Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-01

out of the wreck and be OF. We had a
bite to eat as we worked, and at sunset
we were piped for supper rms we ate
on our decks, and my friend OF the night
before, who gave me MS name as pm,
planned TO take a seat near me. mad
worked hard and without grumbling, and
CAPTAIN and mate no longer felt suspi-
cious OF me, or at least showed no signs
ofHt. There was an opportunity now for
a few words with the man Bill, and
asked him If it was case Of salvage.
"Wuss'n thatv he whispered back.
wasn't there a man-one Of the crew
on the wreck when we first came upP'
yes"
Where is he now?"
"Knocked on the head and thrown
10 the shaTksp'
"Do YOU mean that he was murdered ~
/ THAT'S Just it, matey! While you
! were below the Captain and mate rowed
! of to the wreck. We all saw a man
aboard, but none OF us have seen him
since. Had he been allowed 70 live on it
would have been a case Of salvage. With
him dead what's TO prevent our Captain
! from owning all he can gety'
"And you talk as cOOlly as II only a
! dog had been thrown overboardg
"Hushl II there IS the least shcfg for
escape Pm of with you this very night!
! No more nOW-we are watched"
Alter supper the yawl was sent OF
again, ana we worked until about 4
| O'Clock. Two-thirds Of the cargo had been
transferred, and our captain meant to
hang right by until ne had secured every
thing or a shift OF weather drove ham
away. There had been a fair breeze all
day and IL still held, coming from the
southeast. There was doubtless a smart
surf on the other side OF the island, but
on our side the water was quiet enough.
When the crew turned in the man Bill
was left on deck as an anchor watch. The
men Topped down on deck, some without
a thing between them and the planks. and
in half an hour their SHORES were hearty
and continuous. Then l cautiously rose
up and joined Bill. The yawl was towing
astern, with the oars on the thwarts, and
| was determined on escape, To my sur
PRISE l found him eager and anxious to go
with me.
While captain aud mate both appeared
asleep, we dared take no risks. II we got
away in the boat it must be bare-handed.
Any attempt to lock up water, provisions,
and the mast and sail might upset our
whole plan.
While Bill walked the deck whistling
to himself, / drew the yawl under the
stern and slid down the painter. In
minute or two he came after me, and then
cut the rope and pushed US of. We at
once began TO float to the northwest, and
in a quarter of an hour were out Of sight
OF the schooner. It would not do to use
the oars yet, however, and we were wait
ing TO increase our distance when all Of
"A sudden the waters around us grew alive
with sharks. / have sailed in most seas,
and have seen a sailors share of sharks,
but never before nor since did l witness
such a congregation OF the voracious mon
sterg. They seemed determined on de-
strOying us, and every minute dealt the
boat such thumps that we looked to see
the plsnks crushed IN. they jumped half
their length out Of water at the gunwale
Of the boat, and twice the head of a shark
res Ted on the seat in the stern for several
seconds.
We realized that we must make some
demonstration, even at the peril of being
overheard on board the schooner, and,
get tang out the oars, we punched and
abbed with all our might. As soon as
we got well out from the land the wind
bore us along at faster pace, but the
sharks were net TO be left behind. II there
was one there were 200. They bit at the
oars and splintered the blades. and II the
men aboard the schooner had not been
over tired they must have been awakened
by the row.
We had drifted perhaps two miles when
a terrible thing happened. We two sat
on one thwart. Bill minding one side
and l the other. He was bending over the
rail, punching every shark within reach,
when heard a scream, and turned my
head in time to see MIN pulled overheard
A shark had jumped far enough out Of
water to seize him. There was terrible
cOmmOtiOu in the water for few minutes,
every ish anxious to secure a morsel.
and for time l was entirely neglected
and driving along alone. By and BY three
or four sharks came after me, but they no
longer attacked the boat, nor did the num-
Der increase.
When had got my nerve back | put
the best oar over the stern and sculled
away, keeping to the northwest, nor did
rest beyond a few minutes at time until
daylight came. ] vas then entirely ont
Of sight Of the schooner, and making a
good pace of it. l saw half dozen coast
ers on the bay, but made no signals. The
Louisiana coast was IN full sight, and 1
preferred driving ashore To being picked
up. ] knew how the coasters felt toward
wreckers, aud il / were picked up, my
story would probably land me in the
courts.
Soon after noon fetched the shore in a
bit Of bay, but ] soon realized that |
was no better of than out at sea. ] was
hungry and thirsty, but there was neither
Alesu water huI AopAs 5CuiiCQ all around
the bay in search OF a creek, but found
none, but toward evening a smart shower
came up, and a gallon or so Of fresh
water was caught In the boat. II was
full Of filth when ! came to drink 10, but
It relieved my burning thirst and put new
life into me. shortly after that i found
a dead duck floating on the water. l did
not stop 10 investigate Its condition. but
stripped oil a part OF the feathers and cut
out aud ate large portion Of the raw
meat.
As the shores were dense canebrakes.
through which l could make no progress.
! tied the boat up for the night and went
to sleep, but darkness had only fairly set
in when the mosquitoes came down upon
me by the million. Sleep was out OF the
question. Indeed. within an hour I was
obliged TO scull the boat out into the bav
against a smart sea rolling in, aud hold
her there by hard work to keep from be-
ing devOured alive. Whenever | would
bet up for a few minutes, overcome by
want Of sleep, the boat would drift back
and the pests would attack me until
found them in my mouth.
After midnight the wind came up so
briskly that the mosquitoes could no lon
ger come out OF the swamp At me, but
new danger arose. | had no thought OF
alligators until, as the boat rested against
the reeds, monster reptile rose up and
clashed his jaws over the stern. 10 two
minutes there were three or four swim
ming about me, and others were thrash.
ing around In the swamp. From that