West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-05-04
A Fearful Adventure nj Sea.

seven hundred tons burthcu. commanded
by Captain Elbridge Gerry Colby. of
Salisbury, Mass. (than whom a noblcr
man or better sailor never commanded "A
ship, was bound from New Orleans for
Liverpool, loaded with cotton. She was
IN mid-ocean about half passage over.
aud the incident | am about 10 relate
happened in the middle watch. ahout
two O'Clock in the morning. Captain
Colby was standing the second mates
watch for him, he being sick below with
lever. The night was squally, with
rain. They had clewed up the light
sails and sent men aloft to furl them.
When the men came down from the fore
top-gallant yard, they reported the tore.
| top-gallant mast sprung. Captain Colby
started aloit To see for himself the cx-
tent of the damage. Finding the mast
would nave To be sent down, he gave or
ders To have the fore-top- gallant STAY
and the back stays come up with
Meanwhile he was getting the forc-top-
| gallant yard ready to be- sent down.
! When the stay was let 20 il caused the
mast To jerk back aft with such quick
force as tn throw Captain Colby of lie
Tell abatt the topsail yard, struck ON the
| toreyard down forward the forcsail.
overheard, into the sea To the lee side.
lie told me that he remembered i'm fall
ing that there was no officer ON deck he
went down, down, apparently 10 II
| great depth, but not so far rs he Thought,
FOR when he turned and came To the sur
lace he was right under the lee quarters
OF the ship and going rapidly astern. lie
had all his senses about him, although
badly injured, and, with the quick
lntultlNe perception of an experienced
seaman, he called out with all his
! power To the man at the wheel, "Hard
down your helm Throw the life-buoy
overboardV' The life-buoy, a Liverpool
one, was a circle of canvas, double. and
filled with cork. Most people ON sea
board have seen them, they being be
hind the man at the wheel on the
roundhouse, ready for use The man, "A
quick-witted and quick-motioncd one,
put the ships helm hard down, as
ordered from the water, and quickly
caught the life-buoy from it's place and
threw 1T with all his force to his captain,
then out of sight astern. Who that
does not believe in the care and provi-
dence of God watching over ALL let him
explain the fact. The light i'm the
binnacle that lights the compass hung
high enough 10 throw it's halo astern,
lighting small space with it's dim
light in the ships wake. Into this
magic circle of not more than two feet
I'm circumference fell the lifc-buoy.
captain Colby was good swimmer. He
watched with such intense interest las
only a man could whose life hung ON so
small chance) the receding ship. and
tried to see the buoy strike the water
lie saw it in that ray of light that alone
shone upon the water, and hc determined
TO make all possible effort TO reach it,
Divesting himself of his Ovcrcoat boots
and heavy clothing, he swan i'm the di-
| rection he saw the buoy strike Three
times the seas broke over him, the last
one overwhelming and almost strangling
hlm. Injured IA he was, and almost
struggling against hope in his appar-
emily lost condition, he was almost Civ
| ing up, but the thought of the dear
wife III the cabin, and the loved ones at
! home, ncrved him To a further and pro-
| longed effort, and God granted him the
boon he asked for the life buoy. lie
came within its reach, and was for the
| time being saved. Putting it over his
head and extending his arms above il.
his first act was to return thanksto God
for his mercy. He now hoated upon the
waters in utter darkness, waiting for
what might come To save him. He told
us he never doubted being saved. and
standing on the deck Of his ship again.
He said, 81 knew had men there who
would do and dare all that men could to
save me-" Results showed that his
faith in his fellow-men was well placed
and nobly was 1t answered.
Turn we now 10 the Atlanta. Let us
! dlgress Tor moment TO say that years
before, when Captain Colby was second
officer of the ship Walter Scott. com
manded by Captain Thompson, of Ports
mouth, she was struck by lightning i'm
the Gulf Stream, when loaded with
cotton. While under close reefed ton
sails, wind blowing gale, the ship was
/ quickly enveloped in flames. driving the
crew and ono lady passenger to the
| boats, which were lowered i'm safety 4.
| provisions and water were put i'm them
! which were all ready, for Capt. Thomp-
| son having had similar experience be
! fore, had his boats always ready for an
| emergency, and 80 the crew were saved
| his lesson was not lost ON Captain
/ Colby. His boats were always ready
\ Tor immediate use, and 10 that fact he
| was probably indebted for his life on
| this occasion. lie had some preparation
/ VI ulh DWu lOI lUc lUSLdu LducOus lower
| ing of a boat. When the captains fall
\ from aioft occurred, the stewart shouted
/ down into the cabin, "The captains
| overbOardW Captain VIM II. Merrill.
/ then the sick second mate below, whose
/ watch Captain Colby had been standing.
| sprang upon deck sick ~ he was, with
no clothing but his shirt, jumped
| into n quarter-boat, calling for volun-
| teers Ordering the boat instantly low
cred, he went out into the darkness to
/ find If possible the lost captain one Of
| the most dangerous things q seaman may
/ be called upon To- do, for those who 20
I to sea know how soon an object, even a
/ large ship with all sails set. may be- lost
/ 20 sight. ThisRallant man took his scat
/ on thwart, or scat, ~ be high above
/ water, 60 sec as far a. possible looking
Y Tor and listening 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 captain to
\ his sad fate, Mr. Merrill unshippcd the
I tiller, threatening TO brain the first man
\ who finched or mentioned such a thing
\ again. Cnnaturally nerved by his noble
| impulse, and rising above the prostra-
ton Of sickness, God crowned his efforts