The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-04-22

with one hand and then with the other
holding on to the rope until each be-
came benumbed; how a lurch of the
vessel overturned the table, and the
drawers of the locker slid out with a
crash, and for the rest of the night
rolled noisily about; how by the light
OF a match she succeeded in fixing her
feet upon the heaviest articles on the
floor, and by burning several other
matches tried to restores little warmth
to her fingers. Sunday, as daylight
came, she fancied she heard little
church bell ring. She prayed and soon
felt calmer. Having tasted nothing
since Saturday, she made her first meal
on board, which was confined to half
biscuit and small quantity Of milk.
The experience of Sunday was much
like that of the previous afternoon.
The storm continued unabated in
fury. In the course of the day another
heavy lurch brought down the COM
panion ladder. She had not sufficient
strength to replace it, and was thus
practically imprisoned. By standing
on chest fastened under the ladder
she could look out, and every day cast
her eyes over the sea in search of land
Or passing vessels. Sunday closed
dark and stormy and the prospect of
another night of terror was SO over
powering as to induce that calmness
which accompanies despair. Monday
morning she again drew upon her
scanty store of biscuit and milk. Snow
and hail had given place to rain. Find
ing piece of rope she fastened it to
that which hung from the roof and
made a convenient loop in which she
could rest one elbow at time. This
helped her remain seated and her blis-
tered hands got better.
The Captains watch hanging on a
nail in the cabin had ceased to go at
1890 Monday. When the lonely woman
fancied the day had advanced to
about that hour she woundit up. This
she did daily until her release, when,
as she somewhat triumphantly said,
the watch was found to be not so far
wrong. The presence of the watch,
too, was source of quiet comfort.
Searching around the cabin during the
moments when the lurching ceased,
she found a stout sailors jacket, which
she put on above her shawl. Thus a
sufficientdegree of heat was maintained
in her body to prevent any serious
shivering, which in the night might
have been very dangerous.
Monday night, like the two which
had preceded it, closed dark and cheer
less. Tuesday morning brought no
improvement in the weather. The
same scanty meal was again partaken.
Toward the afternoon the weather mod
Grated, and it was possible to sit with
out holding the rope. The cold in her
extremities was the chief cause of the
old woman s suffering. Wednesday the
sun was shining brightly, and continued
so all day. There was in this glim-
mer of comfort, and the poor, lonely
board with the last half of her biscuit
and drinking from bottle of milk.
She then climbed upon the box and
looked out. 1t was midday, and the
bow was directed toward the sun.
Looking behind, to her momentary
delight she saw land which she knew
by the sun to lay northward, and that
the course of the vessel was for the
time southerly. She described the land
as range OF low hills with much high
er snow-covered hills in the distance.
Ihe course Of the vessel soon left them
far behind. BY Thursday morning the
craft had lost every rag OF sail and was
drifting stern foremost. More cheer
less hours passed. Early Friday morn
ing the wind sprung up. The sea was
violent, and hunger and horror again
oppressed the old woman. Her thirst
increased and she eagerly licked crops
from the cabin windows. Through
Saturday the storm continued, but after
midnight. then one hundred and sixty
eight hours having passed, she felt
the flrst Indication that either
help or destruction was at hand, Inc
vessel began 70 striKe vloien.y on
some suoinergeu rocAS, anu WIN the
rise ana IAN Oh 1ne sea sne i0unu q oed
now On on one iici,natlon any .len oh an, ,
otner. Inc jumpers Degan 70 preak anu
stralh, anu as 1he sessel s'ruGh roGk q
aIlel rock i, the nolses Prouu1eu Y sne
oulnplng; ..e shl..is VI ene u;ah u! ., o.
anu oscllia.ion =, .ne r nass :" W. ni1n nov
pegaii ~ give way meio " silo pii'on-
CT mOSG G6TTOT-SGT1hIuS.