Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-29

all well, till we got right down off the
west coast of Africa, when there came one
of the heaviest storms was ever in. Ev
en- for Il well-fOund steamer, such as they
can build to-day, it would have been a hard
fight; but with our poor shaky wooden
tub, it was hopeless case from the first
Our skipper made brave fight of it
though, and tried hard to make for one OF
the ports but. bless you. what can a man
do when, after ten days knocking about,
the Goals run out, and the fires that have
been kept going with wood and oil. and
| every thing 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-ropts
and at last the ship begins to drift fast for
4 lee shore9
That was our case. and every hour the
sea seemed to get higher and the wind
more fierce. while heard from more than
one man how fast the water was gaining
below.
My mate and l didn't want any telling
though. We'd been driven up out of the
stoke-hole like a pair of drowned rats. and
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 ulftcliOnS-
The skipper was behaving very well,
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 gaining fast, we told him what
we thought, he owned it was no use, and
we gave up.
We'd all been at it, crew and passengers
about forty of Us altogether, inclu ling the
women-tive of them they were. and they
were all on deck, lashcd in a sheltered
place close to the poop. And verv pitiful
was it to see them fighting hard at first and
clinging to the side, but only to grow
weaker, half drowned as they were; and l
saw two sink down ut last and hang
drooping-like from their la>hng>, dead,
for not Il soul co"ld do them II turn.
| was holding on by the shrouds when
the mate got to the skippers side. and
saw in his blank white face what he was
telling him. OF course we couldn't hear
his words in such n storm, but we didn't
want to. for his lips said plain enough.
She's sinking"
Next moment there was Il rush made
for the boats, and two Of the passengers
cut loose a couple of the women: place
was made for them before the first boat
was too full. and she was lowered down,
cast Oft, and Il big wave carried her clear
of the steamer Isaw her for a moment
on the top of the ridge. and then she
plunged down the other side out of our
>ight-and that of everybody else; for how
long she lived, who can say? She was
never picked up OF heard of again
Giving a bit Of cheer, our chaps turned
70 the next, and were getting in when
there came a wave like mountain, ripped
her from the davits. and when l shook the
water from my eyes, there she was hang
in~ by one end. stove in, and the men VINO
had tried to launch her gone-shipper and
mate rs we'll.
There We're only seven Of Us now. and
could see besides the three women la>he,i
| to the side. and only one Of them was alive
and for a bit no one moved. everybody be
ing stunnrd-ikc with horror; but there
came 4 lull. and feeling that The steamer
WAS sinking under our feet, | shouted ont
To the boys 10 come on. and we ran 10 th..
Ia t boat. climbed in, and were casting of,
when happened to catch sight of the wo-
| men lt>hed under the bulwarks there
Hold hard" | roarS, for saw one of
| them wave her hand.
Come on. You fool :" shouts my mate.
She going down
| pray | may never be put To it again
! like that with all mans selfish dc>ir.
for life fighting against him. For n mo-
ment | shut my eyes. ana they began to
lower; bIt | wis obliged to open them
again. and a> | did -. saw a wild, scared
| face. with long. wet hair clinging around
it, and a pair of little white hands were
stretched out To me rs if for help.
Hold hard" ] shouts.
No. no." roarcd out two or h-ee.
| = there isn't a moment: and aS the boat
WAS being lowered from the davis, made
a jump. caught the bulwarks with my
hands. and climbed back on board. Just as
the boat kissed the water, was unlocked,
| and tloatcd away.
Then rs crept. hand-over- hand. to the
girls side. whipped ont my knife. and WAS
cutting her loose. while her weak arms
cling to me. | fell Il horrible feeling OF
,iispair come over me. for the boat was
leaving us: and knew whit a coward
was at heart. rs had to fight with my
self SO rs not to leave the girl to her fate,
and lcaped overheard to swim for nv life
| glt the better of it, though-went down
on my knees. So rs not to see the boat.
and get the poor trembling. clinying
creature loose.
"Now, my lass" says. "quck' and
| raised her up" hold on hv the side
while make fast a rope round vou.
And then | stood up 10 hail the boat
the boat as warn't there. for in those brief
moments She must have capsizrl. and We
were alone on the sinking steamer. which
now lay in the trough of the sea.
As soon rs got over the horror of the
| feeling, :, sort of stony despair came ovcl
me- hut when saw that little pale ap.
, pealing face at my side. looking to me for
| help. that brought the manhood back. and
in saving encouraging things to her. | did
myself good.
| My first idea WAS TO make something
that would float Us. but l gave that VI
directly. for could feel that | was help
less; and getting the poor girl more into
shelter. took Il bite Of tobacco in 4 sor
of >tolid wav and rat down with corl
life buoy over my arm. one which hat
cut loose from where il hal hung forgot
ten behind the wheel.
But | never used it for the storm wen
down fast. and the steamer tloatcd still
waterloggel. for three days. when W,
We're picked up by a passing vessel. half
starved, but hoping. And during that
time my companion had told me tina
she WAS the attendant of one of the lad'
passengers on hrtrd; and at last. whal
we parted at the Cape. she kissed nv han,
and called me her hero. who had saved he
lifc-poor grimv me. You know.
We warn't long, though. before we me
again. for somehow we'd settled that we,
write; and n twelvemonth after Mary wa
back in England and my wife. That
why said took her like out of the hand
of death. though in Il selfish sort of way
being far. vou know. from perfect Bu
what say. speaking us Edward Brown
stoker. is this: Make y goo, fight of it, n
matter how black things may look. am
ave the rest to IIilu.-CasSeWs -Hug1
.inf.
Mr.. Becchcr leaves the White Mountain
for Brooklyn, Thursday. His letter I
District Attorney Britton, acquiescing i
the eproposed dropping of the libel again>