The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-08-14

WAS lcit almost pcnnlitss my Drotncr III
wrote TO me 10 come and keep
house for him In the steamer l went
out by there was young German gen.
tleman called Wagner. who was very
kind 10 me. We were within i've days
journey Of our destination when woke
up one night 10 lind my self alone in the
cabin. and the ship on fire. ] sprang
70 the door. but fell back almost suIo-
Gated by the deadly smoke. and just as
felt my consciousness going. Mr.. Wag-
ner rushed in. seized me i'm his arms.
and knew no more. until, when
consciousness returned, found my
self In small boat with my
delivcrcr. the first mate. and two
sailors--alone on the wide sea. A keg
of water and package Of biscuits were
all we had in the way Of provisions
enough TO last US about three days. The
first mate, however. declared that il
might be weeks before We were picked
up, and that he must portion them out
so as 10 last ten DAYS, at least Seven
long days and nights went by. no sign
OF succor and all our allowance gone.
Each day Mr.. Wagner had taken his
share OF biscuit but the tablespoonful
Of water melted out to him he always
gave to me. did not pretend to re-
fuse. brute that was! in fact hardly
thanked him for Il, so utterly mad was
with the fearful cravings Of hunger
and thirst had noticed. however,
that strong as he appeared the awful
privation TO which we were subjected
seemed to tell on him more than on any
of the others: he was weaker. paler and
more exhausted. ! soon found the
reason. For now, when there seemed
nothing before us but blank starvation.
and when the strong men began to
whine and pule like Infants, he turned
to me with ali attempt at a smile. bid
ding me 10 keep a brave heart and
showing me. hidden away in his pock-
ct, the whole allowance Of biscuits that
had been doled out to him. They are
all for YOU; kept them on pur-
pose he said in reply TO my saw
age demand for one. God forgive me-
snatchcd it from his hand like q wild
beast. never even thanking him for his
noble sef-sacriiice. although saw that
the poor fellow was fast sinking from
hunger and exhaustion. lean see now,
though did not notice il at the time.
the sad. painful look on his face, rs he
turned away when ! fiercely demanded
the other biscuits. then and there, and
even attempted to tear them from him
BY force / was mad-mad with hunger
and thirst
The Door woman broke down here
utterly, and it was some time before
could soothe her sufficiently to 90 OF
with her tale.
I'VE were ten DAYS in that boat, shs
continued. .'and on. the morning OF thu
eleventh. we saw, when daylight broke
that we were fast approaching land o
some sort. We were too weak 10 row
or direct the boat In any way. but w
soon found we were drifting rapidly in
Fortunately. just a. we came into shal
low water, large breaker lifted "a
clean up, and flung the boat some wa.
in. leaving /; stranded there; otherwise
II would probably have been over
turned. and all washed away by nj
outgoing wave. As we crawled out o
the boat. which was lying on its sid
among the single. one of MS noticed
quantity Of shell-fish adhering 10 tn
b ,ttom. We had just enough strength
left to tear them off grcedily. open an'
dcvour them. II il had not been 70
this. believe we must have died wher'
we lay. for there was Ion;
stretch Of sand and single TO pas
before we could get sufficient.
inland to obtain any food. However
hard as the shell-tish were. they sersc'
TO support life for time. Then tn
mate. who was the least exhausted
crawlrd a little way in. and at last re
turned bearing some turtle seggs he ha'
found. Day by day passed. and w
grew stronger and stronger. all excer
poor Mr.. Wagner. whose noble self
sacrifice nearly cost him his life. IA
cot n little better at last and was able I
accompany the others on short huntin;
expeditions. but in all long or danger
Gus adventures he had to be left behn'
with me at home. How long "
were on that island (if 1t were a.
island) can not say. II must hay
been considerably more than a year
but there was nothing to mark the day
by. They came and went one afte
another, bringing always the sam
events and the same requirements
We saw several ships pass by lon
way out to sea. but could not succee
! in attracting attention. One morning
J however. when all the Others had gon
for whole days hunting expedition
leaving only Mr.. Wagner and mysc
at home in the cottage-huts we M
built. we saw vessel come within
} few miles Of the island. and wer
: almost mad with JOY to see that the
. were lowering boat in reply to on
! signals. II was little trading shiI
) bound for Liverpool. and manne
> by as ruiiianly set as ] had ey.
: seen. We told them the Others woul
! be back in the evening. and beggc
them TO wait; but when they foun