The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-03
RESCUED BY A PILOT BOAT.
A MONT or TERR0R IN THE OCEAN
orr THE LIGHTSHIP.
The Experience Of seaman who sprs ny
Overheard Far Out nj sea Rather than
EaiI Further under \ Rnmnn Eir.f Mae

The Experience Of Seaman who sprs M
| Overheard Far Out nj sea Rather than
| sail Further under n Ruman First Mste
John Graham, stout, rosy faced Ohioan
| u years OF age. shipped as an able bodied sea.
msn I'm the bark Eliza Mclaughlin for Antwerp
| on Saturday last. The bark sailed on Tuesday.
During the days that INTERVIEWED Graham found
himself among pleasant crew and thought tho
officers were inclined to be fair. But before the
pilot and tug quit the bark at Sandy Hook on
Tuesday evening, be bad q taste OF the officers
brutality; for while the pilot was yet on board
Capt. Dennis let bis tongue loose and the first
mate struck the men aud uttered fouier Ian
Rusge than even that used by the Captain.
Graham saw the mate strike first a Norweeia
and then FrenchmaD, and when the mate. a
brawny Englishman, caught him looking, he
said, with an ugly oath, Jack what kind of q
ship do you want this to be2" Graham made NJ
reply but shipmate said that he hoped 1t was
good one. "welI, yoa'il ind 1t aio't. damn
YOU" aid the mate. After the pilot aud the
tuc had gone, Graham saw many o. tho crew
kicked and beaten by the mate and heard him
sell and az the Others cursed repeatedly. He
mad been aloft, and was stepping on deck, when
eye aud would have bit bim again had he not
rules and regulations OF this ship before I am
punished" said Graham; II promise to obey
them"
them before you cross. I'll teach them to you
There's one o: US you won tteach. 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 hts shpmates and bade them pood-by. Then
he ran on deck, seized the fOrecaftle steps, and
,Sw'ns them ov1,eOs.S anSsd into tss
hts life alone at sea, rather than cross the ocean
under such ON cers. As he clutched the steps
and noated pact the stern OF tue bark, the sec
word TO either the crew or the other onncers.
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 able to see the light
holding to the steps with bis 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 ne felt the chill OF
the water and the night air so strongly that he
doubted his ability to hold out to reach the
shore. small sailing ship passed him close To
the southwark. He shouted again and again,
but no one heard him. Then steamship that
black speck on the horizon grew larger and
larger, and passed 80 close to him that he had 10
look up To see the top OF her high black sides.
Again he sore med until his breath gave out, and
again was left be hind.
Grahains hands became numb, hts body
chilled through aud one leg was seized with
cramps. VITA painful exertion he managed to
pull himself upon the steps In such a manner
that only his arns aud legs were In the water.
He knew that In short time tue current would
Change and carry MIN further out to sea. An
hour or more ~ ssed, and pilot boat 10 hove
In sight and bore down on hun, ind he shouted
so feebly for help that his heart sank at the
sound Of his own voice.
Keep your courage, my man." said a voice
from the pilot boat well have yor aboard In
minute
A boat was lowered and Graham was rescued.
He was helpless when he reached the deck.
Cramps had strened botn arms and one leg,
aud cold ana hunger had robbed him OF the
power Of sueerh. IL was two O'Clock OF We'd
nesday morning when ne Was rescued. Capt.
Wolf. VINO was In command Of the pilot boat,
had the half-urowned youth undressed. rubbed
warm and put TO bed. On the next morning ne
was ibie To tell his story He arrived at Quar-
nntine at four O'Clock Yesterday afternoon.
1t Was nothing" said he, ia reference TO his
exploit, compared with what | should have
experienced under that brutal mate. IL had
been drowned should have had easier dc 9TH
than ~ have been killed by that fellow"