The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-18

because the fTigate was in the track of TIE
West India traders, and the Bermudas lay
under his lee, so he peered anxiously to the
wind'ard. Suddenly prolonged and blind
/ ing fash lie up the sea, and as the thunder
rolled and crashed overhead, a hoarse voice
shouted: My God, there's a boat going by.
and two women in it."
The captain, standing on the horse-blocz,
also saw the boat, as it surged past the quar-
ter, and he descended from his place of obser-
vation and Joined the officer Of the deck.
''Mr. Risley," said the captain, "there's
boat just gone by to the leeward and want
you TO send two Of your cleverest fellows to
look out for it. I'm going to pay off, and
pick the women up if l can. We never can
| lower a boat in this sea, and want YOU to
/ rig whips on the lower yard, snach the blcht,
and make bowline Rig the whips well
out on the lee yards, and bear a hand. Now
then, lay aft there, the watch" and the old
/ captain took the trumpet from his officer and
/ thundered TO the helmsman to put the wheel
hard Hp.
/ square the fore and main yards Haul
/ down the fOrctopmast staysail. Now then,
/ steady -
already with the whips, - screamed the
/ fore and main top men,
| 'NeTy well now then, Mr.. Risley, bend on
/ a light line to the bowlines, and desail three
/ of your best men to go into the bowlines
/ and be ready to jump into the boat when we
overhaul it. The crossjack yard whip will
stand by should the others miss the boat
Are you all ready"
''Aye, aye, sir"
. ''Eery, well, stand by those whips. all Of
you"
Boat dead ahead, sir" came from the
( port cathead.
''Steady at the wheel, steady, my man
make no mistake now
'IIere they come Stand by ~ shouted
the men forward, and at the same moment
the indistinct form of the boat drifted by the
lee cathead.
The captain, standing on the hammock
nettiDgs, and clutching ratIine in the for
ward shrouds, leaned out to catch sight of
the coming boat, and as it drifted past the
catheads, his voice rang out far above the
tempest.
''Now, my men, jump" -
just then the boat sank away into huge
cavern, and the frigate rolled heavily TO
windward. As she SWING slowly back the
. D
seamen jumped and landed on all foUUs in
the boat.
\ dazzling chain Of lightning shot across
( the sky, and revealed the men in the boat,
each with woman clasped in his arms. y
wild hUrrah from the men on deck, and in
an instant the seamen and their precious
burdens were swinging in the air and haul
ed safely on deck.
As soon IS the lady on deck found herself
in safety she tainted away, but she was car
red to a stateroom, and the surgeon admin
istered restoratives and soon succeeded in
bringing her back to life. Her clothing was
drenched with flying spray, but both the lit
tie girl and her mother were wrapped in
warm blankets until their chothes were
dried.
The next day the gale moderated and Mrs.
Berry and her daughter made their appear
ance on deck, and with tears filling her eyes
she thanked the captain and blessed him'aDd
his noble crew.
The captain was anxious to learn her
story, and when She told him under what
circumstances she WIS set afloat in the boat,
he Immediately made sail in the direction OF
the disabled steamer but the hungry water
had closed over many Of her crew and pas
sengers, and, a few hours after, Mrs. Berry
was set adrift, the noble steamer had gone
to the bottom.
But little more remains to be told. The
next day the man-of-war transferred her res
cued passengers 10 the Havana steamer
going north from New York, and they arriv-
ed there to meet husband and father whose
ship had arrived just before the tempest.
y magnificent sword, with suitable irscrip-
ton, was in due time forwarded to the Ad-
mirality for Captain Seymour, as a token OF
gratitude from Captain Berry and his wife.