The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-10-18
An Exciting Scene in Mid.Ocean.

An Exciting Scene in Mid.0cean.
A correspondent who was a passen-
ger by the steamship Dacca, which left
Madras for London, sends from Alden
an interesting account of an exciting
scene which he witnessed during a
storm in the Indian ocean. The YES
sci encountered the monsoon few
days after leaving Colombo, and had g
rough time cf it for several days. F.
nally the gale became so violent that
canvas had to be taken in, awnings
furled and things made as snug as pos
sible.
The correspondent describes what
| followed
al came on deck at 6 A. NJ. it was
blowing iiercely, and the spray coming
over the sheets. There were three of
us on deck when the bell struck-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 starboard life-bOat in-bOard,
when bigger roll to the windward
warned us of what was coming. Hold
onr some one shouted We held on.
The chairs rushed forward on their
! lashings. The deck stood upright. In
came the sea over the gunwale, over
the taffrail, up to our waists, lifted the
lifeboat out of its shackles, carried it
overheard, smashing away stanchions
and davits, and out to sea. Then came
the horrid cry Of Man overheard
The helm was put down, the engine
reversed, and back we went on
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 off, keel uppermost
Soon after the two men were observed
clinging on to it. Then came an eXcit-
ing two hours, during which we steamed
after the boat, which was drifting rap
idly toward the east. But turning a
ship like the Dacca is a very slow busi-
ness, and as she hung in the winds eye
iib 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 leeward, and we
were rolling heavily and unmanageable.
At last the captain decided 20 lower a
boat, and the order was given Stand
by the boat and soon after lower
Who is going in her?' he shouted.
"The first officer, Mr.. Ingram,
sprang over the side, caught hold of
the davit ropes and slipped down, but
just as he got near her great roll of
the ship lifted him clear of 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 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 mashed against the
small boats side. 1t was really ter
rible sight, and we shuddered as we
looked on, the boat all the while being
lashed up and down by the viO-
lence Of the waves. But at
last his opportunity came, and
he dropped into the stern. At once he
was followed by the boatswain, two
iiremen and two European sailors, the
native crew hanging shamcfully back.
/ One Of the passengers, young Eng
lish officer, Lieutenant Wolff, of the
| Seventh FusilierS, son of Sir Drum
mOnd Wolff, volunteered at once. But
| the officer in charge would not accept a
| passengers 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. Directed by the motions
Of a man aloft they got alongside her,
and took the men aboard. Then began
a hard row back.
I'VE lost sight Of her again and again
wondering how she could live in such
Il 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, lad
der 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. Captain
Burhtt 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 con-
gratulations and his health was drunk
in bumpers of champagne. On Satur-
urday morning we got under the lee of
Cape Guar,lafui, and so ended our
brush with the southwest monsoon"
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| HiUbnct Vuu,ol l., Tho Wo,,Id