The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-13

ward over the ships rail into the boiling
foaming waters of the wild sea. When
rose to the surface, | caught last
glimpse of the vessel as she receded from
my view amid the deep gloom.
81 was an excellent swimmer, but
hope faded from my heart with the van
ishing form of that ship, and l felt that
was doomed to perish.
"Alone upon the ocean, cast amid tht
merciless waves, with the wild spray
dashing over me, and the storm and WING
bowling in my ears, wnat. could l looR
forward to but death" ''aH=
"Still clung to life with the, energy
of despair, cleaving the raging. waters
with my arms as though some friendly
shore near by was cheering my vision
Suddelly my hand struck against hel
low wooden substance, and an inyolun'
tary cry of joy escaped my lips. as l. per
ceived that this object was tue empty
barrel which the, third mate Of tht
Champion had thrown. overheard about
half an hour previously. AS | continued
to feeHit ! noticed that one of the iron
hoops had become considerably loesened,
christening my belt from my waist, and
also the silk handkerchief from my
neck. l tied them securely together, and
then lashed myself to the friendly bar.
rel.
Minutes and hours went by, but the
storm continued as terrific as ever.
Buoyed up by my life preserver, ! was
tossed hither and tbither upon the
mighty waves. Ny head swan, the dark
ness seemed to revolt, about me, and
every bone in my body ached,
"At last it began to grow lighter but
as far as l could see nothing met my
gaze, save the dark clouds rushing wild
ly over the heaveA and. the mass of wild
f0aming waves that rolled laundering
foaming across the broad bosom of the
sea. Once thought could perceive a
sail in the distance, and my heart leaped
joyfully in my breast; but as the object
drew nearer saw that it. was a large sea
bird. He came close to the spot l oeou.
pied, and with wild, unearthly screams,
flew in circles about my he,ld.
"'There is, no hope | mentally ex-
claimed. Even that birds instinct tells
him that l must die, and he is waiting
that he may have the pleasure Of feast
ing upon my hodyP'
CAT that moment, as if to encourage
me, ray of, sunlight pierced the dark
pail of clouds above, and shone upon me.
The howl of the blast began to subside a
little, and l knew that the storm was
going down, As Hooked keenly to the
eastward, | again saw something viii te;
hut supposing that it was, another bird,
l checked the exultant feeling that was
rising in my breast. A tremendous wave
bore down upon me; lifted my form
high upon its mountain crest; and then
seemed to roll onward in the direction
Of the object / had sen, watched it as
it receded far. III the distance, hiding the
speck from my vision; but a. few mo-
ments later this last again, came to view
asst was raised. high above the level of
the sea, and then my doubts were at an
end.
"It was vessel! I distinctly saw a
black spot mingled with the white on
the sails, which | knew to be the hull of
the craft, and this circumstance, con-
vinced me that she was not as, far off as
Ishad supposed.
"Attempts to describe the joy which
thrilled my frame at this discovery
would be vain one, took my soaked
handkerchief from my pocket, and waved
it over my head as a,sigpal, whenever a
wave lifted me'in the air. and as l. con-
tinued to; watch the vessel, l knew by
the apparent increase of her'size that she
was approaching inmy direction.
"'They have seen me- l shouted ex-
ultingly. ....-.... ....-....e
CAT that moment the bird, who, all
this time had continnedlin circlessabove
my head, suddenly made a downward
dart, with the probable intention Of
seizing upon some fish she had seen in
the water. By some means or other,
however, she missed her aim, and THE
end of her sharp bill came into contact
with my neck, and pierced it. An. agon.
| lZlng StHStVOH Ol yaiH hilliiou III WHoiS
frame, and the next momentI felt tht
warm blood gushing from the wound, a.
the creature flew screaming away.
"a deadly faintness soon came ovel
me. The sky and the vast ocean ap
peared to whirl before my vision, every
thing seemed shrouded in mist, then tt
grow dark; and the next moment be
came unconscious.
"When I opened my eyes again,
found myself lying in the cabin OF
strange vessel. There were bandage
about my throat, and as soon as / coul'
collect my scattered faculties, l knew
that the flow OF blood had been stopped
!. 1.-TWO men stood by the side OF M,
4 bunk, looking down upon me. My cage
inquiries were soon answered.
n was told that | was in an Englisl
bark bound for Valparaiso. My sigma
has been deserted by one Of the seamen
and the vessel had been put directly TO
the spot. Soon af,erward, having az
preached sufficiently near, boat wa
!, dispatched to pick me up. But grea