The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-07
Narrow Escape Of Q Cunarder.

The leaning of the public mind to-
ward a determination to find victim
for public censure who shall be held re-
sponsible for the loss of the Columbus
inclines me to send you a statement
that may in some way modify the ex-
listing state of things concerning the
la.e wreck. In the summer of 1857
took passage in the China, Of the
Cunard line, for Liverpool. We had a
very dismal run across the Atlantic,
rain alternating with thick fog for
twelve days, the ship roliin incessant-
ly. and every night becoming new
horror in the constantly-increas ng fear
that something would happen to the
steamer. Fastnet Light, off the coast
of 1reland, was seen for q few minutes
during fog-liit on the evening of the
thirteenth day, and the Captain told
us, one and all, that our wretched pas
sage would soon be over. ..l..T ..'
The night that followed was densely
black and very stormy, but the sh p
was under full sail, and was driven
through tremendous seas with all steam
on. turned in about ten o. clock and
slept, should say, two hours, when an
irresistable-and to this day unaccount-
able-inhuence compelled me to get up
and dress myself. The ship TO led fear
fully. but l managed to reach the deck
and to grope my way, hand over hand,
by the deck railing to the smoke-pipe,
where l stood a lew minutes thorough
ly appalled, at the blackness of the
night and the mad plunging of the YES
sci. .H -..
Suddenly this terrific cry came up
from the deck below me: ''God Al
mighty help us. we're going ashore.
Put the ship about" family saw the
white waving of an arm in q SHIRT
sleeve, and the next minute was thrown
ION my feet by the sudden change OF
the ship 8 course brought about by an
officer telegram to the wheel-bouse.
Everything was in instant confusion,
not bet cred by the ia that the dark
rocks of the Irish coast were plainly
visible to many of the frightened pas
sengers. The ship shook like reed in
the fierce wind that blew, for every sail
was aback and Roadway seemed utterly
impossible to make. TWAS long time
before the vessel answer, d her he m,
and nothing but the naval discipline of
the sailors saved the China from becom-
ing a total wreck. .E ..
I'm v mention here that the Captain
of the Three Bells-the savior of the
San Francisco's passengers after she
was dismasted-was with us, and he
assured as that in all his long life as
sailor lie never had SO narrow an escape
from instant death. Tue ship was
nearly upon the rocks, and at he rate
she was go NC she would have smashed
herself to p eces in a very short time.
After breakfast the next day some one
said: 81 Let us have up the man who
gave the Alarm for we had learned
that the man saw at m dnight was a
steerage passenger; and soon he APP
pearer among us. gray-haired son Of
the sea, seventy years of age, or there.
about, who modestly said to rs, as we
gathered about him "Good friends,
give thanks to God, and do not praise
me. l only smelled the land grow ng
nearer and nearer. and WAS but His
humble instrument to save you" ,r..
The fact is we were drawn in some
mysterious manner ght miles QUE of
our course. Captain Hockey was wide
ly censured by the London papers and
has never been seen, SO / have heard,
upon the ocean since. Possibly the
magnetism of the land, or the effect of
the iron and steel in the ships construc-
ton, or some powerful element of the
stormy atmosphere. PRODUCED . devia-
ton Of The needle of the compass, and
perhaps counter currents or other con-
trary forces of rcsistless tides made the
great ship play thing for the PREACHER.
Gus seas.-Coy. Boston Journal.