St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-11-07

.NSlS WcIc pIONiOitlk IOT the
comforts OF the castaways the story of
tneir ms .ortunes was graphically told.
Ihe master, Captain Belts, said: If
1t had bot been for Belle, God knows
what would have become of us. She is
the best wife q man ever had, and
Aough have now lost everything I
have IA the world save her l, ought to
rejoice that we have escaped together.
We left Calais Sunday morning, and
hsd a good run until the storm struck
us. Wednesday night the gale was
terrific. There were only three hands
on board beside my wife: one Of these
was a boy. and could not be counted on
to do mems work. The storm had
caused us to be up much, and we were
well nigh exhausted when the report
came up from below that we had sprung
aleak. The night was dark and dreary.
and the waves were nigh. No vessel
was within hail from which we could
get assistance. All that remained for
us to do was to man the pumps and
battle as long as we could against the
water in the hold, which was slowly
but surely gaining on us. At this time
all hope seemed out of place; before
morning the Ferris would be cables
under the waves. and all that would be
left to tell the tale of our life and death
would perhaps be found floating on the
water by passing ship days after the
storm was over. Only one who has
been in similar circumstances can
realize how little life seems worth.
ssRrYf - that hDnr vryhan coov,ol
impossible to make successful effort,
Belle came from the cabin. her face
white, but determined. and said: Don't
give up, there is hope yet. Hasten to
the pumps. l 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 vessel up into the wind. The rest
of us pumped, pumped until it seemed
that our limbs would break. Nerved
by the fearfulness of the situation we
worked with full force all the time, and
much to our satisfaction found that the
water no longer gained on us. Our
hope and prayer was for the morrow,
because when daylight came there
would be a chance for help. Before
dawn our hearts again sunk. Nature
could no longer stand the test. and our
boy. who had been making manly ef-
forts. sank to the deck. So exhausted
was he both in mind and body that
blood commenced to ooze from his ears
and nose. I. myself, the moment my
efforts were relaxed. grew faint. l felt
almost unconscious of what was going
on around me. 1t seemed as If the fatal
hour were come. Death no longer was
a dreaded visitor. His presence would
be almost q welcome.
".But Belle. who had been steering
all these long hours and had shouted
out words of encouragement to us, now
left the wheel and hurried to my side.
Don't give up yet. husband: we may
be saved. o, for daylightr With these
words she grasped the handles and
commenced to work the
pumps. l followed her efforts. and
leaving the schooner to drift we gave
all our attention to the pumps. Soon it
was dawn. 1t was with feelings of a
new lease of life that we continued our
work. Occasionally one would stop and
glance over the waste of waters to search
for q passing sail. Again and again
greeted us, but suddenly
my wife looked up. and. gazing q mo-
ment. cried: "A sail! now we may be
savedr
81 looked up, and sure enough white
,ail was above the horizon. Our flag
was at the masthead, and we waited
with strange feelings to see If they would
zee our condition. But. no. No change
Vas made in their course. and once
more we turned to the pumps with ach-
ng hearts. All but my wife were dis
appointed and gloomy. She. however,
,ut on . cheerful face and. working
larder than ever before. sad. Now we
must pump until we see another ship
IA little later another vessel hove in
light. and our hopes for a second time
rev rs we came nearer together. The
'essel passed us in plain sight, but no
Indication of our discovery was seen.
IN. on they went, directly away. 1t
eemed for sure that we must 70 down.
The fates were all against us. Our
:hances for life were but delusion.
What did the half-hour following the
asst disappointment 1 scarcely know.
Nv wife feeble words of encouragement
,ame as il in dream. How rapidly
through my mind passed recollections
Il home, which are SO dear to man!
little would have thought one year
,efore, when we were married. that a
hort twelvemonth would bring about
uch situation as that we were in.
Then l would determine that Belle
hould not drown, and would force my
elf to greater efforts.
when it was announced that an
'ther ship was in sight l could scarcely
lope; too strong was the belief that like |
he others she would pass on her way
without seeing us. But Providence had |
lot SO ordained, and soon we saw for
ure that we were seen. The huge iron |
teamer's PROV was turned and the |
lack smoke that poured out of her
tacks showed us we would soon be
afe. then got all the party into the
,oat and waited for the ships arrival.
wanted to put force on board to
,ump her and keep her afloat until we
ould getto land. but my wife said if
remained on board she would. 50
eft. 1t would have been of no use,
hough; the leak was too large. The |
,oor Ferris! 1t was too bad to lose her;
,ut. thank God, Belle is SAFE
when the master finished speaking
captain Lund was in tears. | never |