Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-12-07

/ tlefeld I-oAs Cgnlfn
n ExulliaB seaaa q apesan.
"A passenger BY tie amship Dac.
ca, from Madras. In bound for
/ London. sends from sn ID inter-
estinR account OF an exciting scene
which he witnessed dr. storm III
The lndian rean al Isl.
re ss'zSa lAt 8 dAy8
after leaving CoIunbo, and had d
rough time of II. until tie gale be-
came 10 violent that cangashad to BE-
taken in, awnings furled and things
made rs snug as possible.
The correspondent describes what
followed / came Oh deck at 8 A.
H.; it was blowing ferceIy, and the
spray coming over the sheets. There
were three of US on deck when the
bell strnck-a Miss. Mr.. and my
self. We were holding on to our
chairs, which were firmly dashed TO
the inner cabin skylights, under the
lee of the ladies' saloon. Part Of the
crew were working hard to get the
> tarboard life boat inboard, when
bigger roll to the windward warned an
of what was coming. Hold on r.
some one shouted. We held on. The
chairs rushed forward on their LASH
ings. The deck stood upright. In
came the sea over the gunwale, over
the taffrail, up to our waists, lifted
the lifeboat out Of It's shackles, car
ried it overheard, smashing away
stanchions and davits, and out TO sea.
Then came the horrid cry Of ''Man
overheard T.
i The helm was put down, the en-
CINE reversed, and back she went on
a dubious search-all the more so as
sharks had been seen round the ship
earlier in the morning. The boat was
presently seen some 200 yards of,
keel uppermost. Soon after the two
men were observed clinging to it,
Then came an exciting two hours,
during which we steamed after the
boat, which was drifting rapidly to-
ward the east. But turning q ship
like the Dacca is a very slow bust
ness. and as she hung in the winds
eye jib was hoisted to bring her
round. BY the time this was done
the boat, with its pitiful- looking crew,
was away two miles and more to lee
ward, and we were rolling heavily and
unmanageable. At last hecaptain de-
cided to lower q boat, and the order
was given, Stand by the boat and
soon after "lower." "Who il going
in her p he shouted.
The first officer, Mr.. Ingram, spranQ
over the side, caught hold of the da-
Wit ropes and slipped down, but Just
as he got near her great roll of the
ship lifted him clear off the boat
twenty feet in the air. As he came
down again the boat had drifted for
ward, and he was plunged down in
the boiling sea FIVE or six seconds
Up he came again as the ship heeled
over, still hanging on, and missed BY
by an ace having his skull smashed
against the small boats side. Il was
really terrible sight and we shud-
dered as we looked on, the boat all
the while being dashed up and down
by the violence Of the waves. But at
last his opportunity came, and he drop
ped into the stern. Ate he was fol-
lowed by the boatswain, two firemen
and two European sailors, the native
crew hanging shamefully back. One
OF the passengers, a young English
officer, Lieutenant Wolff, Of the Sew
enth Fusillers, son of Sir Drummond
Wolff, volunteered at once. But the
ofhcer in charge would not accept q
passengers services while men of the
crew could be got. At last the boat
showed OF, and the oars were got out,
and in terrible sea they set out for
the missing boat. Directed BY the
motions Of a man aloft, they got
alongside her, and took the men
aboard. Then began q hard row
back.
We lost sight Of her again and
again, wondering how she could live
in such sea. But still she held on,
and got at last under our lee. By
the help of case Of oil scattered over
the waves they were comparatively
stilled, ladder was let down, and
when the last man stepped on board
such cheer greeted him as told him
what we thought of his pluck, and
that of the gallant fellows with him.
Captain Burkit was perfectly cool the
whole time, aud managed his ship
with great skill. When the first Of
ficer got q change Of clothes and
came down to the cabin he received
oil kinds Of congratulations. and his
health was drunkin bumpers Of cham
payne. On Sunday morning We got
under the lee Of Cape GuarLlafui, and
50 ended our brush with the south
1 west uaOneoor