Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-09-12

my shipmates had all disappeared,
nor was anything to be seen or
heard, either of them or the boat.
a light spruce pole and a paddle
were dashed i'll my way, and I
secured them by cutting holes
with my sheath-knife and planting
them, like masts, in the blubber
of the whale, but these were all
that could find. The waif set in the
whale by Mr.. Andrews, stood in
place, and this was important, as
it might be the means of the ship
finding me, could l keep alive
where / was till daylight. Within
half an hour after | secured me
landing upon the floating island
the squall was all over, and the
wind again settled down to o
steady moderate breeze. The
heavens were clear overhead, and
as light as it could be on a
moonless night. But where were
my comrades ? And, of more vital
Importance yet to poor me, where
was the DruidY
Light ho!' / actually sung
out the words, as / had just spit
half pint or less of brine from
my mouth, and shaking my eyes
clear, they rested upon a bright
light directly in the winds eye
from me. Then there was q blind.
ing flash, and the report of the
Druid's old carriage gun thunder
ed forth, so near as to be startling,
and | roared with all the voice at
my command, which was not much,
hoping to make myself heard
More light, fierce flame, evident
ly nearing me. Soon | could make
out tie ships sails in the imme-
diate glare of the light, and then
the whole outline of the stern old
craft.
My lungs were strained to their
utmost power, for my only chance
of safety depended upon attract
ing their attention before they
should sweep on beyond me. If
left astern unknown to them, there
was little or no hope of salvation.
Bnt sharp eyes were on the elert,
below, and aloft, for they had found
the whales "slick," and were fol-
lowing it down. My outcry was
heard, and the ship brought rapid
ly up in the wind, while two boats
were dropped into the water and
manned as quickly as eager men
could accomplish it. never re-
laxed my cries until one of the
boats was near enough for the
crew to see the waif, and set up
their answering shout. | was
pulled by strong arms from my
cramped position into the boat of
Captain Gibbs, who, seemingly ex-
cited almost to insanity, had come
himself on this errand of rescue.
My story, which / told in as few
words as possible, excited them
still more. We shot alongside, and
| was helped up to the deck, while
he was issuing all sorts of urgent
orders.
All three boats were soon down
with directions to "spread their
chances" and to search thorough
ly every "foot of ground" or sea
as they went. A set of signals
were rapidly agreed on, and the
ship-keepers had their orders is
sued faster than they could take in
their meaning. AS the captain
sprang down the side again into
the boat, l overheard him say in a
low, bitter tone:
"God help me! Why did do
itp
And God did help him. Within
an hour, the reports of three
muskets from the boats told us
the lost ones were found; and
strange to say all alive, though
well-nigh exhausted. The boat
had filed and rolled bottom up,
but all succeeded, in climbing upon
her bottom, through the SUPER
human efforts of Mr.. Andrews,
who, all said, appeared TO take little
care of his own life, so that he
could save the others. The
stronger supported the weaker
ones, and kept them upon the
boats bottom I; but the preserva-
ton of the whole crew seems TO
me miraculous, when / think Of it
at this present writing.
The old colored beatsteerer,
Beers, was almost gone, being, in
fact, quite insensible when help
arrived.
When the first excitement was
over, saw the captain take Mr..
Andrews aside, and / heard words
which ! could not make ont, but
his voice seemed ehoked with
emotion, and they stood grasping
each others hands for some time,
as il their whole souls were in the
act. A bond Of brotherhood was