank
full at the sight Of the vapc- which il dis
PEELED.
The boats now began 10 venture nearer
to the wreck. and those who had not lost
the use of their hands and feet passed on
ward toward the bow of the steamer. and
in turn descended by rope and en-
barkcd.
Unable TO follow their example. | pa
tiently awaited some other means for ry
rescue. Presently the larger boa. re-
turned from the island for the fifth time.
and passed from The stern end Of the
steamer under the part of the hull where
was stationed. A il approached | let 20
my hold. and trusting To good fortune
that might hook on 10 the boat by an
arm or a leg, | slipped downwards over
the hull. My leg missed its mark. and il
was then, think. that received the two
gashes in my foot. which for manv long
weeks Afterwards retained. | fell into
the water. but in doing 80 | contrived TO
boat. and in this condition. and by swim
ming little with my legs. | was soon
hauled in head foremost by one of the fish
ermen.
BY this means was safely landed. NV
ieet were greatly swollen and bleeding.
especially my left foot; but all sense of
feeling had long~since deserted me, and |
experienced no pain.
Two men supported me in their arms
and endeavoreC 10 restore animation
While they were doing so clasped nv
hands and thanked God aloud for my de-
liverance. One of the fishermen. who Of
course, did not understand the language
in which my words were uttered. called TO
a messraate and said:
II say. johnny. here's fellow talking
gibberish. He's gone clean mad, you
bet.'
/ soon assured him in his own language
that | was in my right senses.
"Well. then. Johnny" said he. ''take of
your socks. If you have any with YOU.
and put them on this gentleman. for he
can't walk and that's a fact"
johnny obeyed. and afterward assisted
one of the men To convey me to the house
of a fisherman named O'BrIen. who i also
the magistrate of Gulls Head Island.
O'Brien and his daughter Were very kind
and provided tea and bread and butter for
all the passengers who arrived at their
humble dwelling. We numbered upwards
of one hundred and fifty al the fisherman's
house; but we were all men. for every
woman had perished in the wreck. and
only one boy, a Lad of fourteen. was
saved.
While the tea was preparing. succeed
ed in drying by the fire and smoking one
o. my cigarettes. After the six or seven
hours OF suffering which | had Just expe-
rienced, that little cigarette was luxury
ever to be remembered. And shall ever
forget the hot cup Of tea and bread and
butter which followeds
After partaking of this las ii then
seemed TO mel princely fare. the captain of
the ill-fated steamer walked in. and find
ing how many shipwreckcd people were
billcted on O'Brien. he said that some Of
US must be removed 10 another locality.
and some Others were accordingly con-
Quoted to another house. where we were
again RECALLED with tea and bread and but
ter. But after partaking of that
second meal was shown into bedroom.
where soon threw of my damp clothes
and retired for the night. And what
night!
On the following morning, at 3 O'Clock.
came the welcome news that some
steamers for our conveyance from the T.
land bad arrived from Halifax, and shortly
after we were on board one called ihs
Delta.
In dte course we landed at Halifax. and
some Of our party were taken 10 a hotel in
that city. There was visited BY Dr.