The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-14

their lashings, dead, for not soul could
do them turn.
l was holding on by the shrouds when
the mate got to the shippers side, and
l saw in his blank white face what he
was telling him. Of course we couldn't
hear his words in such a storm, but we
didn't want to, for his lips said plain
enough
"She's sinkingp'
Next moment there was a rush made
for the boats, and two of the passengers
cut loose couple of the women; place
was made for them before the first boat
was too full, and she was lowered down
and cast off, and a big wave carried her
clear of the steamer. / saw her for a
moment on the top of the ridge, and
then she plunged down the other side
out of my sight = and that of everybody
else; for how long she lived, who can
say? She was never picked up or heard
of again.
Giving a bit of cheer. our chaps
turned to the next, and were getting in
when there came wave like noun
| tain, ripped her from the davits, and
when shook the water from my eyes,
there she was hanging by one end, stove
in, and the men who had tried to launch
her gone-skipper and mate as we'll
There were only seven of us now, and
could see besides the three women
lashed to the side, and only one of them
was alive; and for bit no one moved,
everybody being stunned-like with hor-
ro1; but there came a lull, and feeling
that the steamer was sinking under our
feet, shouted out to the boys to come
on, and we ran to the last boat, climbed
in, and were casting off, when / hap
pened to catch sight of the women lashed
under the bulwarks there.
"Hold hardr' I roars, for 1 saw one
of them wave her hand.
"Come on, you fool % shouts my mate
she's going down."
pray / may never be put to it again
like that, with all a mans selfish de
sire for life fighting against him. Fol
moment shut my eyes, and they be
gan to lower; but was obliged to ope1
them again, and as I did SO saw a white
scared face, with long wet hair clingins
round it, and pair of little white handI
were stretched out to me as if for help
"Hold hardI" I shouts.
"No, no." rOared two or three, ther,
} isn't moment;" and as the boat wa
being lowered from the davits l made
jump, caught the bulwarks with m,
hands, and climbed back on board, Jus
as the boat kissed the water, was un
hooked, and foated away.
) Then as | crept, hand-over-hand, +
, the girls side, whipped out my knife
3 and was cutting her loose, while her wea,
arms elung to me, [ felt horrible fee
| ing of despair come over me, for tn
f boat was leaving us; and | knew what
| coward L was at heart, as | had to figh
( with myself so as to not to leave the gin
S to her fate and leap overheard to swir
!, for my life. | got the better of
though-went down on my knees so q
t not to see the boat, and got the poor tren
e bling, clinging creature loose.
!. Now, my lass" I says, "quick"-
e and ] raised her up" hold on by th
It side while Imake fasta rope round you.
S "And then stood up to hail the boz
O the boat as warn't there, for in thos
II brief moments she must have capsize'
e and we were alone on the sinkir
a steamer, which now lay in the trough
h the sea.
d As soon as 1 got over the horror of tt
feeling, sort of stony despair can
IS over me? but when I saw that pale a.
e pealing face at my side, looking to n
It for help, that brought the manhoo
,, back, and in saying encouraging thin,
2 to her did myself good.
My first idea was to make somethiI
n that would float us, but / gave that I
" directly, for l could feel that was hel
4 less; and getting the poor girl more in
a shelter, took bit Of tobacco in a so
I of stolid way, and sat down with CO..
ST life buoy over my arm, one which b;
sr cut loose from where it had hung forge
+ ten behind the wheel.
e. But l never used it, for the storm we
IN down fast, and the steamer foated sti
70 waterlogged, for three days, when ,
r were picked up by passing vessel, ha
t. starved, but hoping. And during tn
,e time my companion had told me tn
10 she was the attendant of one of the la,
N passengers on board; and at last
g parted at the Cape, she kissed my hal
a and called me her hero, who had say
Ill her life-poor grimy me, you know.
to We warn't long, though, before
th met again, for somehow we'd settled til
ed we'd write; and twelvemonth afi
se Mary was back in England, and my wi
m That's why l said I took her like out
by the hands of death, though in a self
sort of way, being far, you know, fro
ou perfect. But what I say, speaking
rs, Edward Brown, stoker, is this: Max,
,e- good fight of it, no matter how bla
en- things look, and leave the rest to Hi