Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-26
TWICE BURIED.

What I am aboutto relate, incredible
as it may seem, is perfectly true, and
occurred some years ago on board a
ship in which [ was then serving my
time. We were thirty-fve or forty
days from home, had crossed the line,
and were getting the first of the south
east trades, when our second mate be-
gan to break down. He had joined the
vessel in bad health, but seemed to get
better in the tropics; and now again he
felt himself gradually sinking. There
was no doctor en- board, our ship not
carrying passengers that voyage; but it
was easy to see that he was in a rapid
decline. How sorry we all werel Every
body liked nina kind considerate
officer; cool, skillful seaman, some
what reserved perhaps, but not cold;
never asking any one to perform dis
agreeable or dangerous duty without
lending a hand himself, and there he
lay dying-so young, handsome, strong.
Oh, it seemed very hard! The song and
laugh were hushed around the decks,
our steps fell light as we passed over
his head, and often through the watch
es one Of US youngsters would look in
to see if Mr.. Linden wanted anything,
sometimes coming out pale and scared;
he looked SO white and still, we knew
not was it sleep or death.
We had passed the Cape of Storms,
and were now far down In the regions
Of mists and snow, where the vast ice
islands wander in lonely, lawful grandeur,
and fierce westerly gales howled after
lis as we flew on our easterly course to
Australia. One night, wild and dark,
with every appearance of a heavy
storm at hand, was passing the second
mates berth when [ heard his voice
feebly calling me. He was sitting up
IN his bunk hardly able to speak, his
lips dry and burning. ran off to fetch
him drink. Alasl there was nothing
to be got but water, thick and reddish,
from the ships iron tanks. Bad as it
was, he drank it eagerly, and becoming
more composed, lay down, still keep
ing hold of my hand. Then his mind
seemed to wander back to the days of
his childhood, back to happier times,
when with girl he loved, be strayed
through sweet country lanes, and all was
peace ard rest. While in dreary con-
trast, the rising wind moaned and Sob
bed through our rigging like some liv-
ing thing IN pain and mems steps were
hurrying along the decks preparing for
the battle that must soon be fought.
At last the cloud passed from his mind,
and he turned, grasped my hand tight
", and spoke of his mother and sister
and that other loved one whom he
would never see again. Without him
they would be alone in the world. Low
ingly, lingeringly, he dwelt on them till
he made me cry like child. Then be
lay back with his head on my arm, and
gradually passed away to the better
land.
We could not bury him that night.
1t was fierce struggle all the time to
shorten sail; for nearly five hours we
were all on the fore-yard trying to furl
the foresail, which was blown to pieces
IN the end. At last, morning broke on
the wild raging sea. The Sail maker
seWed bag of canvas round the corpse:
we placed two ten pound shot at his
feet; the seas were breaking too heavi-
ly on the main deck, SO we carried him
tenderly up on the poop. Never shall
[ forget that burial scene. The black,
lowering sky, the ship under closed
reefed topsails flying for her life from
the pursuing snowy crested pillows.
Near her stern all hands were grouped,
the wind blowing the old captains gray
hair wildly about, the rain and hail
beating on our barred heads, and patter-
ing on the deck like a thousand feet;
the solemn faces stern and sad; and
on the wheel-grating lay all that was left
fthe man we loved. The captain read
few words till something seemed to
choke him; he pointed over the stern,
and turned away. A dull splash was
heard. Like men In dream we gazed
at the spot as a sea broke over it. /
fancied still saw it gyrating a little,
then slowly descending, end first,
through the quiet depths. and in imagi-
nation could behold strange unknown
monsters sweeping towards it regarding
it with their dull eyes as something vet
more strange than themselves, still 90
ing down, past the regions of ocean-life.
slower and slower, till at last, balanced
by the pressure of waters, it ceased to
descend, standing in the soundless
moveless depth like Mohamed's coffin,
floating between the surface and bot
tom.
On flew the vessel, till many mile
lay between us and that sad spot on the
lonely deep. But a change was coming
round by the southwark; the wind haul
ed to the eastward, and before dark we
were hove to, the wind blowing from
the eastward and north ward q narfect
hurricane. At about two bells tone
O'Clock in the middle watch, King, { my