Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-10-27

conditions the fever ragged, Deaths
were of daily, sometimes of hourly oc
currence; we soon had to cast the bodies
overheard without ceremony.
On the fourth day the captain ano
one of his mates sickened, and the shat
tered constitution of the former caused
him to sink at once Then Phipps took
the fever, and though it was mild at
tack, he was so feeble as to be unfit TO,
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 IN equality.
The sixth day was the most oppres
sive of all; it was literally difficult tc
draw breath, and though I escaped the
fever, [ was knocked up for the first
time. To do my work amongst the
dying and the dead was a physical i'm.
possibility for me; threw myself down
under the awning on the quarterback
and lost all consciousness; probably re-
manning in state of torpor for hours.
[ was reused by the most tremendous
crash have ever heard, and found my
self in darkness, but only for moment:
the next, sea, sky and ship were lit UP
by violet glare, while zizzag line Of
fire, SO intense that the eyes ached at
it, flashed, and left the gloom more pro-
found than ever. And again came that
awful thunder, compared with which
the loudest ever heard in Europe is a
whisper. That moment of fierce light
revealed to me men in the rigging, tax
ing in the sail which had been spread to
catch the lightest; and a spar hanging
awkwardly and all away; also MacNab
and the mate, who acted captain, stand
ing near me.
''We shall never be able to manage
without help. we are SO terribly Under
hand" said the latter.
"Weel, then, replied MacNab. eve
will pick half dozen of the deevils, nae
more. One l ken has been sailor,
and ="
i Another flash and deafening roar,
which drowned his voice
"Eh, Mr.. Glover, lad,' he said, when
the lull came, 'sare We there? Ye had
better just go below. Your work is
done, and ours is beginning There
| will be a breeze enow to blaw the fever
away presently, and we will be in the
way" sa u - saass
| had often determined, if there were
q storm, to remain on deck and see it;
the freshness of the air, too, was de-
hghtful to breathe, but fatigue over
came all else, and [ was glad to take
McNab's advice. Imagine what I had
gone through that week in such eli
mate, with patients dying by dozens in
my youthful hands, many of whom
felt could have been saved with better
nursing, and you will not wonder at my
prostratlon.
As | reached the cabin stairs the
rain came down in sheets; there was a
booming, roaring sound; the ship
heeled over and raced through the
water as the storm came down upon
her. A flash of lightning showed me
chat the sea was already white with
foam.
l went below, made hearty meal off
some salt beef and buscnit [ found on
the table, drank stiff glass of rum and
water, and turned Into my berth to re-
new my nap, WEAKNESS drowning sense
of my danger.
How long [ slept, or what happ ened
In the time. | do not know. When ]
awoke, the ship was rolling heavily,
and there was a continuous, ominous
sound, thud, thud, thud, thud, accom-
panied with the pouring Of water,
which caused. me to hurry on deck,
where scene of terrible confusion met
my eyes, for it was broad daylight. A
mast had gone, the deck was Uttered
with cordage and broken woodwork.
All was confusion, authority in abey-
ance; convicts, sailors, marines were
mixed up together, hurrying to and fro,
or working at the pumps. The gale
had abated, was dying out, in fact, but
there was leak which could not be dis
covered, though, in consequence of the
number Of hands to relieve one another
In pumping, the water did not gain
upon us. Finding I was not wanted
there, went below again to attend upon
Phipps, who had been left I knew not
how long, and was too weak to help
himself much. The fever had left him,
but he was low and despond. ng, and
asked me to read the bible TO him,
which did. TH4
After q time [ heard MacNab come
down, and went into the saloon, out of
which our private cabins opened, to
speak to him. I found him loading his
pistols. .'s5 #1
g The leak has been found and
stopped" he said; "but dinna like
the look Of tile 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 a musket in his
hands. IroH & n.gas;
.The game is up, lieutenant" he
cried; 6 you had better. surrender"
MacNab's ans wer was a pistol shot;
Williams staggered but recovered him
self, levelled his musket, fired, and
MacNsb fell dead in my arms. In
mement I was knocked down, bound
and thrust aside to be helpless spec
tatcr of crimes / could not move q fin