The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-09


dark bank of clouds. The heat was
intense, the stout seamen wiping the
perspiration from their streaming
brows as they toiied at their oars.
Nota breath of all disturbed the CLASSY
wave - all nature appeared to. be
hushed into q terrible calm.
"I must confess I felt rather appre-
hensive as 1 glanced about the hori-
zon and looked back in the direction
where I knew the old brig must be,
rolling and pitching idly on the long
swell, which every moment was in
creasing. But my fears and apprehen-
sions were soon chased from my
head by matters of more exciting in
| terest.
Gas we neared the burning craft I
read the name Of La Hembrilla, in
letters of gold, on the huge stern.
The light cast by the burning spars
and rigging aloft afforded ample
power for me to form my conclu-
sions.
"The ship was a Spaniard; the
empty davits, and dangling falls told
their own story plain enough to a
seaman's eye.
''The burning wreck had been de-
serted.
Shooting under the broad, heavy
counter, we caught at the iron works
of the mizzen channels, and directing
the two men to remain in the boat, l
clambered on deck, followed by the
other two seamen.
'"The ship had evidently been on
fire some tim. the flames having full
control of the forward portion Of the
ship. The foremast had gone by the
board, the top-gallant forecastle was
a sea of fire; the mainmast was al
ready tottering, and I knew there was
no time to lose. The smoke was
dense and sitting, but as yet did not
effect the extreme after portion of the
vessel. The deck was strewn with
remnants Of provisions, half-open
cases, and articles Of clothing, but no
trace of a human being could be
| seen.
Diving down into the main cabin,
which was half filled with black,
twisting smoke, took hasty glance
about. The rich hangings, appoint
ments, and ornamentation surprised
me, showing that the unfortunate
ship had been designed to carry pas
sengers. The sharp, shooting CLEANS
of writhing flames from aloft pene-
trated through the broad skylight,
tinging every object with a ruddy
| glare.
From state-room to state-room I
hurried, but found them all empty
until I came to the ,s.,er one. There
l eA lerienced some difficulty in open
ing the door, the smoke every mo-
ment becoming more dense and re-
spiration more difficult. Exerting my
strength, the wood work gave way,
revealing a confused mass of white
drapery lying on the state-room floor.
The very sight made my heart beat
quick with apprehension, and stoop-
ing, soon ascertained that it was a
woman.
Placing my hand over her heart, !
felt it throb, and without further delay
1 rushed on deck with her in my
arms. Through the companion-way
[ staggered, with a strange dizziness
in my head, gasping for breath, but
still retaining my grasp on her 1 haC
saved. The fresh air revived me- the
pain left my head, so that I was en-
abled to pay proper attention to tht
woman who lay helplesss in my
arms.
"Then, for the first time, looked a
the face Of my burden, and by the brigh
light of the wreck discovered she wa
both young and handsome. At tina
moment the mainmast went crashing
over the side, sinking with hiss in the
black water. A shower Of cinders ant
sparks, column Of roaring flames
shot on high, followed by the excitet
shouts of the men, who had leaped
panic-stricken, into the boat urgin.
me to follow.
"Clasping the lady with my lef
arm, used my right in gliding dow
the ships side. The mems oars wer
poised, I gave the word, and the mex
!, instant we were clear Of the vessel
which was now wrapt in flames from
stem to stern.
> "Dashing some water into the Ia
dy's face, began to chafe her hands
The treatment though rough had tn
+ desired effect. She opened her eyes
! closed them again as if the awaken
=, was painful, but in a few moments wa
fully herself Ina few words I tol
her how she had been saved, and al
sured her that in short time sh
T would be in safety on board tn
7 brig.
= 'In return she told me that he
father was the Senior Jose Gonzale
of Santos, the wealthiest planter
:, the country. She had been on Wis
=, to Spain, where her father had larg
: numbers Of relations, and had take
- passage for home in the SPANS
, ship.
''The ill-fated vessel, by some mea1
!. to her unknown, had caught fire du
- 81