The Portland daily press., 1884-05-22


at my story, and feeling of awe, as if some
supernatural power had made itself appar-
ent, affected all. But the urgent and impOr-
tant duties we had to perform prevented
anyone from returning to that part Of the
vessel again. All hands were now engaged
in stripping the ship and securing whatever
could be removed that had been left the
previous day and had escaped the wreckers.
A portion of the cargo was pulled up from
the hold and transferred to schooner a short
distance off. Towards noon the breeze set
in from the s. L. but Notwithstanding this
good portion of work was done. Before
quitting the wreck we felt q movement In
her, bat we had sounded all around and
found that she was firmly grounded on a
rock, so that it would De impossible for her
to shift unless heavy sea set in.
The wreckefs alEo were looting the ship
and carrying away all they could move. They
went iuto the steerage to pick up what they
found floating there andto search for OCon-
nor's body, as it was reported that he had
money and jewelry upon his person. They
succeeded in finding him, and from the de-
scrlption they gave, we gathered that they
bad discovered him near the place where /
had seen Kim last. He was still floating,
bat caught aud fixed by the lower jaw in
splintered part of one Of the berths, and q
portion OF his garments were torn In shreds
by nails which had been exposed when the
force of the water destroyed the woodwork.
Some one stripped the clothing from his
body, as 1t had been rumored that be had
some hundreds of sovereigns sewed up in
the lining of his waistcoat. The wrecksrs
upon the coast frequently pocket a good
sum and thereby advance their worldly pros
perity from the sufferings and calamities Of
others,
We worked very late that night and land
ed at dusk, as an ominous looking swell was
making up from the southwark. Before
midnight we heard the wind whistling and
bowling around the houses and barns, and
it was so intensely cold that, although We
were huddled together, several in bed, In
the upper story of general store, We could
not keep ourselves warm. When daylight
came on some of us proceeded to point OF
land upon the coast aud cast our eyes to-
wards the scene of the disaster. The sea
was beating upon the shore and breaking In
heavy waves, but not vestige of the ship
could be discovered. Doubtless she had
slipped off the rock during the storm and
sunk in deep water.
Lately, in looking over the chart of that
coast l was quite interested to find that the
rock we struck upon had been named after
our captain-an evidence that it had never
been located before. The little cove where
we landed with the women and children also
bears the name of the captain, but whether
it has any connection with the disaster am
unable to say.
Conclusion.
The strange story have related Is true In
every particular. The voyage have de-
scribed ended fatally. This had been
again and again predicted by one, ap-
parently of unsound mind, who was pas
senger on board have given the details
in as simple manner as am able; but It
Is nearly impossible for anybody to record
the agonies and struggle in such battle for
dear life, and depict the miseries of such
scene in its awful reality. No doubt it will
forever be remembered with terror by all
who survived. If any of them chance to
see this account they will acquit me of ex.
aggeration. do not presume to give any
idea or leason of my own as to the cause Of
this disaster. 1t will be sufficient for the
reader to know that there was a most
searching investigation into the matter by
the government and that the captain was
exonerated from all blame, and his certificate
returned to him, which is proof enough that
he had not committed reckless error
The question is naturally suggested
whether there Is any rational connection be-
tween the apparent rawlings of O'Connor
and the sad and melancholy fact as it
happened. believe there is none whatev-
er; that it was simply curious and remark
able coincidence. But the circumstances
filled me with a haunting dread which l
cannot help acknowledging has never left
me.
AS to the strange experience l had in the
steerage | feel that it is right and proper for
ne to give what explanation can. The ex-
PLANTATION which seems to me the correct
one did not occur to me until some time az
forwards. All the apparently supernatural
movements and fancied mutterings l can
now account for reasonably enough. The
man was dead. | knew 1t. But the move
ments given to the body and limbs by TIE
undulatory motion of the water produced
such a life-like appearance that, in the over
wrought and highly excitabe state of my
mind, they caused feeling of absolute ter
ror, and it was some time before / could
realize the fact that the scene was not su-
pernatural. What seemed to me to be
moaning expressions of solemn import were,
OF course, nothing but sounds produced by
the smashing of the sea or the grating Of
some floating material against the ship. But,
In spite OF all my reasonings and convic-
tions, cannot forget that scene. Upon
many dark and tempestuous night, when
YEARLY pacing the deck and anxiously look
ing out for the land, the vision of poor Fe-
lix OConnor, with his warning appeals
and waving hands, comes distinctly before
my mind, and | am melted to greater vigil
lance in guarding the valuable lives and
property placed by circumstances under my
care.