Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-17

He then cut the chains Of his fellow prisoner,
who IN turn cut those cOnhnlng hls wrists,
leaving the bracelets still On wrists anu
ankles, but so.as not 70 interfere with the
free use Of their limbs. When the commO-
ton Ia the water first occurred, two men
were sent ia each OF the bOais 10 assist the
keepers IA getting them under the oaglts, the
intention being 20 hoist them. But the time
was too short, and they dfifted from the yes
sal. / watched the movements Of one OF
these boats through port as the wave ap-
preached The three men III her manned
their oars and pointed her bow toward the
enemy, bending every effort 10 give her
headWay ia the shallow water, IN the hope or
topping the wave and riding IL 70 shore.
They did nObly. The boat bow rose nearly
To the crest OF the wave, and l hoped Tor
moment they would be successful, bat their
oars were caught foul by the on-rushing
water, their boat thrown brOadslde 10 the
wave, and crew and all were overwhelmed,
two of them never 10 come up alive. The
third one rose, and, seiziRg hold of a sugar
hogshead that had been washed from the
wharf, after many immersions finally reached
shore unhurt. The coxswain or the comino-
dores gig stood BY his boat at the expense OF
his lite. Keeping her under the quarter,
when the final rush for the shore occurred,
the vessel came down on boat and keeper.
One poor fellow, who he'd just returned from
liberty, lost his presence Of mind, and leaped
overheard at time when no effort could be
made 10 save him. Another, IN descending,
lost his hold on the rope, and fell 10 the
ground, breaking both legs and sustaining
other injuries. We carried him 10 church
on the hill, where the surgeons, after exam
ination, announced TO him II would be nee
essary TO amputate both legs. he asked
that he might see a priest before the opera
ton One vas sent for, and, after a short
interview, the brave fellow told the surgeons
To proceed, saying he was ready for any
emergency, and did not wish them 10 use
anesthetics. One leg was amputated, by
which time it became apparent that internal
injuries of fatal nature had been sustained,
and he was saved further unnecessary suf-
fering.
Leaving him in the hands of the surgeons
| collected what men | could and returned to
the vessel. Many had remained on board
concluding that the threatening wave could
not raise sufficient force for a second charge.
When within hailing distance, l was COM
manded by a superior officer 10 take cutlass
and clear the men out of grog shop on the
opposite side of the street from the ship. On
entering / found twenty or thirty of our crew
making way with all the liquor their stom-
achs could accommodate. They found them
selves among a rare assortment of the vilest
kind from which TO select, and many of their
faces already glowed with the liquid fire
they had imbibed. Foremost among them
| noticed our two prisoners with their chains
still dangling to their limbs, far gone in in
toxication. / ordered them all out and stood
guard until relieved by the owner. Ills face
elongated perceptibly when ne surveyed the
scene within. Billiard-tables, chairs coun-
ters, rum-bottles and rubbish were piled to-
gether In a shiny heap at the further end of
the room.
On returning aboard ship for dry clothing
/ learned the full extent of damage sustained
IL
from its gimbals, forty feet of keel was
gone, much copper was stripped off, two
holes were IL the bottom, and her frame was
so racked that the engines were out of line,
the shaft was bent near the propeller, and
seams were gaping fore and aft.
Hearing that widow lady and family who
resided half mile from the town were in
great distress, three of Us who were ac-
quainted with them proceeded to their assist
ance. We arrived at the house early III the
evening and found them huddled together in
the yard almost paralyZed with terror, with
out shelter and their house so damaged that
it would have to be rebuilt. We removed
what furniture and clothing was necessary
for their present comfort and imprOvising a
tent We prepared for camping out for the
night. We built a large fire under the trees
and made every one as comfortable as pos
sible. But IN vain did we WOO sleep that
night. Severe shocks occurred at inter
walls OF a half hour during the entire night,
which had the effect of keeping us all on the
q,n rirc. So there was nothing for us to do
but accept the situation and make the best
of il. The night was beautiful and clear,
the heavens We're flied with bright stars,
and IN spite of the unfortunate condition IN
which We wore all placed, there was a charm
in the situation whether owing 10 the pres
ence of the ladies or the novelty of the sur
rOundIngs / cannot say. But this | know,
the mental exertion put forth by the sterner
sex 10 allay the fear and anxiety of the gen
tier sex, gave all flow OF spirits and humor
that the frequent and violent shOcks could
bit temporarily subdue. So passed the first
night with Us, and when morning dawned
we folded our tents and moved our friends
into the town aud gave them part of a large
tent made from the ships awnings and
erected b. our crew IN a palm-grOv for the
benetit of such white families as might feel
disposed to accept of its hospitable shelter.
The negroes from the plantations were
terribly affected oy the earthquakes: they
saw water OOzing from the sides of the hills,
where no springs were known, and the rum
bling and shaking of the earth filled them
with superstitious terrors. Some of them
died from fright. "a | was informed by
clergyman who ministered among them.
Hundreds of them h0cked into town. and for
the accommodation of them and others we
constructed tent out of our mainsail The
old-time camp-meeting. The soiourners in
both tents devoted their time principally TO
reli ligious exercises, of which singing formed
the greater part. st times these tents vodld
be giving forth volumes Of music and praise
that made the very welsin ring bat in n day
or tWo It came To De tie custom TO alternate,
one listening while the other sang. until the
superiority Of the negro music was acknowl-
edged. when the black tent had 90 bear the
burden of song. We had n good opportun-
It's for observing the negro character under
the most trying circumstances. and
had abundant evidence of its volatile
nature. They were ali very devout very
penitent for the first three days. and spent
the day and nearly al the nighttime IN
prayer and praise. II there was a cessation
m their devotions at any time. night or day,
a shock was sure to revive them. and a long
prayer and one hymn. at least, would follow.
But As days passed and the shocks occurred
with lees Frequency and violence. SambO's
natural g8yety arose, and as their repertoire
of hymns had been exhausted. some Of them
would occasionally venture to iuteriaCt