The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-15
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
[From the New York SHn.l

John Graham, a stout, rosy-taced
Ohiean, twenty one years of age, ship
ped as an able-bodied seaman in the
bark Eliza Mclaughlin, for Antwerp,
on Saturday last The bark sailed on
Tuesday. During the days that inter
vened, Graham found himself among Il
pleasant crew, and thought the officers
inclined to be fair. But before the pilot
and tug quit the bark at Sandy Hook,
On Tuesday evening, he hal taste Of
the officers brutality; for while the pilot
was yet on board, Capt. Dennis let his
tongue loose, and the first mate strp OK
than even that used by the Captain
Graham saw the mate strike first Nor
wegian and then n Frcnchman, and when
the mate, a brawny Englishman, caught
him looking, he said, with an angry
oath, 'Jack, what kind OF ship do you
want this to be 2" Graham made no re-
ply, but shipmate said he hoped it was
good one. "Well, you'll find it ain t,
damn you," said the mate. After the
many of the crew kicked and beaten by
the mate, and heard himself and all the
others cursed repeatedly. He had been
aloft, and was stepping on deck, when
the mate, from behind him, struck him
in the eye, and would have hit him again
had he not sprung out of reach. 81
would like to hear the rules and regula-
tions of this ship before I am punished, :"
said Graham; 81 promise to obey them"
''Damn you !" the mate said "you1l
learn them before you cross. I'll teach
them to you"
'"There's one of us you won't teach
them to-" Graham replied, as the mate
turned away
At 10 O'Clock, nearly all hands being
below in the forecastle, Graham shook
the hand Of each Of his shipmates and
bade them goodbye. Then he ran on
deck, seized the forecastle steps, and
throwing them overheard, plunged into
the ocean after them. He had GeteIm-
ined to risk his life alone at sea, rather
than cross the ocean under such officers.
As he clutched the steps and foated past
the stern of the bark the second mate
looked over at him, but did not say
word to either Of the crew or the Off
GERS. The night was dark, and Graham
was fifteen miles from land.
There was no wind, but the water rose
and sank with heavy swell, and when
Graham was at the top of a wave he was
s,oie to see the ight-ship, or rather its
light. He strove to reach her, holding
to the steps with his hands and swim
ming with his feet but the current was
against him, and he soon gave up the
effort. He was being borne toward land
but he feft the chill Of the water ard the
night air so strongly that he doubted
his ability TO hold out to reach the shore
a small sailing ship passed him close to
the southwark. He shouted again and
again, but no one heard him. Then q
steamship that he had watched from the
time that she was black speck on the
horizon, grew larger and larger, and
passed so close to him that he had to
look up to see the top of her high black
sides. Again he screamed until his
breath gave out, and again was left be-
hind.
Graham's hands became numb, his
body chilled through, and one leg was
seized with cramps. With painful exer-
ton he managed to pull himself upon
the steps in such manner that only his
arms and legs were in the water. He
knew that in a short time the current
would change and carry him further ont
to sea. an hour or more passed, and
pilot boat 10 hove in sight and bore
down on him, and he shouted so feebly
for help that his heart sank at the sound
of his own voice.
''Keep your courage, my man" said
voice from the pilot boat "we'll have
you aboard in a minute"
A boat was lowered and Graham was
rescued. He was helpless when he
reached the dock. Cramps had stiffened
both arms and one leg, and cold and
hunger had robbed him of the power of
speech. It was o'clock on Wednesday
morning when he WAS rescued. Cant.
Wolf, who was i'll command Of the pilot
boat, had the half-drowned youth ur-
dressed, rubbed warm and put to bed.
On the next morning he was able to tell
his story. He arrived al Quarantine at
4 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
cit was nothing said he, in reference
to his exploit, compared with what !
should have experienced under the bru-
tai mate. II [ had been drowned I
shonld have had, an easier death than to
have been killed by that fellow
A