The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-04-18

down she would 90 again. Great horn
spoon didn't it blow 10 those squalls
"Wben it got TO be broad daylight We
saw something on the after bitt that was
above water-part of the time-snd Q
young Irishman, who had not been hurt
in the turn over, ~ most were, volun-
teered to find out what it was, and l
want you to believe me when l say it
was the steward, who had chung to y
piece of the wreck with death grip
through the long, terrible fight. We
got him up whore the rest of rs were If.
ter while, and brought him to his
senses, and he 10 now hourishing as
steward of lake steamer.
"The funny part Of it was, the sea
washing over nearly stripped 10 of our
clothing, and as the hurricane died away
there came an occasional sQuall, which
cut into "a poor devils, to say nothing
of the chafing Of tho ropes by which We
were lashed, and We very frequently
went under the salt water with our raw
skins, or rather lack of skins, and it was
warm, tell you!
"People 60 to Cape May, Long Branch,
Old Orchard Beach, ETC., to battle in salt
water. Excuse me! suppose you can
understand that this part of the pro-
gramme was full of interest to US. After
. dozen times trying she righted. You
see, when q ship is full of water she
don't get on her legs easily. She came
up slowly, luckily for us,as We we're not
very lively, and we managed to get on
tho poop deck, where We were compare
lively free from water though we didn't
dare to leave it, as the sea still ran
high.
| "Next morning We instituted q search
for water and provisions. We found q
barrel OF salt beef, but no water, the
casks having been stove by tho sea.
"Now, you may picture to yourself, if
you can, our situation. Three hundred
miles from land, wsterlogged, the stump
of one mast standing, but no sail left.
'wsier, water everywhere. but net drop to drink
"You see," said the old captain, who
evidently took mo for literary man,
"I've read q book or two," at the same
tlme giving me poke in tho ribs which
made me catch my breath.
"Well, in the afternoon slight sun
squall dropped down little water.
We got small piece of canvass, which
had, fortunately, caught in the lee main
Rigging, and stretched it, and, after the
salt was partially washed out, we each
laid on our backs, and some one else
holding down tho center of the canvass,
had refreshing drink. TheD came on
another night, and during that time the
sea became almost entirely smooth.
"Next morning, you may DO sure, we
were all awake early looking for sail,
with the fact staring rue whether it did
others or not in the TACO that the ocean
hurricane. What should we see but o
smoke! I had read in Piddington's
Law of Storms that ships were often
carried vastly out of their recko ning by
the storm wave,' and hoped had been,
and that saw the smoke Of Missis-
sippi steamer"
"The steamer came nearer. We saw
her alter her course, and gave as near
cheer as could be expected from men in
our situation. She came nearer, and
having been in tho navy, recognized q
man O. war. Now l Was sure of being
saved, and l do believe there wasn't a
gratitude to God for our deliverance,
except myself, mind. Perhaps folt it
a. much as any of them, but l amt baby
"The ship proved to be tho Brooklyn,
on her way from Pensacola to New
York, with the best captain that God
ever made-that's old Farragut."
l noticed my old friends voice did
tremble little at tho last very ener-
getic exclamation, and l allowed him
to puff away at the cigar-which had
gone out long since-a few minutes in |
silence, and then l asked him what he |
thought most of while on the bottom of
the wreck.
"What did most want! Why, some |
cotton to stuff into my ears to keep the |
water out. You've no idea how much |
We suffered from having our ears filled
with water every two or three minutes
and when she would come out, bless you,
it gave such an unearthly sound, With |
the roaring of the sea and wind. I'd q
given finger for . lump of cotton as
big - this cigar"
dis that all the story :" said
"Why yes. What moro do you want?
with Captain Farragut-I shall always
call him so-in charge of me, Of course
got into the Key West oil right.
al do remember" said be, after q
pause, "something moro. The next day
after the captain took us in tow, the
masthead who had orders TO keep
sharp lookout, reported something he
could not make out on the stsrboard
bow. The captain altered the course Of
the ship, and as We passed il, We saw
the wreck Of . boat, to the rising of
which were still 10 DO seen lashings
which had certainly been made by ship
wrecked men, holding an arm fast to
the boat, which was full Of water, while
their bodies were overheard. noticed
one handkerchief which belonged TO q
lady. Their ship had sunk. Their story
will never be told. Sharks had got
them, probably. There was no other
signs of human being. and We left il
on the broad ocean. Well, tho captain
towed me to of Key West, saw me
safely in charge of another, and then,
with his trumpet, asked:
"Can do anything for your"
"If had said Yes, he could get me
80 a.. k.,ko, 40 h.I,>v> ~ -ncII