The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-17

llatiDg the chances III SV"i . -, ~ ,,o,,
view You can hoist me lohe o, Cav o"' ~ ~, ~
iike and take four OF the boys for crew 10
null you IN her. She will burn down 10 INC
wotay.s edge If YOU walt for us to get mere,
T, 10 Growing calm all the time, ana 10 tell
,ho truth Mr., Watkins, | would advise you
70 hear a hand and get back as soon as possi'
ble for don't like the looks of the weather
The air is hot and oppressive ike
ain ten minutes | had the long boat over
the aide, and n stout weathery craft she was,
ton bag of biscuits, with beaker OF wa
fer. was slowed away in the stern sheets, ana
bidding the lads to give way with VIII, we
showed off from the sides of the old brig. l
saw the tall, bent form Of Capt. Thompson
peering down upon me for moment. out the
next instant the boat rose on the bosom OF
swell, and that was the last ever saw Oh my
old skipper. IT,, IT,,
"The brig quickly faded from sight, ma
by a thin mist, or haze which had suuCeniy
arisen, and, in fact, | was conscious OF
strange change IN the appearance OF inc "ca'n'
or The stars had entirely disappeared from
the armament, hid behind the gauzy veil
which had so mysteriously arisen, and low
down on the horizon I noted dark bank OF
clouds. The heat was intense, the stout sea
men wiping the perspration from lheir
streaming brows as they toiled at thelr oars
Not a breath of air disturbed the CLASSY wave
all nature appeared TO be hushed into q Ter
rible calm. ,;.o
AZ must confess felt rather apprehensive
ss 7 glanced about the horizon and looked
hack in the direction where l knew the ola
b il must be, rolling and pitching idly on tue
long swell, which every moment was lncreas
ing. But my fears and apprehenslons were
soon chased from my head by matters OF more
exciting interest
"As we neared the burning craft read the
name of La Hembrilla, IN letters OF gold, on
the huge stern. The light cast by the ourn'
ing spars and rigging aloit AFFORDED ample
power for me to form my conclusions.
1.-THE ship was a Spaniard; the empty ia
Wits, and dangling falls told their own story
plain enough TO seaman's eye
"Thc burning wreck had been aeserleu.
"Shoo,ing under the broad, heavy counter
we caught at the iron works OF the mIzzen
channels, and directing the two men to re-
main IN the boat clambered on decK, ioi-
lowed by the other two seamen.
"The ship had evidently been on fire some
time, the flames having full control OF the Tor.
ward portion OF the ship. The foremost had
gone by the board, the top.gallant forecastie
was seq of fire; the mainmast was already
lettering and | knew there was no time 10
lose. The smoke was dense and sitting, nut
az vet did not affect the extreme after portion
of the vessel. The deck was sirewn with rem
nants of provisions, half.Open cases, ana arti'
cles of clothing, but no trace OF human be-
ing could be seen.
"Diving down INTO the main cabin, when
was half filled with black, twisting smoke,
took a hasty glance about. The rich hang
ings. amendments, and Ornamentation sur
prised me, showing that the unfortunate snip
had been designed to carry passengers. Inc
sharp, shooting CLEANS Of wrlthing flames
from aloit penetrated through the broad SKY
light. tnging every object with rudy glare
From state room to state-room hurried,
but found them all empty until came 10 lhe
after one. There experienced some diihcul-
ty in opening the door, the smoke every mo-
ment becoming more dense ana respiration
more difficult. Exerting my strength, me
wood work gave way, revealing q confused
mass of white drapery lying on the state-room
floor. The very sight made my heart beat
quick with apprehension, and STOPPING,
soon ascertained that il was woman.
"Plac,ng my hand over her heart heard
1t throb, and without further delay rushed
on deck with her IN my arms. through the
| staggered, with strange
dizziness in my head, gasping for breath, but
still retaining my grasp on her | had saved
The fresh air revived me; the pain lett my
head, so that was enabled 10 pay proper at
,en,ou to the woman who lay helpless in my
arms
"Then, for the first time, looked at the
face of nv burden, and by the bright light OF
the wreck discovered she was both young
and handsome. At that moment the main.
mast went crashing over the side, sinking
with hiss in the black water A shower OF
cinders and sparks, a column of roaring
flames, shot on high, followed by the excited
shouts Of the men, who had leaped, panic
stricken, into the boat urging me to follow
"Claspng the lady with my left arm,
used my right in gliding down the ships side.
The mems oars were poised, l gave The
word, and the next instant we were clear or
the vessel, which was now wrapt IN ilames
from stem 10 stern.
Dashlng some water In the ladys face,
began to chafe her hands. The treatment
though rough had the desired effect, She
opened her eyes, closed them again as it the
awakening was painful but in aicw mon cnts
was folly herself In a few words told her
how she had been saved, and assured her that
IN "A short time she would be in safety on
board the brig.
"In return she told me that her father was
the Senior ose Gonzales, of Santos, the wealth.
lest planter in the country. She had been on
a visit to Spain, where her father had large
numbers of relations. aud had taken passage
fol- home in the Spanish ship.
"Thc Inflated vessel, by some means to her
unknown, had caught fire during the night.
A panic eusued, and, overcome by terror, she
tainted away Probably IN the excitement
and alarm which followed, her absence was
over looked, and when the boats showed of
from the ship, the Senorita Maria Gonzales
was left unconscious in her sta,e.room to
perish.
CHANGING around The horizon, could see
no sign of the brig Not the fash of light
betrayed the position OF the vessel But had
a compass with me, and noted the course
had steered while pulling for the burning
wreck II was not the fact of The brig being
invisible that caused me uneasiaeSs, but the
L novlaJrn that "A prpat pnnyul sIpn