Smyrna times., 1886-08-04

fOgs told us we were somewhere Off
the banks of Newfoundland, but
where no one was quite sure. 1t
seemed to me it had all happened be-
fore, or l had read it or dreamed it.
AT all events, it was hardly surprise
to me when on the tenth night, just
after midnight, the awful crash and
shock took place, a sensation which
no one who has not felt it can describe
or imagine in the least, and we know
that the AntWctic had struck.
It's a fearful thing, if you come to
think of it, great steamer filled with
living souls in the full flow of life and
health, and in one moment the whole
ship in panic-cries, terror, confusion
and agOny-Oh, it was awful! l trust
never to see it again. made my way
through it all as if | had neither eyes
nor ears, and got to the stateroom 1
had long ago found out was the one
which belonged to my girl. knocked
at the door with Il heavy hand even
at that awful moment thrill ran
through me at the thought of standing
face to face with her again.
" Winny!" Icried, come out make
haste there is not a moment to lose !"
The door opened as l spoke, and she
stood just within, ready dressed, even
to her little black hat. The cabin
light had been left burning by the
doctors order, and it fell upon me as 1
stood there in my sailors jersey and
cap. I forgot the danger we were in
forgot that death was close at hand
forgot that the world held any one but
just her and me.
"Dick ' she cried, "Oh, Dick,
Dick !" and she fell forward in dead
faint on my shoulder.
All my senses came back then, and
| threw her over my arm and ran for
the deck. A great fur-lined cloak had
been dropped beside the door of the la
dies cabin. There was no light but
stumbled over it as l ran. l snatched
it up and carried it with me.
Up above, all was in the widest
chaos the boats overfllcd, and push
ing of; the ship settling rapidly
people shouting, crying. One hears
tales of calmness and courage, often
enough atsuch times, which makes ones
heart glow as one reads them but
there was no such heroism shown on
the wreck of the antarctic. The cap
tain behaved splendidly, and SO did
some of the passengers, but the major
ity of them and the crew were mad
with terror, and lost their heads alto
gether.
saw tina there was not chance for
the Overcrowded boats in that sea, and
and | sprang for the rigging. l was
not a second too soon; a score OF
others followed my example, and with
my precious burden should not have
had a chance two minutes later
As it was, scrambled to the top
mast, and got firm hold there
Winny was just coming to herself.
had wrapped her around in the fur
cloak, and with my teeth opened my
knife to cut rope which hung loose
within reach. With this lashed hel
to me, and fastened us both to the top
mast. The ship sank gradually; she
did not keel over, or l should not be
telling you the story now; she settled
down, just her deck above water, but
the great seas washed over it every
second and swept it clean. The boats
had gone!
One or two of the crew, floating OIL
loose spars were picked up afterwarC
no more. The rigging was pretty
full, at least in the upper part, dowl
below the sea was too strong. TIL,
captain was near me. l felt glad tC
think that he had been saved-he wa!
not a coward like some of the others
How long was the longest night yoI
ever knew? Multiply that by thou
sand and you will have some idea o
that nights length. The cold wa
awful. The spray frOze on the sheet
as it fell. The yards were slipper,
with ice. Did you notice that limp
little? l shall walk lame as long as
live. There was not breath of wind
nothing but the bitter fog. How lon,
would wehOld out? Where were we
How long would the ship be befor
she broke up? Would it be by drown
ing or by freezing2 We asked oul
selves these questions again and agair
but there was no answer. Deaf
stared us in the face; we seemed t
live ages of ages of agony in ever
minute-and yet, will you believe mt
that all seemed little in comparison t.
the thought that after all the struggle
and sorrows, after all those ten lon
weary years, held my girl in m
arms at last
She had pulled one corner of tn
cloak around my neck Il stood on
level just below her) and her hand la
there with tit was the hand ths
warmed me more than the cloak-an
her cheek rested against my owl
Often l thought its coldness was tn
GOODNESS of death. And then woul
catch the murmer of the prayers sh
was uttering for us both, and kne
that life was there still, and hor
lived, too.
Well, well Why should l dwell O
such horrors, except to thank tn
, Mercy that brought them allP Da
dawned at last; and there was th
. shore near by, and soon rockets wer
: fired and ropes secured, and one b
one the half-dead living were draw
from their awful suspension b.
> tween sky and sea and landed safe o
shore. They had to take Winny an
me together, just as we were, an
7 even then they had hard work to und
the clasp of my stiffening arms abol
[ her. I knew nothing then, nor lor
9 after; and it is wonderful that VIM
3 was the first to recover, and that
r was she who nursed me back to Ii
/ ond raoeo,,