Nevada County picayune., 1886-03-31
A WIPES PRAYER.
BY F. c. P.

UT iHEcc udSS tcIIlilC Sdle drove before it the ship "Pem- broke" Under bare poles, with every timber groaning, creaking, with the tan masts bending like reeds, with heavy seas and blind ing spray sweeping her decks fore and aft, and the vessel boomed on, rolling, plunging and quivering in her desperate struggle with the tempest.
 At midnight, just before the end ing of the third day, a fearful cry, not loud, but hoarse and deep, went through the ship
 We have sprung a leaIw
 Then the light from the two lan- terns hung up in the and mizzcn shrouds fell upon the sturdy forms of seamen hurrying to rig the pans.
 Soon the dismal clang was heard as the stout fellows toled and toil- ed, but all to no purpose.
 "Oh, Henry, what shall we do? Tire leak is gaining upon us" cried d. spairingly, the young wife of MT. Rogers, the firstmate.
 She was a fine, noblelooking woman, and was liked and respect ed by every man aboard ship. A true daughter of Eve, her love for her husband was so deep and ab- sorbing that she would have follow ed him through any hardship or peril sooner than separate from him for long period.
 Now as the sturdy, good looking young mate heard his wife's cry of alarm, he 'aunr an arm round her waist, and bade her be of good cheer.
 If it should come 10 the worst" said he, "we will probably fall ill, ere long, with some other craft.'
 Meanwhile the leak gained stead fly. The captain sent his carpen- ter into the hold.
 "Captain," cried the latter when he returned, 'it is all up with us. There must be a big hole in the ship, as the water in her is already seven feet deep!'
 A look of dis;nay settled on ev- cry face.
 "Get the boats ready" said the skipper.
 While the men were oboyiEs the order, the ships hull, settling low CT and lower, was soon nearly en- gulphed in the rushing, roaring seas.
 l The sailors had barely time to i put bag of sea. biscuit, couple of caus of prepared meat and a bcaker of fresh water ln each ol the boats, when, with a sidelong sheer, the vessel rolled half way over to lecward, as helpless as a log, preparatory to going down.
 The mate and his wife, with eight men, took to the long boat the rest of the ships occupants amounting to ten sailors, entered the Quartcr-boat.
 Just as the two light vessels put away from Ye doomed craft, the latter, plugging her bows under, g dull report was heard, as the hatches were burst open by the rising water in the hold.
 A minute later elevatins hel stern. the ship sank out of sight il tiiC ctpi ib ptthii'
 In the darkness and amongst tht heavy seas, the mates boat soOi became separated from the other.
 At dawn no sign of the latter could be discovered by those whc looked for it.
 Keeping the boat all day deat before the wind, the mate, with his companions, vainly watched for z sail.
 Thus, day after day passed, un til nearly a week had elapsed, by which time, the scanty allowance of sea biscuits having given out there was nothing left to eat it the boat, while in the beaker (a small cask) tEere remained hardly two quarts of water.
 Three days later, neither land nor a sail having yet fallen in with the suflerings of the people in the boat, reduced almost to state ot starvation, were terrible.
 "Oh, Harriet" gasped tho mate on tho morning of the tenth day af. tka chin haI hann ahapdonpl