Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-04
other followed them. Nick swung himself

other, I followed them. Nick swung himself
into the weather shrouds of the foremast, as
if be would climb up, and the Captain fol-
lowed and seized him. I must have also
leaped upon the rail, for when the schooner,
left to steer herself, broached to and shipped
a sea, we all went overheard together. re-
member of hearing yell of alarm from the
mate, who was coming up the companion way,
and shrek from the lookout, and then there
was ten feet of water above me. ... ..
The gale had come with burst, and the
Fox was badly caught The sea which knock
ed US overheard swept the decks, held her
down for moment, and just as I rose to the
surface her masts went over with crash.
But for that she must have capsized. The
big hull loomed up not over twenty feet away
as got the water out of ny eyes. l struck
out to reach her chains, but at the second
stroke was buried four feet under the curl OF
a wave, keeled end over end, and fought my
way up to find myself alongside of Captain
West, and the schooner way to leeward, and
driving faster than could swim.
"Save me! Save mel" screamed the Cap
tain, as I bumped against him.
There was wreck all around US, and as we
reached out for something to float US, both
seized the big cover of the main hatch. 1t
was big enoug to float six men. 1 felt pret.
ty safe as got my hand into one OF the iron
rings, and then sought for a rope to use as
lifeline The foremast, with all its cordage,
was Just ahead of US, and but the Captains
alarm, FIVE minutes work would have lashed
US to the float. While hanging to a ring he
suddenly screamed out:
"Kill him! Kill him! He's going to stab
mew
The captain was to windward Of me, and
as looked up I saw that Nick, the Swede,
was close upon him. The sailor was floating
in a perpendicular position, as if treading
water. Both arms were raised, and in the
right cleaned the sheath-knife. To avoid
the threatened blow the old man made an ef-
fort to climb upon the float. A wave broke
over us, turned the cover end over end, and
when we got above the foam again | was to
windward. Nick was floating at my right
hand and about ten feet away, and l called
to him to reach the float and save himself.
So far as I could discern he did not move
hand to reach u.s. The knife still cleaned in
his right hand, and his breast and shoulders
were above water as he fosted along with US.
We had parted company with the debris, the
ship was out of sight, and the only hope was
to hang to the ring.
Captain West acted like a lunatic. He
shouted at me, at Nick, and at the waves
around US, and in his efforts to crawl upon the
float he ended US over again. He no sooner
found Nick close upon him than he let 60 his
hold Oh the float, and thought he was gone,
but after about ten seconds he rose up beside
me and screamed, Keep him away-keep
him away!'
1t was little I could do to soothe him, with
the waves burying US every minute and the
float seeking to end over with every sea, hut
added my efforts to his and got him upon
the cover. He lay at full length diagonally
across it, one of his outstretched arms hold
ing to ring, and after had worked around
to his head the cover rode with the waves.
The gale now blew steadily, sweeping US
out to sea, and the night cleared up so that 1
could see about US. Nick maintained his po'
sition, and though l shouted at him repeated
lv he made no reply. As we were down in
the trough be was on the crest, and as we
were on the crest I could see his white face
and shining knife below. Thus we rode till
daylight came The last hour had been easy
riding I had spoken to the captain very
often, but he would not answer except by
groan. AS day broke the sight of his face
gave me an awful shock. 1t was blue-white.
His eyes we're open and CLASSY, his teeth set,
and his lips were covered with foam. He was
looking over my shoulder to windward as l
sought to rouse him. and in the dull gray of
the morning he sighted Nick following in our
wake. He blew the foam from his blue lips
into my face as he uttered a scream of ter
ror, and next instant he let 60 of the ring
and rolled off the cover like dead weight He
was out Of sight in an instant. l turned to
look for Nick, and there he was, riding the
same as during the night. / saw at the first
glance that he was dead. Eyes and mouth
we're closed, his long hair was matted around
his face, and the knife was held aloft with an
iron grip. 1t is strange why he did not sink,
but he foated as buoyantly as if he had life
preserver under his arms. Up and down, up
and down went with the long waves, and he
followed as if attached by line.
1t was nearly noon before Vessel calhe
near me. l had seen dozen Of them since
daylight, but they were too far away to hear
d shout. The sea was still heavy, and it was
only after a good deal of trouble that the
schooner Quickstep got me abosrd. Nick
was there, too, but the sailors refused to touch
the corpse. 1t bumped against the schooner
as the boat was hauled up to the davits, and
as she stood of on her course again the up
raised arms and cleaning knife were waved
as if in menace.-M. QUAD, in Detriot Free
Press.
A B1LLIoN.-Some curious statements and
calculations lately appeared in the London
Times correspondence as to the popular no.
tion of hi Oh numbers, such as millions, bill
lions and trillions. Mr.. Bessemer said that
he did not think any clear conception of
billion could be formed. Other correspon.