St. Landry democrat., 1882-10-14

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out of my berth and ran on deck. How
well / can recall that scene!
The morning cold. damp and foggv,
was an utterly dismal one. A pale light
struggled through the heavy mist. but
it was too thick to see a cable s-length
from the ship, although we distinctly
heard the rattle OF oars at some distance,
with now and then a quick shout that
sent our hearts up into our mouths. We
listened intently. No one needed to be
told what those shouts meant.
The huge black hulk lay silent and
motionless. Although the gloom hid it
from us, the near vicinity OF the coast
was announced by the roaring Of the
surf, distinctly audible in that death
like stiffness. We could not even make
out the mast-heads for the fog in which
they seemed dissolving. But in the
YES sells wake stretched half-luzSinous
streak of phosphorescent foam, ,sntil it
mingled with and was lost in thes color
less =vapor overhanging the blaS:k and
torpid tropic sea. Down this lualinous
track, and into the gloom beyond our
ewes were strained to discover .Sle Sc
cret of the hour.
How long it was | can not tall Tor
milaltes seemed hours then; but ut last
we heard the dip Of oars, and the boat
shos out of the fog within a BISCUITS
tosN of the ship. | remembered that,
as Aev came alongside, the uFturned
faces of the men were ghasriy and
pinshed. One glance showed lstat the
seasch had been i'll vain.
She boat was secured, the huge pad
D. +hn To hn
he5vv floating mass swung slowly round
to her helm. But at the instalst when
wawere turning away, awed by the
mystery of this death-scene, a ery came
ous of the darkness-a yell Of agony
AMI deepest horror-that nailed us to
thu deck. May | never hear the like
akein Save me! for Gods sake save
mfr' pierced through and thrntlgh the
silence till a hundred frantic voices
SEEMED repeating it. The cry was so
nSar that every eye instinctive,y turned
[ til the spot whence it procee ied-so
, nsar that it held all who heard it in
bseathless. in sickening suspense. Had
tile sea really given up its dead?
[ ! Before one might count ten the boat
Was again manned and clear OF the ship.
f I.recolect the figure of the first officer
| al he stood erect in the stesn-sheets,
| With the tiller-ropes in his hand, peer
lac into the fog. can see the men
Swinging like tigers to their ,vork. and
: the cutter tossing on the seetbing brine
astern like a chip. Then tbs fog shut
them from view again. Eut never
t more was that voice heard ca land or
sea 1t was the last agonized shrek OF
= returning consciousness, no sdoubt, as
/ Che Pacific closed over Yankee jim S
: bead. !,
+ At eight bells we assembled around
= lhe capstan at our Captains call, when
: The few poor effects of the losim were
0 aoroduced. His kit contained one or
, fwo soied letters, daguer: eotype OF
t |swo blooming children hand in hand, a
n Iplece of crumpled paper, ana few ar
: Isticles of clothing. noticed that While
Y Smoothing out the creases III this scrap
e IEof paper the Captain became deeply
Iattentive, then thoughtful, then very
;. Ered. Clearing his throat, he began as
l. Efollows:
" "It's an old sea customs to sell by
j auction the kit OF shipmats who dies
: on blue water. You all kncty it Gus
q tom of the land to search Sor the last
. | will of deceased friend az soon as the
d I funeral is over The man We lost this
Il morning shipped by his fo'sastle or sea
VI name-a very common thing among
IA sailors; but I've just foune:out his true
81 one since | stood on this spot; ano
IT what more, I've found ous that he hao
! been in trouble. An ideS strikes me-
ii right here that he found it 500 heavy fol
4 him. God knows. But itss MOI e to the
q point that he left wife aSd two chill
i dren, whose sole dependesce he was
q Gentlemen and mates, take OF your hat
d while read you this letteS
t The letter, which bores evidence o
J having been read and readsagain, ran
- follows:
tp "Oh, James! and are yous really comin
{ home, ana with such a lot of nseney. too? Oh
Z can't believe it all! How happy we shall
y once more! 1t makes me keel just IKE
young girl again, when you anS USED 20 roar
Z, in the berry pastures hand in Sand, ana neFe
T. coveted anything in the wide word put 70 o
Sf together. You haven't forgSt that, my lac
b have you? or the old cedar on tine cilH wne .L
T. you asked me for your OWL wife. and tn
II heaven over us and the sea afs)ur feet, an
se beautiful, and we so happy! go come quich
e. Surely God has helped me to wait an TINS ION!
r. weary time, but now it seemsMslf coulhn
I'd bear it another day. And the iittle boy, Jane:
a. just your image; it's all he van say Pap
sll come home How can yon nave 'ns near'
~ stay in that wicked place?
p When he had finisheess some of tn
lady passengers were CRYING softly, Il
be then read the fatal certificate of depoS
be it, holding it up SO that u might see
IN snow, ladies and geltlemen." h
T. went on, you've heard she story, an
at can put this and that together. Whe
a we get to Panama. I'm going to writ
ne a letter to the widow. et's for you t
On say what kind of letter it shall bf
T. That's why I've asked ytsl here. Nov
III purser, put up the ceesiticate OF d.
u posit.'