, 1881-03-09

messed it, not only were these poor unfor-
tunate men struggling for their lives, but
both men and boats were carried at once
into greater danger. The strong current
bore them towards the ocean. No. 2 boat
went to their assistance; in less time than
/ take to write these lines, they also were
swamped and thrown into the sea; so that
at this moment there were Is or Is men
swimming and struggling for their lives.
Some were clinging to the rocks, others
held ON to the boats to be drifted into
more danger and certain death. Long
before those in No. l boat had reached the
shore they observed the other boats
capsized and the men tossed about in
the heavy seas. Mr.. Hopkins having
landed, the men did not hesitate for a
moment but returned back to help the
unfortunate men now seen clinging to the
rocks or swimming in this foaming sea, No.
/ boat now arrived among the drowning
men, one poor fellow was seen struggling
and almost exhausted, the boat went TO
his assistance and as he clung to the side
of it, the men i'll the BOAT forgetting their
danger went to the side to drag this poor
man into the boat, while IN this position a
heavy sea struck the bOat ~broadslde, and
she capsized and all hands were thrown
into the sea, We now had three boats
and twenty-five men tossed IN this rough
sea, contending against such seas as are
hardly ever seen. By this time several
men were drowned. The sea played with
the boats and seemed to mock the poor
drowning men shivering on the rocks.
At one moment you might see a boat
righted by the sea floating near some two
or three men clinging to a rock, but as 1T
neared them the sea took it away into the
far distance. At another time you saw
two or three men leave the rock and seize
the passing boat but only to be thrown
into the fOaming sea never more to rise.
The awful scene can not be desc lbed.
The wrecked captain and men were
witnesses of the first part Of this heart
rending scene, but Immediately as the boats
were swamped or capsized they were carried
far away into heavier seas. twenty-five men
TO be suddenly cast into such . sea what hope
was there that any would reach land alive
But som did-thirteen were drowned, and
twelve reached the shore. A few struggled
maniully, and by their own unaided exertions
got to land Of cour%e in such an exhausted
state that those on land had to carry them
ashore, othsls picked up oars. and so got safe
to land enc man clusg to an empty cask and
was saved. Even in this dangerous position
where all seemed to be struggling for life, the
strong did not forget the weak, one man was
making for shore with the help of an oar when
he passed a poor fellow just giving up, be
turned back to HIS aseiSt ance, spoke a few
encouraging words, and gave up the oar 10
him; both were saved. Another instance
deserves to be mentioned one of the boats cap
sized over a man, nothing was to be seen but a
leg, q man swimming for shore seeing this
turned back and extricated the poor %unfortu-
nate man. Another heartssrendiug scene l
must mention; one Of our overs GERS, Thomas
Baeza was seen hanging on to a boat and max
ing for shore, In fact all on shore began to CON-
graduate each other that be was safe, when
suddenly The current changed and carried the
boat out to sea again. They called UPON him
to Leave the boat he did SO, but too late, being
already exhausted the distance to swim was
too great, he threw up bis arms and went down
in sight of all on shore. The sea by this time
had nearly finished its work, ono or two were
Still clinging to the rocks, washed by the dash
ing ssas, one boat had already been smashed
to pieces, the other two boats which were new,
were seen ahoat, at last a heavier sea dashed 1p-
ON the poor fellows and washed them off never
more to be seen alive. The scene cannot be
described, the wringing of hands, the crying
the piercing and bitter lamentation of some
two or three hundred men, women and
children then there We're the half drowned men
indescribable. When the news reached the
village there was a general weeping and mourn
Ing. Tho boats have now discharged their
crews, the sea demanded them to be given up,
her demand could not be resisted. Nothing is