The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-09-25
"BELLE, GOD BLESS HER. "
A Ships Crew Saved by his Lit
tie Wife's Pluck.

Tic WIGS tIuchs
"She was the bravest woman |
ever saw, and little bit of body,
too, but if it badn't ha' been tOl
her pluck and courage, God knows
what would have become OF us"
Tue speaker, one of the crew OF
the Ill fated schooner John L. Fer
ris, was seated on the deck OF the
steamship City of Durham. which
was ploughing her way through "A
heavy sea towards Boston Light,
on the morning of Thursday last.
The little knot of seaman who gath
cred about the wrecked mariner
asked eagerly for the story, and at
their request the following account
was given. 1t is here related tor
publication by an officer OF tue
Durham, who was present at the
rescue. He said:
"After Capt. Luud observed the
signals of distress that were dis
play ed on Thursday morning by Il
schooner, which afterwards turned
out to be the Ferris, we were very
much perplexed, because some
hours before two vessels, which /
thiuk were American crafts, passed
us sailing in the exact direction OF
the distressed vessel. We were
eight miles away at tue time when
the schooner was discovered. The
moment the captain saw the flag he
gave orders 10 turn the steamer in
the direction OF the sinking ship
and to fire up.
"This was about 8 O'clock in The
morning, aud the storm was ont
slowly going down. 1t was blow
ing II gale aud the sea was very
rough. AS we continued on our
c0ul So all eyes OH board ot the
Dui ham were intently fixed Oh tue
sch 1Oner, whicb, as we came nearer
could be seen TO
ROLL HEAVILY IN THE SEA.
1t could be readily seen that she
was lull of water, and the only
question was, how long can she be
kept afoat The captain, with
characteristic prOmptness, had or
dered the boats TO be made ready
for lowering, aud be only waited
for favorable opportunity to give
the word.
.'The Durham presently came
within speaking distance, aud theu
the captain shouted, "Shall | send
you boats?
"NO," was the answer, sent over
the water in clear, feminine voice /:
we have a boat and will come tO
you"
cat this point 1 came on deck,
and the sight which met my eyes
shall always remember. The low,
dark hull oil the Ferris was almost
under water. The waves were
breaking forcibly over her bows,
and what remained of once full
deck cargo, was being 2iadually
forced overheard. In the stern,
with bis head. as If to steady HE
wasted and weary brain, stood the
captain, knee deep in water, while
of to leeward of the sinking craft
was floating the ships life boat, ia
which he saw the form Of man
and woman, while in the bottom
was laying the figure of a boy.
''It was some minutes before the
man on board made up his mind Ia
leave the deck. Finally, however,
call from the boat brought bin
to his senses, aud casting around
"a sOriowful 81 iuce
HE WENT OVER THE SIDE
aud made for tue fraIl shell thai Wa,
fluaiiug with great buOyaucy on ht
top of the waves. The old Durham
true 10 her helm, came up iuto The
wind and as we passed 10y a rOpt
was thrown. Teu minutes later the
last OF the party was on board, the
STEAMERS head was turned, aud IA
we glanced over The stern of tbs
boat we saw the Ferris her sail,
flapping wildly IN the wind, give q
long roll aud then 90 down like
lead into the deep waters.
"As the party came over the side
the master grasped tue hand o
Capt. Lund aud exclaimed, will
tears in his eyes, God bless YOU
captain, you have saved my wIte.
A slight figure, clad ia duk, We
garments, next came 10 our sight
| was never, TO tell the truth, more
surprised IN my life. The figure
was that Of a girl scarcely eighteef
years OF age. Her light, thicl
hair was gracefully blowing abou
her face. which, though sOiled ans