The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-03
The Plague at Sea,

In the gray light OF a July morning we
made u sail dead ahead, close upon the
outskirts Of retreatlng night. In twenty
minutes we heard the report Of firearms
from her deck and saw that her flag was
at halt-mast In token OF distress. A
murmur Of excited sympathy ran through
the great throng upon the deck OF the
steamer. There was another, Of dlsap-
pointment, when the purser told us 1t was
a Spanish brig. 1t was as II we had
wasted our compasslon-an impulse natu-
raj to the Saxon breast. born Of the fierce
blood Of those who peered through the
stormy passes of the Alps into the Elysian
fields OF Latin foes.
The steady throbbing OF tho screws
slackened and censed aB we closed upon
the quarter Of the helpless brig. In
light western air. sho lay with topsalls
backed and her jlbs and spanker idly
swaying to and fro. Four men were on
her deck, and as we approached, lowered
boat astern, hauled It slowly alongside.
and entering 1t left tho ship. She was
apparently deserted. They rowed pain.
fully toward our steamer, aud we gath.
cred Oh the port side where the rope
ladder had been hung, to catch the first
glimse Of their faces. This we could not
bent to their oars feoby out perslstentiy,
never looking up. Our captain hailed
them mpatlentIy-they only waved their
hands between clippings Of the oars. They
were now alongside, and tue bow oarsman
clutchcd the ladder and begun to cl,mp to
the deck. Two others followed nm, all
three hanging like spiders on tho narrow
way, resting at every round. The most
intense excitement was visible In every
face that watched them from the steamer
deck. Our captain hailed them from the
bridge, aud as before, each man waved q
hand IN a mechanical way. Then the
captain came to the ladder awaiting their
coming. The fourth man SAL still III the
boat, but those who noticed saw him
bending forward ns he sat until tho
broad brin of his hat touched the gun
vale, and the black locks OF his hair
showed from behind. He seemed help
less or asleep. but attracted little attention
as the Others climbed closer to the deck.
AT last the uppermost had his hand
upon the steamers rail; few more steps
and he would he Oh deck. A hundred
hands we've ready to aid him in what
seemed q task beyond his power. But
the captain thrust them all away, and
reaching ward lifted his hat from his
head. A general exclamation of horror
broke from our eager group. There, not
two feet from the rail. looked up the
visage Of Dtath-a yellow, shriyelled face,
and eyes that burned with the weak and
cruel fire OF wasting lite. Long and
matted halr and mustache sweeping
down made tie picture beyond faul'.
1t was the look OF the baser man, after
the divine and human elementa OF his
nature die away in hunger, thirst or
bodily distress, leaving in his useless
frame the reptile only, from whose depths
the strict Darwihians claim ascent. An
impulse Of terrible dead selzed all who
looked into tho sallow face. askant in all
the fear Of sudden death.
The captain motloned back tho man.
lie trembied like leaf and spoke for
the first time:
''Piedad Cielosl'
"Que q liere w"
And the answer came in concert a.
most from the three:
"We arc dying, senor."
"Of wha,!'
eve do not know"
But the captain knew, and we shrank
rs If from the flames at the words:
''fhey are dying Of yellow fever"
Ii we had doubted this, the next
moment would have proved his iudg.
ment right. The man remaining in tho
boat rose suddenly from his seat with a
quick, sharp cry, "Santo Dlos!" and fell
upon his back dead.
The captain ordered The others back,
promising aid On board their brig.
They swore they never would return.
and began climbing with the haste of
desperation. Never will | forget the
struggle that ehsued. The leading Span.
lard, clingng with both hands to the rail,
held back by the broad hsnds Of tho cap.
tam, seemed the active personitlcatlon Of
the plague, doing battle with the lives OF
all on board. He was like one mad; he
cursed and snapp nd his teeth, filing the
air with bitter oaths, drawing his fee!
under hIm to tho highest sround he could
reach, and throwing all his strength INTO a
final effort. He made it, and was thrust
down again by the same strong hands.
But his feet had been drawn as close to
his body so that they slipped from beneath
him-.and for a single instant he hung
above the others. Then he fell, striking
the next man and the third, and carving
them with him into the sea. They SINK
like plummets, in a moment moro there
were but three broad hats floating upon
the place OF their descent.
The captain consulted with h,s first
officer, a well thrown pig Of iron crashed
through the bottom of tho boat, aud the
bell rang out, ''full speed ahead.'
When the snn came up the Spanish
brig stood for an instant against its disk
AMI disappeared IN the dazzling radi
ance Of its later rays.
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