The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-02
to Parker to 20 forward, and we still

i =
rugged, dismal. It's rough sides were
worn BY the action Of the water, and in
some places were covered with marine
plants, and nameless ocean vegetation.
| We passed onward, we clambered over Il
spar which jutted from the cliff, and
there lay the steamer. -.
The Marmion-there she lay upright,
with everything still standing. Sne had
gone right down, and had settled in such
a position among the rocks, that she
stood upright here, just as though she
Law at her wharf. We rushed eagerly
along, and clambered up her side. There
was low moan in the water, which
sounded warningly in our ears, and told
us of swiftly approaching danger.
What was to be done must be done
speedily. We hurried forward. Parker
rushed to the cabin. | went forward to
descend into the hold. descended the
ladder. walked into the engineers
room. All was empty here--all was
water. The waves of the ocean had en-
tered. and were sporting with the works
of man. | looked down into the hold.
Suddenly was startled by an appalling
noise upon the deck.
The heavy footsteps of some one run
ninr, as though in mortal fear or most
dreadful haste, sounded in my ears. Then
my heart throbbed wildly; for it was a
fearful thing to hear, far down in the
silent depths of the ocean.
Pshawl it was only Parker.
| L,,.,..,ll,, oaan,InI thn InoH hx,f fJr
, first outlet that appeared. When speak
, of hurry, speak of the quickest move
ment possible, when numbered with SC
much armor. But this movement o!
+ mine was quick. ! rushed on the deck.
1t was Parker!
, He stepped forward and clutched my
arm; he pressed it with convulsivt
> grasp, and pointed to the cabin. ! at
| tempted to go there.
He stamped his foot and tried to hole
+ me back. He pointed to the boat, ant
/ implored me with frantic gestures tt
e 60 up.
1t is appalling to witness the horror
S stricken soul trying to express itself b.
: signs. 1t is awful to see these signs whel
. no face is plainly visible and no voice i
J. heard. could not see his face plainly
but his eyes, through his heavy mask
e glowed like Goals of fire.
: 81 will .go!" | exclaimed. Ispran'
{ from him. He elasped his hands to
: gether, but dared not follow.
: Good heavens! | thought, what fear
ful thing is here? What scene can be ST
: dreadful as to paralyze the soul of
q practiced diver? I will see for myself.
i | walked aft. | came to the cabi
: door. l entered the saloon, but say
q nothing. A feeling of contempt came t.
me. Parker shall not come with m
y again, thought. Yet | was awe-struck
Down in the denths of the sea there i
a only silence. Oh, how solemn! paceC
the long saloon, which had echoed will
the shrieks of the drowning passengers
!. All! there are thoughts which sometime
fill the soul, which are only felt by thos
to whom scenes of sublimity are familiar
v Thus thinking, l walked to the aftel
p cabin and entered.
Oh, God of heaven.
.r Had not my hand clenched the doc
q with a grasp which mortal terror ha
? made convulsive, | should have fallen t
a the floor. stood nailed to the spot; fo
there before me stood crowd of peopl
q men and women-caught in the las
+ death struggle by the overwhelmin
,s waters, and fastened to the spot, each i
the position in which death had foun
d him. Each one had sprung from hi
o. chair at the shock of the sinking shiI
4 and with one common emotion, all ha
started for the door. But the waters c
a the sea had been too swift for them. Lo
# then-some wildly grasping the tabl'
Il Others the beams, others the sides of til
y cabin-there they all Stood
# Near the door was crowd OF people
,r heaped one upon another-some on til
ID floor, others rushing over them, all seel
k ing nmdly to gain the outlet. There WI
n one who sought to Chamber over the t.
"a BILE, and still was there, holding on to a
Vi iron post. So strong was each convul
ii i've grasp, 50 fierce the struggle of eae
q with death, that their hold had not "
m been relaxed, but each one stood al
NJ looked frantically at the door,
ID To the door-good God! To me, to II
they were looking. They were glancir
es at me-all those dreadful, those terrb
~ eyes! Eyes in which the fire of life ha
m been displaced by the chilling CLEAN I
er death. Eyes which still glared, like tt
ne eyes of the maniac, with no expressio
al They froze me with their cold aud il
sv stare. They had no meaning, for Il
IN soul had gone. And this made it st
m. more horrible than it could have be-
ed in life; for the appalling contortion
M their faces, expressing fear, horror, d
". spair, and whatever else the human 50
m may feel, contrasting with the cold al
as, CLASSY eyes, made their vacancy yet nc
IRE fearful. He upon the table seemed me
nm fiendish than the others, for his lol
RI black hair was disheveled, and float
horribly down, and his beard and mi
ID tache, all loosened by the wa.er,gave h
we the erimness of demon. Oh, what W
we and torture! what unutterable agon
Ird appeared in the despairing glance
wv those faces-faces twisted into spasmoC
,,s contertions, while the souls that light