The Republican journal., 1882-10-12
Exciting Scene in Mid Ocean

y correspondent who was a passenger
by the steamship Dacca, which left Mad
las for London on the list ut sends from
| Alden an interesting account Of an eNcjt-
inc scene which he witnessed during d
storm III the Indian ocean 'Ihe vessel
encountered the monsoon 4 few DAYS
after leaving Colombo, and had a rough
time OF it until the 18th ult.. when the
gale became 50 violent that canvas had
to be takenin, awnings iurlcd, and things
made as snug as possible.
The correspondent describes what fol
! lowed:
Il came Oh deck at i a. H.. it was
blowing tcrceIy, and the spray coming
over the sheets. There We're three
Of rs on deck when the bell stluck-a
Miss, Mr., and myself We were hold
ing on to our chairs, which were firmly
lashed to the inner cabin skylights under
the lee of the ladies' saloon Part of the
crew were working hard to get the star
board lltcDoat nboard, when bigger ron
to the WindWdrd warned us OF what was
coming. Hold on some one shouted.
We held on. The chairs rushed forward
on their laShings. The deck stood up-
right. In came the sea, over the gun
Wale, over the tatl'rail, up to our waists,
lifted the llteboat out Of its shackIcs, car
rled it overheard, smashing away stanch-
l0lS and daNlts, and out to sea. Then
came the horrid cry Of Man overheard
"Ihe helm was put down, the engine
reversed, and back We went on a search
all the more hopeless as sharks had been
seen round the ship earlier in the morn
ing. The boat was presently seen some
200 yards off, keel uppermQst Soon after
the two men were observed clinging on to
it. Then came an exciting two hours,
| during which we steamed after the boat.
which was drifting rapidly toward the
east. But turning ship like the Dacca
is very slow business, and as She hung
IN the winds eye jib was hoisted to
bring her around BY the time this was
done the boat, with its pititui looking
crew, was away two miles and more to
leeWard, and we We're rolling heavily and
unmanageable At last the captain decid-
ed to lower boat, anG the order was
given Stand by the boat, and soon after
flower. who is going in herH he shouted
"Thc first officer, Mr.. Ingram, sprang
over the side. caught hold of the dayit
ropes and slipped down: but just as he
| got near her, a great roll of the Ship lift
ed him clear of the boat 20 feet in the air
! rs ne came down again the boat had
| dritted forward, and he was plunged
down in the boiling sea for five or six
seconds. Up he came again as the ship
heeled over, still hanging on, and missed
! by an ace having his skull smashed against
the small boats side. 1t was really Il
terrible sight, ana we shuddered as We
looked on, the boat all the while being
| lashed up ana down bv the violence of
the waves. But at last his opportunity
came and he dropped ntothe stern. At
once he was followed by the boatswaiu,
two tiremen, and two European sailors,
| the native crew hanging shamefullv back
| one OF the passengers, a young English
Ottlcer, Lieut.. Wolff Of the Seventh FuS-
ileTs, a son Of Sir DrummOnd Wolff,
volunteered at once. But the officer in
charge would not accept a passenger 5
services while men of the crew could be
got. At last the boat showed off, and the
oars were got out, and in a terrible sea
they set out for the missing boat Direct
ed by the motions OF a man aloft, they
got alongside her, and took the men
aboard. Then began a hard row back.
eve lost sight of her again and again J;
wondering how she could live III such a
sea. But still she held on and got at last
under our lee. BY the help of a case of
oil scattered over the waves they were
comparatively stilled, a ladder was let
down, and when the last man stepped on
board such a cheer greeted him as told
him what We thought of his pluck and
that of the gallant fellows with him.
Capt. Burkitt was perfectly cool the
whole time, and managed his ship with
great skill. When the first officer got a
change Of clothes, and came down to the
cabin, he received all kinds Of congrat-
ulations, and his health was drunk in
bumpers Of champagne. On Sunday
morning We got under the lee Of Cape
Guardafui, and so ended our brush with
the southwest monsoon" Manchester
Courier.
Nassalboro rejoices over % years old young
man who goes out doing housework by the
week. When travelling by rail or coach, he
takes partly finished stocking or mitten