Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-05
For the SPECTATOR.
"Man Overheard =, ta r-
Man overheard !u

"Man overheard !"
This is one of the most startling, ex-
citing cries, that occasionally breaks the
monotony and stIrs the blood, calling
passengers and seamen to the deck of
| the, oeean steamer, whea thp thrilling
shoslt rings ont ON the air and through
the vessel, telling as it does that some
poor fellow, either accidentally or in
| tentionally, is overheard and struggling
| in the ocean.
We know o. an experience under this
head, (an Intentional one,) not to be
easily forgotten. eiIi
The good steamship California had
been five days out from New York. We
were in mid ocean, July 18th, sailing at
the good speed of thirteen knots an
hour 1t was the hour of noon, and we
were all assembled in the saloon at the
lunch table. Suddenly that terrible,
penetrating shout of "Man overboard!"
came to us. All were hushed into si-
lence for moment only. We knew
full we'll the dreadful meaning of the
cry, and with one accord rushed from
| the saloon and the scarcely tasted lunch
up on the deck. In this time the i'm
mense screw of our steamer had stopped,
and the huge strong ship that so re-
Gently had been hurrying along with SO
much speed laid idly in the great deep
waters. On the deck the excitement
of the occasion was confined to the
passengers. The officers and seamen
were busy in arranging the tackling
necessary to lower two of the life boats.
This was soon done, the sailors work
ing promptly by the quick, curt orders
of the officers. The unfortunate man
was seen several times by his different
com mpanions-for he was a seamap-af-
ter making the fatal plunge, caused by
the reckless desperation, the fearful in
sanity of the moment. g A1 c' Fv
The lowered boats, manned by men
of strong arms aud brave hearts, sped
away over the late track of the steamer
in the direction they supposed their re-
1t was thought he had either drifted OF
fioated Gf not suiclde) mile, or pos
sibly several miles, astern, considering
the rate of speed we were making when
; he was first seen overheard. We waited
an hour in anxious expectancy, when
the boats returned from their fruitiesi
search. The man 1Uds lost at sea.
The life boats were fastened up il
their proper places. The California
continued her journey with one ma,
less in her crew. There was suspen-
!, sion of all amusements on the ship fo
the day. The passengers were gloomy
: and depressed.
In the evening at tea-time, when W.
were again gathered at the tables in tn,
: saloon, the Captain, the noble com
mander of our gallant craft, requested
: our attention while he read letter tha
had been handed him by the mess-mat
of the lost man. This letter was date,
: sat Sea, July 11th," and directed t
Q his dear wife, who lived in Grennock
: Scotland, on the banks of the beautifu
> Clyde. He told her in this, his last let
9 ter, of all his troubles and trials by lam
T and sea; how he had failed to get worl
+, in New York how he was friendles
e and moneyless; and finally, how b
{ had re-shipped as common sailor t
work for his passage back to dear oil
e Grennock aud the loved ones. (All tn
9 golden visions of the American Eldora
D do had only been phantom of tn
: brain. horrible dream, with fearfu
a awakening to him. The letter, in con
a clusion, contained many messages 9
d love to his family, without any allusion
: the desperate and fatal act he was abou
b to commit. He wrote his name-I
: Furgusson-a the bottom of the shee
It gusson, Grennock, Scotland, and place
r it under the head-piece of his bunl
where it was found by his chum an
companion, who knew how depresse
If and despondent he was, but who nevt
{ once supposed he would do the ras
q deed he had done. This friend Of IL
n poor suicide saw him when he delibel
lr ately jumped into the deep blue waite
= of the restless, throbbing ocean; all i
v the wretched mood of moment, ruth
I. iessly destroying what was not his oao
y When our Captain concluded Il
le reading of this sad, sad letter, one of Il
u gentlemen present rose to his feet al
n proposed that concert be given in tt
d saloon the next night, and vOluntal
is admission fee be charged, the same
Is constitute fund to be sent to the fami
y of the late deceased. This propositie
o. received hearty approval. The cor
g. cert was held. aud the sum of fifty-tv
n dollars realized and given to the Ca