Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-20

neighbors thought my good fortune
! had turned my brain, for l fitted it
UP and furnished it for a lady, down
to little rocking chair by my study
table, and tiny work basket with
tiny gold thimble IN it. And when
all was finished I took the first ship
for Liverpool.
Ten years builds city over here.
It doesn't make nueh change in a
Devonshlre village. The very gates
were still half off their hinges, as |
left them, only the people were little
older and trifie more stupid, and
there was new vicar. Old Mr..
Branscome had been dead six months
died very poor, they told me; there
was nothing left for Miss VIM y. My
heart gave one geat leap when | heard
that. And Miss Winny? She had
gone governessing with some people
who were just off to Canada, and the
ship sailed morrow from Liver
pool.
The Liverpool express never seemed
to crawl so slowly before. got there
to find every berth taken on board the
Antarctic, and the captain raging at
the ncn-appearance of two of the
crew. Without a seconds pause, I
offered for one of the vacant places
I was as strong as horse and active
enough, and though the captain eyed
me rather askance-I had been to a
West end tailor on my way through
London-he was too glad to get me TO
ask any questions, SO I sailed on the
ship with my girl, little as she knew
it. I saw her the first day or two,
looking so pale and thin that she was
like the ghost of her own self, and
yet sweeter to my eyes than ever be-
fore. The children she had charge of
were troublesome little creatures, who
worried and badgered her till | longed
to cuff them we'll. But there was a
geDtleness and patience about her
quite new to my idea of Miss Winny,
and [ only loved her the more for it.
After the second day out the wind
still freshened. and I saw no more of
her.
We had an awful passage. It was
late in November = an early winter,
and the cold was intense. The wind
of our machinery was broken-the
screw damaged = and we could not
keep our course. AS We drew near
the otker side of the Atlantic, we got
more and more out of our bearings,
and at last the fogs told us we were
somewhere off the banks of News
foHndland, but where, no one was
quite sure. 1t seemed to me it had all
happened before, or [ had read it, or
dreamed it. At all events, it was
hardly surprise te me when, on the
tenth night, just after smidnigt, the
awful crash and shock took place =
sensation which no one who has not
felt it can imagine IN the least and
we knew that the Antarctic had
struck
It's a fearful thing, if you come to
think of it, great steamer filed with
living souls in the full flow of life and
health, and in one moment the call
coming to each of them to die Before
you could have struck match the
whole ship was in a panic-cries, ter
rOr, confusion, agony-Oh, 1t was
awful? 7 trust never to see such
scene again. [ made nay way through
it all as If l had neither eyes nor ears,
and got to the state room [ had long
ago found out was the one Which be-
longed to my girl. I knocked at the
door with heavy hand; even at that
awful moment a thrill ran through
me at the thought of standing face to
face with her again.
"Winnyr' I cried, "come out!
make haste! there is not moment to
lose!"
The door opened as spoke, and she
stood just within, ready dressed, even
to the little black hat. The cabin light
had been left burning, by the doctors
orders, and it fell full on me as I stood
there in my sailors jersey and cap. [
wondered if she would know me.
forgot the danger we were in-forgot
that death was waiting close at hand
forgot that the world held any one
but just her and me.
''DIck" she cried-"Oh, Dick.
Dick' and she fell forward in a dead
faint on my shoulder.
All my senses came back then; and
| threw her over my arm and ran for
been dropped by the door of the LADIES'
cabin. There was no light, but |
stumbled over it as [ ran. I snatched
it up and carried it with me.
Up above, all was in the widest
chaos; the boats overflled, and push
ing off; the ship settling rapidly; peo-
pie shouting, crying, swearing. One
hears tales Of calmness and courage
aften enough at such times, which
makes ones heart glow as one reads
them; but there was not much heroism
shown in the wreck of the Antartic.
The Captain behaved splendidIy, and
so did some of the passengers, but the
majority of them and the crew were
mad with terror, and lost their heads
altogether.
I saw there was not a chance for
the over crowded boats in that sea,
and I sprang for the rigging. I was
not a second too soon; score of
others followed my example, and with
nay precious burden should not have