The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-11-17

used 10 take passage, ay, and make a
voyage too from which they never got
back.
Well, was working on board
steamer as they used to call the Equa.
tor, and heavy laden aud with about
twenty passengers on board, we start
ed down channel with all we'll, till we
got right down Off the west coast of
Africa, when there came one of the
heaviest storms l was ever in. Even
for a we'll found steamer, such as they
can build to-day, it would have been
hard fight; but with our poor shaky
wooden tub, it was hopeless case
from the first.
Our skipper made brave fight of
it though, aud tried hard to make for
one of the ports; but, bless you, what
can a man do when, after ten days
knocking about, tho Goals run out, and
the fires that have been kept going
with wood and oil, and everything
that can be thrust into the furnaces, are
drowned when the paddle wheels are
only in the way, every bit of sail set
is blown clean out Of the bolt.ropes,
and at last the ship begins to drift fast
for lee shoreP
There was our case, and every hour
the sea seemed to get higher, and the
wind more fierce, while l heard from
more than one man how fast the water
was going below.
My mate and / didn't want any tell.
ing though. We'd been driven up
out of the stoke-hole like a pair of
drowned rats, and l came on deck to
find the bulwarks ripped away, and
the sea every now and then leaping
aboard, and washing the lumber about
in all directions.
The skipper was behaving very
we'll, and he kept us all at the pumps,
turn and turn in spells, but we might
as well have tried to pump the sea
dry; and when, with the water gain
ing fast, we told him what we thought,
he owned as it was no use, and we
gave up.
| We'd all been at it, crew and pass.
engers, about forty of us altogether
including the women-fve of them
they were, and they were all on deck
lashed in sheltered place, close to
the poop. And very pitiful it was to
see them fighting hard at first and
clinging to the side, but only to grow
weaker, half dro Wned as they we're
and | saw two sink down at last, and
hang dropping like from their lashings
dead, for not soul could do them O
turn.
I was holding on by the shroud:
when the mate got to the skipper:
side, and saw in his blank face what
he was telling him. OF course VIC
couldn't hear his words in such Q
storm, but we didn't want to, for his
lips said plainly enough:
"She's sinkingl"
Next moment there was a rush
made for the boats, and two of the
passengers cut loose a couple of the
women place was made for them be
fore the first boat was too full, ant
she vas lowered down, cast of, and {
big wave carried her clear of tn,
steamer. / saw her for moment OF
the top of the ridge, and then sh,
pluuSSu uoWh tuo oIhtT sluc out U
, our sight--and that of everybod,
else; for how long she lived. who cal
sayf She never was picked up o.
? heard of again.
Giving a bit of cheer, our chap
, turned to the next, and were getting
in when there came a wave like I
mountain, ripped her from the davits
| II IL
,, eyes. there she was hanging by on
end, stove in, and the men who haC
tried hard to launch her gone, skip
, per and mate as we'll.
Q There were only seven Of us now, a
/ l could see beside the three womel
{ lashed to the side, and only one 0
] them was alive; and for bit no on
; moved, everybody being stunned-lik
f, with horror; but there came a lull
D and feeling that the steamer was sink
!, ing, shouted out to the boys to com
on, and We ran to the last boat, clint
ed in, and were casting of, when
s Mapped to catch sight of the wome
r lashed under the bulwarks there.
{ "Hold hard !" roars, for l saw on
!, of them wave her hand.
0 "Come on, you fool !" shouts m
g mate, "she's going down."
O / pray may never be put to
again like that, with all a mans Sc
o fish desire for life fighting against hin
I For q moment | shut my eyes, an
then to lower; but / was obliged {
open them again, and a, 1 did SO
t saw a wild, scared face, with long We
e hair clinging round it, and a pair {
t little white hands were stretched ou
;, to me as if for help.
I "Hold hard" i shouts.