The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-27
A Dread Romance OF tho Sea.

The British steamer "West indian
which arrived at Baltimore n few days
ago, brouglt from Jamaica the news ot
one of the most heartrendiDg marine
disasters which even the present tempest.
nous winter has caused.
About the middle of last month the
British bark "Fontabelle," Capt. Nixon
sailed from Jamaica for London, having
on board crew Of twenty-five men and
ten passengers, including tho captains
wife and three children, and two young
couples who had been married only six
weeks before. The voyage opened with
promise; the wind was fair and gentle
and everything indicated a quick and
pleasant passage 10 the English ahores
The West Indian seas, however, are
treacherous, aud when orc day out the
wind fell, and the vessel lay becalmed,
rolling laziIy upon the long waves. Four
days after sailing, when every sail was
set to catch the listiess breeze, hurri.
cane of prodigious fury fell without
warning upon the bark, and stripped her
of masts and rigging in ten minutes
time. The gale increased in fury, and
the dismnstcd hulk was driven violently
before it, being repeatedly SWEPT by huge
waves, which momcntarily threatened to
sink il by the weight Of tie tous Of water
which they threw OH board. The pas
scngers and crew, abandoning hope,
croucbcd under tho bulwarks, and
through the long night listened TO the
howling of the wind and the shrieks Of
anguish, as, one by one, their numbers
were diminished by the relentless seas.
Vivid flashes of lightning Mt times illu-
1,,iuoi 6a u| apa Dotincy tfs data lie N, nra
terrible. With every dash the passen-
gers who creuched in the stern could
perceive one OF the young married cou-
other, the husband standing over his wife
to shield her from the force OF the waves.
O:e wave of unusual power struck the
pair and tore from the body of the young
wife the night clothing in which she was
wrapped whcreupon the husband, strip
ping of his own clothing, fastened it
about his wife, and leaving her bound
securely to the side, plunged down into
the hold, Mt the risk Of his life, aud
brought up for her more suitable attire.
just as the dawn was breaking the climax
came. A tremendous wave hurled the
vessel high in the air; it came down
crashing upon reef; another torrent of
water struck the deck, and the captain
and ten men, with the young bride, were
hurled into tho sea. AS she was torn
from her husbands arms, the latter ap-
peared stupciied, but the next moment
leaped after her with terrible cry, and
he, too, was swept away and out of sight
Of the mortified survivors. To these the
avoided, and they clIng to their fasten-
t,bn 1,,tt 1aarot.
crumbling Of the vessel beneath the
abatcd, and the survivors began 10 gather
little courage. The night came, and
tho other bride, overcome by exhaustion,
died in tho arms of her husband. Day
dawped again, but only to arouse ono of
the seamen, who, crazed by thirst, leapcd
into the sea before the eyes of his horri-
the clear water they could see his body
lodged in n hollow of the rocks. To-
storm ragged 80 ferccly tfat, when tho
swept away, and only the mate, ono sea-
alive. Late in the afternoon Of this
nhiut NeJ ~ NCSdCA IcNO III nIRutJ per
ceived the plight of the survivors, and
sent crew of six men TO rescue them.
But the pitiless sea had not yet been
appeased with victims; o wave overturn-
ed The boat when 1t hnd almost reached
the bark, and the entire crew were
drowned in tho surf beneath tho very
eyes of those whom their bravery had
vainly attempted to save. Another boat
was sent oil, however, and Mt great rsl,
brought on board the men and woman
who mad SIT with Death for eight and
forty hours.
This is but one Of the terrible tales
which are every year brought home by
those who 60 down to the soa in ships,
and which mako the romnnces Of imaei.
native writers seem like idle tales. 1t is
rarely that sbipwreck occurs which is
attended by more distressing details, but
tho seas arc full Of terrors, many of
which ure known only to those who die
in them, and whose fate is never known.
Such narratives rs these give lively
stimulus to the Imagination in thinking
of the multitudinous wrecks from which
no survivor has ever come, and which 60
to swell the chapters OF romance of tile
mysterious and threatening deep.