Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-10-06

tateu, came Dack 10 the counter, ana
asked the clerk, in confidential tone;
II say, what might be the valley OF
that buzzum-pin of yournP The old
woman ut home might like some kind
of a trinket, you know"
The clerk eyed the questioner sharp
ly, carried his hand hastily TO the dia-
mond cluster flashing in his shirt front,
and said, shortly: "Sixty ounces"
Jim gave long whistle, and went
out in search of nights lodging.
Our man, who had acquired among
his fellow-mincrs tho nickname of
Yankee JIM" had been sailor be-
fore the mast. When the ships anchor
touched the bottom, he with his ship
mates started Mt once for the "dig-
gings," where he had toiled for two
years with varying luck, but finding
himself Mt last in possession OF what
would be considered little fortune in
his native town, we see him now re-
turning. filed with the hope of happy
meeting with the wife and children he
had left behind.
But while Yankee Jim slept soundly,
and dreamed blissfully of pouring gold
en- eagles into James lap, his destiny
was being fulfilled. The great financial
storm of 1856 burst upon the State un-
heralded. Like thief in the night the
one fatal word passed over the wires
that shut the door of every bank, and
made the boldest turn pale. Suspen-
sion was followed by panic, panic by
ruin aud dismay. Yankee Jim was
only nn atom swallowed up in the gen.
eral and overwhelming disaster of that
day.
In the morning he went early to the
bank, to find it shut fast and an excited
and threatening crowd surging to and
fro before the doors. Men with haggard
faces were talking and gesticulating
wildly. Women were weeping and
wringing their hands. A sudden faint
ness came over him. What could it all
meanp Mastering courage to put the
question to q bystander. he was told to
look and read for himself. Two omi-
nous words, "Bank closed" were
posted ON the front of the building.
For moment the poor fellow could
not seem to take in the full meaning of
the calamity that had fallen like a
thunderbolt from clear sky; but as it
dawned upon him that his little fortune
was swept away forever, and with 1t the
hopes that had opened to his delighted
fancy, the blood rushed to his brain.
and hrs face grew purple. Then he fell
back in fit, deprived of sense or mo-
ton.
The first word he articulated when he
came to himself was: "Homc." Some
kind souls paid his passage to San
Francisco. where the sight of blue water,
and of the big ships gallantly riding at
their anchors, seemed to revive him q
little. Wholly possessed by his one
idea of getting home, he shipped on
board the next home-bound steamer,
going about his duty like man half
stunned, and who sees, without COM
pretending, what is passing around
him.
The sailing of homeward-bound
steamship was one of the events of
those days. To say that the whole city
turned out to witness, or rather to as
sist at, her departure, would hardly be
an exaggeration. On board, all was
hustle and hilarlty. On shore, jests and
good-byes popped like champagne
corks. Those who were going We're the
secret envy OF those who were left be-
hind, in whom this scene aroused that
passionate, that uncomfortable yearn-
ing for the old home beyond the mount
Amp eaks, beyond the seas.
My own knowledge of the chief actor
in this history began at four o'clock In
the morning of the third day out from
port. The California; s eengines were
suddenly stopped. There was hurried
trampling of feet, rattling of blocks
l,o a,nnanInl h,,o n IanA ell
"a silence that could be felt. i jumped
out of my berth and ran on deck. How
well can recall that scene!
The morning, cold, damp and foggy,
was an utterly dismal one. A pale light
struggled through the heavy mist, bui
it was too thick to see cable s-lengtf
from the ship, although we distinctly
heard thesratHe of oars at some distance
with now and then quick shout thai
sent our hearts up into our mouths. We
listened intently. No one needed to bt
told what those shouts meant.
The huge black hulk lay silent ant
motionless. Although the gloom hid i
from us, the near vicinity of the coas
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
VESSELS wake stretched half-luminou'
streak of phosphorescent foam. until il
mingled with and was lost in the color
less vapor overhanging the black ant
torpid tropic sea. Down this luminous
track, and into the gloom beyond oul
eyes were strained to discover the Sc
cret of the hour.
How long it was l can not tell, fol
minutes seemed hours then; but at las
we heard the dip of oars, and the boa
shot out of the fog within biscuit
toss of the ship. I remembered that
as they came alongside, the upturne(
faces of the men were ghastly ant
pinched. One glance showed that tn,
search had been in vain.
The boat was secured, the huge pad
dies struck the water like clods, tn
heavy floating mass swung slowly rount
to her helm. But ut the instant whel
we were turning away, awed by tn
mystery of this death-scene, cry cam
out of the darkness-a yell of agon,
the deck. May / never hear the lik
dRdil' 'ouNc ihcI jOT oOu suhc SuS
mel" pierced through and through tn
silence till q hundred frantic voice
seemed repeating it. The cry was s
near that every eye instinctively turne
to the spot whence it proceeded--s
near that it held all who heard it j
breathless, in sickening suspense. Ha
the sea really given up its deadP
Before one might count ten. the boa
was again manned and clear of the ship
recollect the figure of the first Office
as he stood erect in the stern-sheets
with the tiller-ropes in his hand, peer
ing into the fog. can see the me
springing like tigers to their work, an
the cutter tossing on the seething brin
astern like chip. Then the fog shr
them from view again. But neve
more was that voice heard on land {
J sea. 1t was the last agonized shrek {
returning consciousness, no doubt, q
the Pacific closed over Yankee jim
head.
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