Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-09-24

beautiful in mine it is a horrible night
mare.
| For week we lay on the broad, smooth
sheet of glass, without a speck in sight II
break the monotony Glass? Molter
silver rather, for the heat was so fearful
that sometimes imagined that it woul6
seethe. The sun seemed like mass o.
white hot iron close above us, and the
pitch oozed and boiled between the planks
Poor Phipps could not so on with his
sketching, for the perspiration dropping
from his forehead blotted his work, and
even McNab's ardor for chess relaxed
But had little time to play with him
under such aggravating conditions the
fever ragged. Deaths were of daily, some
times hourly occurrence; we soon had
to cast the bodies overheard without cere.
mony.
On the fourth day the Captain and one
of his mates sickened, and the shattered
constitution of the former caused him to
sink at once. Then Phipps took the fever,
and though it was mild attack, he was
so feeble as to be unfit for duty.
| Such of the convicts as escaped the fever
began to hold their heads erect, and look
you full in the eyes as they passed, as
| though they felt that death was bringing
us all to an equality
| The sixth day was the most oppressive
of all-it was literally difficult to draw
breath, and though escaped the fever, [
was used up for the first time. To do my
work amongst the dying and the dead was
physical impossibility for me; I threw
myself down under the awning ON the
quarterback, and lost all consciousness,
| probably remaining in a state of torpor
| for hours.
I was reused by the most tremendous
crash / have ever heard, and found myself
| in darkness, but only for moment; the
next, sea, sky and ship were lit up by a
violet glare, while azigzag line of fire, so
| intense that the eyes ached at it, flashed,
and left the gloom more profound than
ever. And again came that awful thun-
der, compared with which the loudest
ever heard in Europe is a whisper. That
moment of fierce light revealed to me men
in the rigging taking in the sail which had
been spread to catch the slightest breeze;
and spar hanging awkwardly and all
awry. Also MacNab and the mate who
now acted as Captain standing near me-
eve shall never be able to manage
without help, we are so terribly under
handed" said the latter.
"Weel, then," replied MacNab, 1--WE
will pick half dozen OF the deevlls, nae
more. One, ken, has been sailor, and
Another flash and deafening roar, which
drowned his voice.
"Eh, Mr.. Glover, lad," he said, when
the lull came, "are we there? Ye had
better just go below. Your work is done
and ours is beginning. There will be
breeze enow to blaw the fever away pres
emily, and we will be in the way"
I had often determined, if there were a
storm, to remain on deck and see it; the
freshness of the air, too, was delightful to
breathe; but fatigue overcame all else
and I was glad to take MacNab's advice
Imagine what [ had gone through that
week in such climate, with patients dy-
ing by dozens IN my youthful hands, many
of whom, [ felt, could have been saved
with better nursing, and you will notwon-
der at my prostration.
AS I reached the cahin-stairs the rain
came down in sheets; there was a boom
ing, roaring sound; the ship heeled over
and raced through the water as the storm
came down upon her. A flash of light
ming showed me that the sea was already
white with foam.
] went below, made hearty meal OFT
some salt beef and biscuit / found on the
table, drank stiff glass of rum and
water, and turned into my berth to renew
my nap, WEAKNESS drowning the sense of
danger.
How long slept, or what happened in
the time, | do not know. When awoke
the ship was rolling heavily, and there
was continuous, ominous sound. thud,
thud, thud, thud, accompanied with the
pouring of water, which caused me to hur-
ry ON deck, where scene of terrible con-
fusion met my eyes, for it was broad day
light. A mast had gone, the deck was lit
tered with cordage and broken woodwork.
All was confusion, authority in allegiance;
convicts, sailors, marines were mixed up
together, hurrying to and fro, OF working
at the pumps. The gale had abated, was
dying out in fact, but there was a leak
which could not be discovered, though, in
consequence of the number of hands to re-
lieve one another in pumping, the water
did not gain upon US. Finding was not
wanted there, went below again to at
tend upon Phipps, who had been left |
knew not how long, and was too weak to
help himself much. The fever had left
him, but he was low and Responding, and
asked me to read the Bible to him, which |
did.
down, and went into the saloon out OF
which our private cabins opened to speak
to him. I found him loading his pistols.
'sThe leak has been found and stopped"
he said, {" but dinna like the look OF the
convicts; some of them haze got arms, |
fear me-"
While he was speaking shouts and shots
were heard above, and he rushed to the
cabin stairs, I following him. Directly
we reached the deck we saw body of
convicts coming aft headed by Williams,
who had musket in his hands.
1.-THE game is up, Lieutenant" he
cried; 'you had better surrender"
MacNab's answer was a pistol shot;
Williams staggered but recovered himself,
leveled his musket, fired, and MacNab fell
dead in my arms. In moment | was
knocked down, bound and thrust aside to
be a helpless spectator of crimes l could
not move a finger to prevent. Some of
the ruffians rushed down the cabin-stairs
and returned dragging poor Phipps with
them. With brutal jests they bore him to
the lee bulwarks, one took his shoulders,
another his feet, and they tossed him alive
into the sea- All the sailors or marines
who were sick, or had been wounded in
the struggle, were in like manner thrown
overheard; the remainder were gathered
together in a body, and Williams, who
had evidently been elected chief, made
them speech, offering them their lives #
they would join them heartily. Most of
them shrank from the horrible death be-
fore them, and acceded, but corporal of
marines stood firm.
You will all be taken and hanged
within month, he boldly said, "and
had sooner drown with honest men than
swing with thieves and murderers''
The words were hardly out ofhis mouth
when he was shot dead.