The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-08-09

l. rear, ana terror stricken, rushing int
is each others arms as if each might see
IS some protection from the other. Grat
ually the vessel sank, until at lengt
she gave maddening plunge. and wit
a cry that rose above the rush and roa
OF waters from men and women, fror
whom all human aid had been foreve
withdrawn, the gallant vessel, with it
precious cargo went downtown int
the fathomless abyss, and the water
quietly closed over them. The steam
or was the Inflated Arctic. Our Scotcl
friend for while remained with hi
head resting on his hands, as if to shut
out the dreadful sight but raising it
he looked around him. Far away il
every direction, was wide waste
of water, with nothing to break
the monotony Of the scene but o long
boat that had pushed off from the YES
sci and containing about half dozen
sailors To the right of them, seated
upon two water casks that had been
lashed together, were two men. While
he gazed upon them. he thought he
would have given all that he was worth to
be in their situation. AS these thoughts
occurred to his mind, suddenly the two
casks were lifted by wave and turned
over aud the two men were never moro
seen. Off to the left perhaps one hun
dred yards, the sailors rested quietly in
their long boat; and padding with his
hands the frail raft that only divided
him from eternity, he neared the boat
AS he approached one of the sailers
reached out his oar and pushed him
off. Three times without word being
spoken between them, this was repeated
and at length taking hold of their oars
they padded off and left him. This
boat was never heard from. All day he
sat upon his little raft.
"a ship wrecked sailor, waiting for a sail
No sail from day to day, but every day
The sunrise broken into scarlet shafts"
About midnight after the first days
anxious watching he felt something
strike his raft; and throwing out his
hand he grasped large basket lined
with zinc, that had been used on the
steamer for handling dishes. Eagerly
he drew it upon his frail planks and
got inside OF it. But the waves oc-
casionally would dash over him ana |
fill his basket with water How he |
wished for something to bail it out.
Mr.. Cowpcr has said in beautiful words, |
that has brought hope to many a de- |
spairing heart
'Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace,
Behind q frOwning Providence
He hides smiling face"
Just about the glimmer of the morn
ing he felt something strike his raft
md catching at it he grasped tin life
Dreserver. With his knife he cut it in
;wo. and used it as dipper to bail his
basket, On the third day, more dead
han alive, he was picked up by pass
ng vessel and br ought to New York.
few weeks thereafter, surrounded by
host of his Jackson friends, at sup
'er given him, he narrated this thrilling
tory of his escape from watery grave.
Lfter spending few weeks with his
riends, he returned home, leaving his
ounger brother still in jackson. A
aw years afterward, the war between t
he North and South broke out. En-
cared to the land that had given him q
home and welcome when young; 6
nd that had aided him in his endeav-
red to build his fortunes, in her trials Q
le was not forgotten. Munitions of -
ar were sent and money, to the assis- f
'nce of the young and struggling ma Il
on. The younger brother, with that II
eroism which is found in the breast a
every true Scotchman, buckled on Il
IS sword and after much valued ser. W
ce, laid down his life in that ill-fated IL
large on "Fort Craig" at Mumfords-
lie KY, while gallantly leading the
'th Miss. Reg't and now sleeps quietly
the cemetary at Jackson, where his T,
mains were brought and inferred by
fectionate hands. The elder of these vg
others, was Mr.. James Smith, now W,
resident and one of the woalthiest M
On of GLASGOW Scotland. The others Ci
me may be read upon q plain Scot
/ marble shaft at the cemetary at E
nkaon. m