Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-01-30
EST VIRGINIA SATURDAY, JANUARY so 1875

sooner realized my helplessness than
an uncomfortable terror took possession
of me, v lille horrible doubts and fears
came crnwding into my brain. Surely
they would not desert me surely they
had not forgotten me pulled madly
at the cord once more, and glancing up
perceived that there was something
steadily resisting my efforts from the
masthead bove.
Twas it some monster who was play
ing with my rope some great fish
who was holdingit in his jaws In my
desperation Threw my whole weight
|upon it, and-it gave way, and fell
slowly, silently on the deck at my feetl
The ragged, fraved ends which had be-
come entangled in the rigging, we're in
my hands, AMI the upper half of the
rope had foated far away with the
tide,
II was alone at the bottom of the sea,
with no means of signaling my distress!
The India-rubber he, which was my
only means of breathing, was yet left to
me; but as soon as they should begin
to wind in the ropes and tube, on some
supposed signal from me, it would snap
in two, and the waters would come in
upon ms.
III need not tell you ofthe Wild terror
which took possession of me you could
not appreciate it. knew the men were
close to me-only thirty yards above
yet / must die because / could not
reach them /, raving like madma an.
tried to tear my armor from me, but its
iron rivets held me fast shouted
piteously, uselessly, through the ST.
lent waters, my cry gong no further
than the wall ofmy helmet Twas be-
sides myself in my awful terror. tried
to pray, but ] could not control my
maddened brain.
fell upon the deck at last, exhausted
in an omineus stapor--a sullen des-
| pair--and sank into uncor sciousness
| When l recovered l was calm-prayer
came to my lips and with it peace
full resignation to my heart.
'Iclosed nv eyes quietly, and waity
| ed for death | was powerless to defer.
| Waited for it with my head laid on my
arm as / used to sleep in the dear old
| days at home. Waiting quietly for its
coming, praying God that it might
come gently and asking that l might
| fall into Inconsistencies when it was
| near at hand.
Was / crazed 4? Was I mad, or was
| ments / had laid quiet bat moment
when / started nd in terror, uttering a
cry--a weak, miserable cry, which died
on my lips as sank again on the deck
and closed my eyes to terrible sight
| before me.
II had left the cabin door open, and
freed the imprisoned dead men. One
of the dead sailors had foated up to
| the deck, and by some horrible chance
the tide bore him directly toward me-
Was L to die surrounded or co more by
those CHASTITY sentinels as death
watch.
HE was borne slowly along on the
current, his eyes wide oper in an awful
stare, his arms outstretched, as though
to embrace me, welcoming me to the
unknown world. fell prostate on the
deck in my terror, but he hoated on
slowly, the tide casting him up against
me, when he fell at my side.
II caught him, in my desperation, to
fling him from me, but his arms closed
tight about me in an iron embrace, and
his face was close to mine-the face of
Lott, the diver, who had come down
through the water to save me, and in
whose stout arms l was borne up, and
carried insensible to the boats above.
"Wesaw what was wrong right away,
my dear boy" he said to me afterward,
''when the ragged end of your rope float
ed to the surface. There was only one
way Of reaching you, old fellow, and
can tell you we flew around lively. We
had no bell to go down to you in, so we
just fastened some weights to my feet and
ropes to my arms took a rubber mouth
piece between my teeth and dropped over
board. The water oppressed me iearfully,
and couldn't have stood it more than q
few minutes. In that few minutes found
you, old fellow, caught you in my arms,
and signaled them to haul up mighty
quick. | couldn't have stood it much
longer, dear boy, for it was killing me-"
81 took his dear hands into mine, and
looked into his good, honest eyes. With
a swelling heart told in such words as
could, of my gratitude for his heroic eff
forts when he came down through the wa
tiers at ths risk Of his own life to save
mine.