Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-08-28

when | had the hatch taken off and
jumped down upon the boxes alone.
A little way forward saw space
where Jack might easily have gone
down, and to this point crawled on my
hands and knees. | called out there,
but could get no answer, a short dis
tance further was wide space, which l
had entirely forgotten, but which now
remembered had been left open on ac-
count of break in the flooring of the
hold, which would let anything that
might hare been stared there rest di-
reotly OIL the thin planking of the ship.
TO this place | made my way, and
looked down. L heard the splashing of
the water, and thought could detect
sound like that of an incoming of tiny
Jet or stream. At arst could sea moth
ing, but as soon Us | became used to the
dim light, could distinguished the
faint outlines of the boy at some dis
tance below me, He seemed " he sit
ting 0p the broken floor, with his feet
stretched out against cask. called
out to him, and thought lie looked up.
"Jack, are you there2"
And he answered me In faint, weary
! tone:
eyes, help me! For heavens sake
help me! Bring men and bring Ian
tern-the ship has sprung leak ~
l hesitated, and he added, in more
eager tone;
"Make hastei l will try and hold 1t
till you come back"
] waited 70 hear no more, but hurried
on deck as soon as possible, and return
ed with lantern and three men. ]
leaped down beside the boy and could
scarcely believe my own senses. Three
of the timbers were worm. eaten TO the
very heart, and one of the outer planks
had been broken, and would burst In
any moment The boy might leave 1t,
whose feet were braced against the
plank before him. Half dozen little
jets OF water were streaming in abont
him, and he was wet to the skin. | saw
the plank must burst the moment the
strain was removed from it, SO | made
the men brace themselves against it be-
fore lifted him up. Other men were
called down with planks, spikes, and
AIDES, and with much care and trouble
we finally succeeded in stopping the
leak and averting the danger.
The plank which had been stove in
was six feet long by eight inches wide,
and would let In a stream OF water Of
that capacity. 1t would have been be-
yond our reach long before we could
have discovered 1t, and would have
sunk us In very short time. knew
it must be where the iceberg struck US.
Jack Withers was taken to the cabin
and there he managed to tell his story.
Shortly after ] put him in the hold he
crawled forward and when he became
used to the dim glimmer that came
through the headlights, he looked
around for snug place in which to lie,
for his limbs were very sore. He went
to sleep, and when he awoke he heard
faint sound, like water streaming
through a small hole. He went to the
open place in the cargo and looked down
and was sure that be saw small jet of
water springing up through the ships
bottom. He leaped down and in few
moments found that the timbers had
given wholly away, and that the stream
was increasing in size. He placed his
hand upon the plank and found 1t
broken, and discovered that the pressure
| Of the water without was forcing il in
ward. He had sense enough to see that
| II 1t gained an inch more it must all go,
and the ship must be lost and perhaps
all hands perish. And he saw, too, that
If he could keep the broken plank in its
place he might stop the incoming food.
So he sat himself upon 1t aud braced his
feet against the cask, and then called
for help. But he was too far away-so
low down, and with such a mass Of
cargo about him, that his voice scarcely
reached other ears than his own. Some
of the men heard him but thought he
was talking to himself.
Ard there he sat, with bis feet braced
four-and-twenty hours, with the water
squirting all over him and drench;ng
him to the very skin. He had several
times thought Of going TO the hatchway
and calling for help; but he knew that
the broken plank would be forced in IL
he left it, for he could feel It heaye be-
meath himi his limbs were racked with
pain, but he would not give up. /
asked him II would not have given up
IL had not come as did. He answered
that he would not have done It while
there was life in him. He said he
thought not OF himseIf-he was ready
to debut he wonld save the rest IL he
could; and he had saved US, surely
saved US all-from watery grave.
The boy lay sick almost unto death
but l nursed him with my own hands
nursed him through all his delisium;
and when his reason returned and he
could sit,up and talk, / bowed myself
before him, and humbly asked his par
don for all the wrong Ihad done him.
He threw his arm around my neck and
told me il wosIdf be good to him he
woald never give gcanse Of ofense; he
added as be sat up again, 81 am not
coward--I couldn't J-be dog" ~
Inever forgoE those words; and from