West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-06-05

and became dark blue
Happy and light of heart were the pas
engers. They had caught some inspiration
from this beautiful day, and were engaged
IN merry songs and laughter. The city
gradually faded from sight, and at last was
! lost. As they fioated smoothly along, the
the scene grew brighter and more beautiful
along the banks Here was farmhouse,
with its several outbuildings, all surrounded
/ by large and shady trees, and the cattle
peacefully grazing in the fields beyond.
while overhead could be seen flock OF
crows cawing continuously as they wheeled
in circles over the corn-felds. a forest in
the distance covering the sides of noun
tain, and extending away at last into the
blue and empty air, while doiting the whole
of the ripping surface of the bay could be
| seen crafts of all nations.
Now fishing smack passed under her
bow, bowling merrily along upon its course.
A large schooner was moving slowly up the
bay, towed along by tiny tug. They were
| passing through the Golden Gate, one Of
natures greatest and grandcst freaks. Anon
! they were beyond the head of the bay, and
were passing the lighthouse. The land
| gradually faded away into long banks of
! blue clouds.
At last they were in the calm Pacific,
| with her mild and balmy breezes, her cloud
less skies above the blue waters below.
! This CAVITY continued from day TO day.
| On the morrow they expected To weather
the stormy cape. And night settled down
! upon them, leaving all in peace and happi-
ness, with nothing TO disturb their calm
| slumbers.
The morning broke clear and beautiful.
with not cloud TO obscure the blue hcav-
ems. IL was warm and lovely day even
the most feeble had ventured from their
berths to behold this beautiful scene. But
as the day wore on, cloud was seen in the
oflng. AT first it was only small
! white spot then another rose, To be fol-
! lowed 10y still another; they seemed to be
hurrying together until they had combined
into one large aud widely extended mass
which rolled along, blackcning and en-
larging until it covered the whole heav-
ems.
breeze sprang up, lashing the waves
into frothy foam the white caps were ris-
ing, now sinking. Few remained on deck
| TO see the storm which threatened
The waves were tossing and tumbling,
driving the sleet and rain with great vio-
! lence against the deck and rigging. The
| sea grew more DOisteTOus as the night adj
| vanced. At eight bells the wind was blow
! ing hurricane. The ship plunged 10 and
fro, as she bravely breasted the angry
waters. Now, AS she rode upon the crest
| of an enormous wave, hci stern sank, and
she seemed slipping backward, down-but
as the wave broke under her, she rushed
madly forward INTO the trough of the sea.
She trembled and quivcred like some
dumb creature in agony as the waves broke
over her, deluging her decks, and seeming
about TO engulf her. But she still rode
upon the crest of another.
What was that A belll Yes, il sounded
again BY some chance the tongue of her
watch-bell had become unfastened, and il
| struck her rcsOunding sides with a dull and
hollow sound, startling everybody with its
wierd and hollow changing, as the ship
rolled in the trough of the sea. Dolefully
and sadly it pealed out upon the waters,
with the chilling and almost human words
Your Knell! Your Knell Z" filling the
minds of the passengers with horror and
dlsmay.
What was that dull roar Was it not the
beat of the surf The man upon the look
out shouted
Port your helm For your life, or you
are lost The breakers The breakers!"
Too latel In another instant her keel
grated the rocks, and with fierce lunge
she struck. She quivered and trembled
from bow to stern.
Then the panic was fierce and wild /;
Frightened men, women and children rush
ing madly here and there in their fear,
while above all could be heard the wild roar
and beat of the surf upon a rock bound
shore.
Above the roar and din could be heard
the noble shouts of command.
keep the guns booming Men, stand
firm 10 the boats ! Let no one Of US enter
until the women and children are sale -
Then did they show their true and noble
hearts. The boats were lowered, but the
sea was so wild that they were, one after
the other, instantly swamped and with
shricks and grOans the poor wretches sank
to their watery graves.
The ship was sinking slowly. Her fires
| were Out-she had passed the last water
line.
The remaining passengers, atfrighted,
| were huddled together upon the upper deck
The waters had reached them. Some,
braver than the others, were trusting them
selves upon spars and dOOrs-with any
thing, 80 as to reach the wshed-for shore
They felt the chilling waves gradually creep
| AAb HAA'l thtA lCtl, uuuBIlly IthCHluE up
with their horrid jaws to grasp them, de
termined not 10 be cheated out Of their
prey. There were only five left-the sea
had claimed the rest. These clung 20 the
rigging with the tenacity Of despair, and as
a large and mighty billOw came rolling 10
ward them, as 1t reached them aud swept
them from their hold upon It's crest, with a
last despairing shrek two were swept away
and lost
Out Of The two hundred souls upon this
noble ship, only the mate, lashcd to q gun,
and the captain and his wife were left The
wind, whistling through the broken masts
and cordage, seemed to play the prelude
70 their ''N edding March to Heaven
With a last dull boom, the ship sank TO It's
final resting place.
What was that upon the beach yonder,
half buried in the sandl spar and a hu-
man hgure} les, 10 was that of "a man. A
woman chung closely % him. Twas the
brave commander and his beautiful bride
Her arms were about his neck, and a sad,
sweet smile upon those pale cold lips
One Of bis hands still graspcd the spar
With the other he held her close Together,
hand in hand, their spirits bad asccnded