The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-09-25

height and quite small. AS she
stepped upon the deck she gave us
a look | shall never forget. So
weak was she that she could scarce
ly stand. She attempted to walk
but could not, and would have tall
en- if the second mate had not
caught her in his arms and carried
her, in partly unconscious cOndi-
tion, to the cabin below. The boy
and seamen we're then pulled up,
and while the officers were provi-
ding Tor the comfort of the cast
aw@ys the story of their misfortune
was graphically told. The master,
Capt. Belts, said,
IFIT HAD NOT BEEN FOR. BELLE,
God knows what wonld have be-
come ofus. She is the best wife a
man ever had, aud though I.have
now lost everything | have in the
world save her, | ought to rejoice
that we have escaped together.
We left Calais on Sunday morning,
and had Il good run until the storm
struck US; on Wednesday night tue
gale WAS terrific. There were only
three hands on board besides my
wife one Of these was boy, and
could not he counted on to do much,
and we were well nigh exhausted
when the report came up from be-
low that we had sprung leak. The
night was dark aud dreary and the
waves were high. No vessel was
wiIhin bail from which we could
yet assistance. All that remained
| for us 10 DO WAS TO mau the pumps
aud battle as cOnId against the wa
ter in the hold, which was slowly
hut surely gaining on us. At this
time all hope seemed out of place I;
before morning the Ferris would be
cable under the waves, and that
all that would be left to tell the
tale of our life and death would
perhaps be found floating on the
water by "A passing ship days after
the storm was over. Only one who
has been in similar circumstances
can realize how little life seems
worth.
"But at that hour when it seem
ed impossible TO make a successful
effort, Belle came from the cabin,
HER FACE WHITE, BUT DETER
MINED,
and SAID:
"DOn't give mp, there is hope yet,
Hasten to The pumps. | will steer
the ship.' And in truth she did.
all the long hours of that fearful
night. She stood at the wheel using
her entire strength to keep the yes.
sci mp Into the wind. The rest OF
us pumped, pumped, until it seem
ed that our limbs would break.
Nprvrd by the fearful iess of the
situation we worked with full force
all the time, and much TO our salts
faction found that the water no
longer gained on us. Our hope and
PRAYER was for the morrow, because
when daylight came there would
be chance tor help. Nature could
no longer stand the test, and our
boy, who had been making manly
efforts, sank to the deck. SO ex.
hausted was he both in mind and
body that blood commenced TO OOZe
from his ears aud nose. l myself
the moment my labOrs were relax
ed, grew faint. | felt almost un
conscious OF what was gong on
around me. 1t seemed DIS IT the
fatal hour had come. Death no
} longer was dreadful visitor. His
presence would be almost welcome,
"But Belle, who had been steer
ing all these long hours, and had
shouted words OF encouragement to
us, now left the wheel aud buried
to my side.
"'Don' give mp yet, husband
we may be saved. Oh, for day
7 light With these words she grasp
ed the handles aud vigorously com
) memcrd TO work tue pumps. fol
lowed her efforts, and leaving the
schooner to drift we gave all OuI
attention to the pumps. Soon u
was dawn. 1t was with feelings .OI
a new lease of life that we contin
J ued our work. Occasionally oRe
would stop and glance over the
: waste of waters to search for pass
ing sail. Again aud again dis ip'
poiutment greeied us, but sudden
IN my vile looked np, aud, gazing
for a moment, cried:
"A SAIL! NOW WE MAY BE SAVED /!
II loosed up and sure enough q
) white sail was above the horizon
; Our fiag WAS at the MASTHEAD, aud
, We waited with strange feelings q
: see il they would see our condition,
: But mol No change was uIade III
, their course. and once more we
, turned to the pumps with aching
) hearts. All but my wife were dis
> appointed aud gloomy. She, how
) ever. not on a cheerful face, aud
! working harder than before, said,
= sNow We must pump until We ses
another ship
, ga little later another vesse
{ bove in sight, and our hopes tor 3
} second time grew rs we came neareI
, together. Tue vessel passed US il
plain sight, but no Indication of ouI
discovery was seen. On, on they
!. went, directly away. lt seemed
, for sure that We must go down
, The fates were all against US. O0i