Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-20

.AAo"' W CoV0As WHICH,, OeuuCC1n8 the OIL
terencel from our actual course, would
Leave about $50 miles before we raised
the Fvis. I reported the same to Goss-
haWk, who grunted anything but salts
faction. "No nearer than that? Well,
keep for the Fiiis, anyhow:
| So I kept her for the Fits and on the
fourth day 6 Land, hop was shouted by
one of the convicts who was stationed
aloft: Go sshawk's eyes frightened ND,
and he turned ome, saying, "Well done
Steeraway."
IF 1 had ONLY had my own way, I would
have put them Oh q coral reef, but life is
precious, you know, even to q sailor. As
the Marathon neared the land, which
proved to be one of the group to the
th'ard, Gosshawk gave some orders in
low tone to several of the men. I knew
what they were Immediately, for the con.
victs began to cast off the 1ashings from
the long boat. $50 Gosshawk intends
! to keep his promise" thought to nv.
sell, and l was to be cast adrift in the
longboat.
. When within fifteen miles of land the
breeze died away and the old Marathon
lay almost motionless. Gosshawk swore,
and stamped the deck, but to no pur-
pose. Kind Providence paid no atten-
ton to him. About dusk the wind made
its appearance, and I got ready to stand
IN. "Steeraway," said Gosshawk. ct
guess you will have to make voyage in
the dark; but it can't be helped
The boat was lowered; two kegs of
water, a bag of hard tack, and three or
four junks of salt horse were tossed in,
and l was told follow suit. As 1 was
cast adrift, the villains shouted after me:
"Good-bye, Steeraway, you have done
us good turn, aud we won't forget it! !
l made no reply, but sat in the stern
of the boat gazing after the receding YES
sci. After looking at her for few min-
head i'll my hands and wept. Just then
splash in the water near the boat
aroused me. "A shark" thought I.
Again l heard it, and then a low voice as
if from the deep: "Steeraway %
l sprung from my thwart as if struck
by galvanic shock. I strained my eyes
and peered into the darkness. Present.
~ saw dark form swimming toward
the boat. Again the voice came over
the water: "Steeraway Ben here
knows I am not superstitious, but con-
TESS [ did feel little awe-stricken. Be-
fore had time to collect my scattered
thoughts, hand was laid on the gun
vale, and the form of q man arose from
the sea.
cts Bolter, Joe; don't be frightened
I'm no ghost p
That short sentence broke the spell
which chung to me.
g Oh, Bolter!' cried I, in transport
of icy; Ho.xon,. .,.. h.,n ~. ~ H..
boat, Joe! I'm mighty weak. Now,
where's the water? That outside the
boat will do to swim in, but I can't
drink it,
Soon I had the water key to his lips,
and he took long draught.
"There +! I never wanted water so
bad but once before in my life; and this
is what I call hard luck, Joe."
agreed with him on that score. and
asked him to tell me how he escaped
from the convicts.
"Why, you see, Joe, got an inkling
OF what was coming, but before I could
get out of the cabin the rascals we're
down upon us. So I slipped into the
secret locker under the transom, and
they looked into every place but that.
Luckily, the locker contained some
canned fruits and meats, so there was no
danger OF my starving. overheard that
fellows conversation-the one they called
Gosshawk--and [ knew, Steeraway, that
you were safe. I also heard him tell his
cut-throat comrades what he intended
doing with you, when I heard your boat
lowered. l peeped from my hiding
place, and saw that the cabin was clear.
as they were all on deck to see you off.
AS soon as heard the boat cast adrift
crawled through the stern window, hung
by the frame minute or two, then
dropped into the sea, swan after your
boat and here I am
Bolter suddenly started up and cried
out: =" Look, Joe, if they have not set
the ship on fire!'
And SO they had. Before they landed
they had no doubt left two or three of
their number to lash the wheel and apply
the torch. The flames threw a lrlr1d
light over the ocean, and soon the whole
outline in fire Of the doomed Marathon
could be seen. Heavy tongues Of flame
ran up the tarred rigging, and rolls OF
fire, like cloud, would now and then
burst forth as the sails one after another
were consumed. It was a magnificent
sight, but a sorrowful one for us. We
watched her until scarcely spark could
be seen; when, suddenly, like fash, the
faint light disappeared, and all that once
remained of the Marathon went to the
bottom.
On the following morning we sighted
an American whaler, which fortunately
came near enough to see our signal Of
distress, and we were relieved from our
uncomfortable position. Bolter and my
self told the whaling skipper our story,
when he at once made sail for Sydney,
where the facts were laid before the Eng
lish consul, who took steps to capture
the short-haired Williams. This was sue
cessfully accomplished.