Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-11-01

FIRST LOVE AND LAST LOVE-.
BY BLUE JACKET.

FlkSI IUVI AMI uAO4 uo Viz
BY BLUE JACKET.
"What shall il be tonight, Harry-a les
son in astronomy, or yarn :" and the DARK
bearded bronzed faced seaman stroked the
curly hair belonging to his favorite nephew
with an affectionate pressure. The little TEL
low had been named after his sailor uncle,
who INDUCED his every whim and fancy, des-
pite the growing, as he expressedit, ofyoung
Harry's mother. -,
20. we'll have yarn, Uncle Hal-a wild,
exciting Notwithstanding about your
own self"
"Humph, youngster, you've nearly run me
ashore on that tack; but let me think mo-
ment." .r.
"Now, Harry, will not have you filling
that boys head with nonsense he thinEs OF
nothing hut shipwrecks, gales Of wind and ab'
surd, improbable events that | verify believe
originated in your own prolific imagination.
/ have never believed word of your stories.
You make them up as you 60 along.
"Take round turn, madam, with your oo-
iections, or you'll have none to spare Tor the
next occasion. You have cast an asperslon
upon nv veracity as sailor, which l assure
YOU has not the slightest foundation. But to
calm your fears, ri spin you yarn this
evening; a personal adventure, as boy aar-
~ there requested. And as you have often
asked me why did not settle down ashore
and oct spliced to some taut, saucy craft, the
warn am about to reel of will explain Why
1 prefer to sail through life without con-
Sort"
"You will not draw upon your imaglna'
ton? -,
20, belay your nonsense. l am IN earnest
"And there is some love in it"
"Ay, madam, and dash OF tragedy "i'n-
al"
"Then I'll promise to listen in silence.
"What blessing, for your tongue needs a
spell. Let me see yes, it was full sixteen
wears ago that had the command offs little
craft called the Scud She was topsaii
schooner, clipper build, we'll armed, and was
engaged in an illegal trade. In other words,
she was an opium smuggler. 1t was before
the English government compelled the Celes.
tial emperor to legalize the wholesale impor'
tation of the pernicious drug so extensively
cultivated in India.
"The beautiful little craft was owned oy an
influential, opulent firm transacting business
at Hong Kong, who had every confidence in
nv tact and ability to carry on successfully
the somewhat dangerous portion OF their nus, 3,
iness. I had left headquarters with full
cargo beneath the matches, with Instructions
to dispose of it along the coast: Now the
navigation along the coast of China is ex'
tremely intricate, owing to the numerous
unknown rocks, shoals and sand-bars that
abound. and no mention of which is made
upop the charts. Then again the strong cur
rents that prevail add to the dangers of sail
ing along that iuhospitable coast.
II had been favored by an extremely good
run of luck, having made sales at two points,
receiving in hard cash a profit more than
double the original outlay.
II happened to be the only white man
aboard that trip, my mate having stopped
over. with bad attack of chills and fever
Nv crew of Cinnamon were picked men, and
had proved their worth in more than one tus'
sic with the heavy timungs and Chinese wal
junks whom occasionally ran across. Ihe
lowder, fine specimen of Chinese sailor
was acting as pilot, and in remarkably con
tented frame of mind 1 walked the Scuds
deck smoking my evening cigar. 1t was
about nine o'clock, fine clear night with
wholesale breeze prevailing, before which We
we're dashing along at the rates Of ten knots
We were fully three miles distant from tht
land. nv mind free from all anxiety, the low
der having assured me that there was not th'
shadow Of danger to be apprehended from
shoals or reefs.
"The breeze blowing along the land wa
constantly increasing, and l was on the poln
of reducing sail, when was saved the trouble
in very unexpected manner.
with yell that echoed far and wide, tn
lookout man stationed on the forecaste shout
"'Breakers ahead! Hard up!
"With terrible earnestness the warning ran!
in my ears, but before brace or rope coult
be manned, or a spoke of the wheel shifted
the feet, graceful Scud, had crashed, with ter
rifle force, upon a sunken rock. Her ligh
timbers were crushed in like so many pip
stems, the lofty spars snapped short off, ant
most of the crew perished in their narrow
confined quarters. .,
"The force of the shock hurled me wit
great violence across the deck, and for me
ment I lay bewildered. But the terribl
grinding of the timbers on the rough, jagge'
rocks, the crashing Of the spars, the excite
shouts of the native crew, and the dashlng
the waves, reused my partially benumbe
senses to full realization of the peril wa
in. The Scud was sinking rapidly, slippln
bodily off from the shelving side of the roc
as her shattered timbers worked clear tror
the sharp points of the reef. Snatching u
all oar that happened to be floating close b.
side me, ran to leeward, and sprang owe
the loS. rail into the dark foaming water
Had l jumped to windward, | should elthe
have been forced under the hull OF the wrec
or fallen into the cho,D-cho0 water rushin
with tremendous violence over the PARTIAL
exposed surface of the black beetling rock
II was strong, powerful swimmer an
pushing the oar before me, clung to 1t with a
nv strength as I felt the suction of the wate
closing over my beautiful but unfortuna
craft.
"Ouce clear of that danger, 1 abandone
the article as useless, and with strong. vigo
ous strokes struck out for the land, which,
rose on the bosom of the sea. loomed
dark and drear enough. | was not alone
nv struggle for life, as occasionally the eve
changing, shifting waves would disclose he
and there dark spot. But at short int
walls my ears would be greeted by strau
sound, distinguishable above the bowling
the gale, which recognized as the 'bubblll
cry of some strong swimmer in his agony.
II passed through several tide.rpp!es, t
thick spray from which, mingled with the hi
tonnl;no waves. flew over me so densely as