Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25
OvERBOARD IN A GALE.
A Cabin. Boy snstehed from the Waves
and from Certain Death.

and from Certain Death.
IMartha's Vineyard Heraldg
A company Of old sea captains were
gathered at Linton's grocery awaiting
the arrival Of the mail during the late
storm. The boat was late in starting
out that morning, and all knew its
arrival would be quite delayed and some
time elapse before the mail was ready
for distribution, so, adjusting his quid,
one Of the captains remarked on the
height of the waves then thunderin,
on the beach, which led the CONVERSE
ton into the height Of waves off Cape
Horn and the Cape Of Good Hope.
Each one in his turn told what he re-
garded the biggest yarn. when one Of
the old salts, after making "dead
shot " into the middle Of the spittoOn,
said
Il saw wave once off Cape Good
Hope. We were a scuddin' before the
wind in heavy gale. | was standing
aft when the ship went Off, and could
see the next wave as high as the DO win
crinkle OF the for'topsel." This reused
the fourth and oldest sailor of the
party, who, having adjusted his qnid
on the port side, related the following
thrilling and wonderful incident:
In the year 1857 was in the good
ship Minstrel, homeward bound from
India, and just OF the Cape of Good
Hope an accident happened ! shall
never forget. For several days we
had blowing and gloomy weather, and
to add to the gloom my steward was
taken crazy and had him below in
irons. l put in his place the cabin
boy, a bright lad who had shipped
with me. lie belonged in Cleveland,
Ohio. We were beating By the Cape,
with wind southwest, blowing gale.
| was in my room preparing for break
fast, about half-past !, when | heard
the cry: Man overheard = You all
know who have been on the water the
feeling when one Of our little number
steps out with 50 short a notice. Ny
first thought was It is Brother Hen
ry,' for all sailors have a superstition
that when two brothers sail on a ship
but one will come homo alive. | was
on deck in an instant, but every man
in the ship was there before me, and
had thrown overheard anything they
thought would help save the man, bur
these were Of no advantage to good
swimmer, and would hasten the drown
ing Of a man who couldn't swim.
1t appears that the cabin boy had
gone to the cook-house for the break
fast, and the ship at that unlucky mo-
ment went down into one Of those
heavy seas which swept the decks and
took him over the side. Preached the
deck in time to see him pass the quar-
ter, and it seemed to me ! never saw
the ship fly through the water SO
swiftly. The hoy was brave, cool
lad, and | could see be was battling
with the waves. No boat
could live in such a sea, and there was
but one chance in a thousand to save
him-,hat was 10 tack ship. Of course,
this depended Oh the Boys keeping
above the waves.
TO wear round would bring tho
ship so far to le'wa:d Of the boy that
no human aid could save him. There
was no time to think much, 50 /
gave the order: 'BouJ ship. every man
10 his station Sail0rl, You know,
are quick to feel, and in cases Ike
this are quick 70 act. was proud Of
my ship, and felt she had no ST..
perior and bur few equals IN.
her sailing qualities, blt being IN
der short sail and high Soc was very
much against US. However, | watched
fer = smooth time, and, as by mag'e,
she came up and went around. | went
up the mizzen rigging, and could see
where the boy or his hat was by tie
large flock Of cape pigeons lying over
him IS they DO when anything IS thrown
from the ship. Being now to wind
ward Of him so could shape our course
direct for him, but how to got near
enough to catch him in passing and no,
let TIE ship strike him was the next
problem to solve. While standing on
the rail and guiding the ship it CO.
cured to NE tina. if the boy vas weak
be could no, hold on to rope if 1t
reached him, 80 | ordered q number Of
men to be put over tho side secured By
strong ropes fastened to the mast lash
ed to the waist Of the ship. You
know, Mr.. Linton, that merchantmen
always carry spars dashed securely to
he side, so | hoped these men could
,atch him as the ship passed.. / called
,ut in a firm voice Boys, don't you
Miss him. and they knew from thu
gay said it meant it. lie was now
near, and the ship lying over
be water. The man in the fore chains
missed him, then the next man, and
he next, and an audible groan went
lp from every one. The fourth man,
Il the mizzen chains, was a strong,
Fright fellow, and with ny hear: IN
ny throat | saw him place hi feet
against the ships side and push HIM
elf OF from the ship Just as the boy
anne up on a wave. Saved bur
ahed the men, as they hauled him Oh
,oaId. Now you know it took deal
# strength foe that young man to
atch and hold the BOY as as! as the
hip wa5 going through the water.
he boy, after getting On deck, shook
imseif, and quietly remarked Il de.
laIe, I've lost my bat, \ ten-ceG,
traw hat he bSd bought in Penang.
II busted myself the next quarter o.
n hour in getting the ship round aud
n her course again and saw that every
hing was snug, when up came the boy
I'd said Breakfast is ready, sir
Eas sstonished. supposed the boy,
vho had been in the water near an
our, was in charge Of tho officer be-
Ow, rolling him on barrel to get the
7ater out of him and rubbing him
With dannels, and for a week would re-
uire careful nursing.
" At breakfast | asked him why he
wan away from the ship. He said
| found | had to swim before the sea
o keep from being rolled over, and