The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-25
Lost Overheard.
A Fearful Adventure NJ Sea.

A Fearful Adventure NJ Sea.
It was towards the last of December,
1854, that the good ship Atlanta, of seven
hundred tons burthen, commanded by
Captain Elbridge Gerry Colby, of Salisbury
Mass, (than whom nobler man or better
sailor never commanded ship, was
bound from New Orleans for Liverpool,
loaded with cotton. She was in mid-ocean
about half passage over, and the incident
I am about to relate happened in the
middle watch, about two o'clock in the
morning. Captain Colby was standing
the secOud mates watch for him, he being
sick below with fever. The night was
squally, with rain. They had clewed up
the light sails and sent men aloft to fLrl
them. When the men came down from
the fore-top- gallant yard, they reported
the rc,top- gallant mast sprung. Captain
Colby started aloft to sec for himself the
extent of the damage.
Finding the mast would have to be
sent down, he gave the orders to have the
fore-top-gallant stay and the back stays
come up with. Meanwhile he was get
ting the fore-top. gallant yard ready to
be sent down. When the stay was let
! 60 it caused the mast to jerk back aft
with such quick force as to throw Cap
tain Colby off. He fell abaft the topsail
yard, struck on the toreyard down for
ward the toresail, overheard, into the sea
to the lee side. He told me that he re-
membercd in falling that there was no
officer on deck; he went down, down ap-
parently to great depth, but not so far
as he thought, for when he turned and
came to the surface he was right under
the lee quarters of the chip and going
rapidly astern. He had all his senses
about him, although badly injured, and,
with the quick, intutitivc perception of
an experienced seaman, he called out
with all his powers to the man at
the wheel, "Hard down your
helm! Throw the life-buoy overheard ~
The life-buoy, a Liverpool one, was a
circle of canvas, double, and filled with
cork. Most people on seaboard have
seen them, they being behind the man at
the wheel, on the roundhouse ready for
Use.
The man guick-wittcd and quick
motioned one, put the ships helm hard
down. as ordered from the water, and
quickly caught the life-buoy from its
place and threw it with all his force to
his captain, then out of sight astern. Who
that does not believe in the care and pro-
violence of God watching over all, let
him explain the fact. The light IN the
pinnacle that lights the compass hung
high enough to throw its halo astern,
lighting a small space with its dim light
in the ships wake. Int this magic cir
Gle Of not more than two feet in circum.
ference fell the life-buoy. Captain Colby
was good swimmer. He watched with
such intense interest Gas only a man
could whose life hung on so small a
chance the receding ship, and tried to
sec the buoy strike the water. He saw
it in that ray of light that alone shone
upon the water, and he determined to
make all possible effort to reach it.
Divesting himself of his overcoat, boots
and heavy clothing, he swan in the di-
rcction he saw tie buoy strike. Three
times tie seas broke over him, the last
QUE overwhelming and almost strangline
him. Injured as he was, and almost strue-
Cling against hope in his apparently lost
condition, he was almost giving up, but
the thought of the dear wife in the cab
in, and the loved ones at home, nerved
him to a further and prolonged effort,
and God granted him the boon he asked
lor-the life buoy.
He came within its reach, and was for
the time being saved. Putting it over
his head and extending his arms above i.
his first act was to return thanks to God
for his mercy. He Low hoated upon the
waters in utter darkness, waiting for
what mi ght come to save him. He told
us he never doubted being saved, and
standing on the deck of his ship again
He said, II knew had men there who
would do and dare all that men could do
to save me-" Results showed that his
faith in his fellow-men was we'll placed,
and nobly was it answered.
Turn we now to the Atlanta. Let us
digress for moment to say that years
before, when Captain Colby vas second
officer Of the ship Walter Scott, CON-
mandcd by Captain Thompson, OF Ports
mouth, she was struck by lightning in
the gulf stream, when loaded with cotton.
While under close-recfed topsai!s, wind
blowing gale, the ship was quickly en-
veloped in flames, driving the crew and
one lady passenger to the boats, which
we're lowered in safety; provisions and
water were put in them, which were all
ready, for Captain Thompson having had
a similar experience before, had his boats
always ready for an emergency, and So
the crew were saved. This lesson was
not lost on Captain Colby. His boats
were always ready for immediate use,
and to that fact he was probably indebt-
ed for his life on this occasion. He had
some preparation Of his own for the in
Simultaneous lowering of a boat. When
the captains fall from aloft occurred, the
steward shouted down into the cabin.
The captains overboard!"
Captain William II. Merrill, then the
sick second mate below, whose watch
Captain Colby had been standing, sprang
upon Geek, sick as he was, with no cloth
ing but his shirt, jumped into a quarter
boat, calling for volunteers. Ordering
the boat instantly lowered, he went out
into the darkness to find if possible the
lost captain - one of the most dangerous
things seeman may be called upon to
do, for those who go to sea know how
soon an object, even large ship with
! Oil SAIL set, may DC lOst TO sight. This
gallant man took his seat on thwart, OF
seat to he high above water, to see as
tar as possible-looking for and lis
tcnlng to hear the voice of the captain
with all his powers; and once, when the
boats crew, feeling their own lives in
peril from being separated so far from
their ship, insisted upon turning back
| and leaving the caDtain to his sad fatn
Mr. Merrill unshipped the tiller, threat
cning to brain the first man who flinched
or mentioned such thing again. I'm
naturally nerved by bis noble impulse,
and rising above the prostration of sick
ness, God crowned his efforts-his can
tain was saved. Taken on board his ship
again, he soon recovered to make glad
the heart of his wife, who feared that he
was gone from her forever.
Captain Colby some years since passed