Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-26

and we could scarcely make any way
against the wind, which blew certainly far
stronger than I had ever known it to do
before. We linked our arms together and
managed at last to get down to the beach.
The night was go dark that we could see
nothing from the fshermen's cottages.
"Where is she ?" said l to an old man
who stood at one of the doors.
"She's on the south of the Steel, sir,
said he. "They're trying to reach her
with a rocket from the jetty-end
Hurrying to the end, we found tolera-
bic large group of fishermen surrounding
the two coast guardsmen who had charge
of the rocket apparatus.
do you make any thing of her, Har-
vey ," said to one of the coast guard, who
lived in the village, and who was great
ally of mine in fishing and boating expedi-
lions.
"Well sir," said he, 81 think she'll be
big French lugger that was knocked
about, off and on, this afternoon. l said
when l seed her l wouldn't give much
chance for her getting into the harbor. It's
so fearful dark, sir, that we can scarcely
make her out bit but l fancy | picked
out three masts such as them great ugly
| French Golfers have. We've missed her
twice with the rockets-they both fell to
leeward of her, but we'll allow enough for
this one, sir.
As he spoke they got ready to fire an
other rocket, and this time, as far as they
could guess, it went right over the unfor-
tunate vessel We had now begun to get
our eyes accustomed to the darkness, and
fancied that we could make out black,
shapeless mass shout fifty or eighty yards
before US. We could hear the cries
of the poor fellows on boald clearly enough,
and the crashing, grinding sound of the
vessel on the rocks; and by the latter
sound we knew that, unless something was
quickly done, they would all perish.
Just thea to the great delight of us all,
some one on board fixed lantern in the
rigging. and by its light we could sse that
the coast guard had been right in their
| coniectures, and that it WAS one OF those
! large, unwieldy luggers which trade be-
| tween our northern coal ports and France.
/ At last, after what seemed to us an i'm
mense time, we could just make out that
| a man was getting carefully over the side
| Of the ship into the cradle, and pulling the
rope. He came toward US into the dark
ness, and IL few minutes we were able
to haul up upon the jetty miserable,
! half-drowned FTenchman, who very soon
! had the neck Of a bottle of better cognac
than he had ever before tasted, thrust into
his mouth.
Of went the cradle again, and back It
returned with the same result, until we
soon had quite 4 little French colony, shiv-
ering and shaking on the jetty beside US.
There only remained now the Captain to
be brought off; and, to our very great con-
| sternation, we made cut from one OF the
crew that he had announced his determine
ton to stick by hia snip and wait until
morning, when he imagined the sea would
| 90 down. . His reason for this was an idea
/ he had GOT into his foolish head, that upon
his leaving his deck he lost all claim to his
vessel, which at once became the property
of pertdious Albion, and as the unsightlY
/ old lugger was his sole means Of subsist-
ence, be determined not TO give her up.
1t was a marvel to all the experienced
sailors On the lefty that she should have
held together 20 long 90 she had done, and
she was expected to break up every min
ute. What was 10 be done then Tor the
foolish CID Frenchman Was he to be Al.
/ lowed to perish with her, or could any
thing be done to compel him - save his
life?
We did not know what to do, and began
to think that he must be left to his fate,
when one OF the fishermen was heard to
say to another
IF some fellow, now, had the pluck to
90 off and fetch him? Ii it wasn't for the
vile and BARNS, I'd 90"
"And what would be the good of that -
said another, "when you can't jabbsr one
word of his confounded lingo !"
There was pause, and tnen, b nay con
sternation, heard quiet voice at my el-
bow say
"That'n be the only plan. understand
French, and viii 90 off to him and explain
the matter.
50 You, MAXWELL" I said. Stuff and
nonsense, my dear fellow. l wouldn't allow
1t for a moment.
Excuse me, Mr.. Jermyn, but 1 intend
/ to 60. The last time they practiced down
here l went off for fun, and there's really
no more danger now. It's only the dark
ness, and the rain and noise that make it
| appear rather perilous undertaking"
/ "No, III be hanged If you shall 90 "
said l. " Good gracious me are you to
risk your lie because COMPOUNDED thick
headed old French skipper chooses to be an
obstinate old mule Besides, you shar t
do it, Maxwell, l tell you,
His only reply was the taking off his
watch, which he quietly handed 10 me.
| {" The wet will iniurc it, he said.
"Now, Maxwell, do be reasonable"
said l. For goodness sake don't do this
foolish thing. It's all very well being
/ QQixotic, and all that sort of thing, but
there's limit to that, and this is beyond
it. Come, let's go home we can do no
good here.
give you my word, Fred, that I was
never SO miserable in my life before. Here |
was boy who was virtually, if not actu-
ally, in my care, going into the most fear
/ full danger, and | was pOwerless to stop /
him. II anything happened to this boy |
/ wha. was I TO say to his parents, and what |
would they say TO me? Yet nothing we
/ c0ul say would prevent him from going. !
We could just make out that he had |
reached the vessel, and then a very long |
time went by without any sign whatever. /
/ The excitement in all minds, and in mine /
especially, was painful in the extreme. |
| The coast guarismen, old, experienced |
n.oi-war's men, and the fishermen, were |
all IN q state Of wonder that the vessel had |
held together so long, and we all expected |
that every minute would be her last At |
.
but which | fancy could have really been |
only about ten minutes, we saw man get |
over the side of the vessel, and soon the |
ugly cause of all cur anxiety fat, pudgy, |
elderly Frenchman-was hauled on to the |
ietty. and it he did get little roughly |
handled and shaten in getting him clear OF |
the ropes, why l don't think he was much |
30 be pitied
need not say that the cradle was sent
off again as quickly as possible, and we
saw. TO orr great delight, that young Max !
well was getting into il. We began to !
haul VITA a will but al Of sudden the /
vessel seemed to collapse and 20 10 pieces. /
A grea. cry arose from all on the jesty, |
when, to our infinite delight, We heard /
Maxwelrs voice close to Us. He had just !
reached the je.ty when the rope gave way, !
from the vessel breaking up; but he chung !
tightly to it, and in q moment he was !
pulled MP among US, and was almost de-
voured by the delighted fishermen, who
crowded around him to shake hands and
ply him with brandy.
Ii was undoubtedly one OF the narrowed
escapes that was ever heard Of. II he had
b5ea 4 cou Jle OF feet further of when the
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