The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-16
were given to the quartermaster to keep
off.
He obeyed, and we went booming swift

off.
He obeyed, and we went booming swift
ly along. rtla Il
Meanwhile the ship had approached
within quarter of mile Of the foe,
when the log again clearing, we saw the
mystical figure, still seeming to maintain
its position in the air. The captain
ordered the mainyard backed and the cut
ter lowered.
"J.ads," said he, addressing his men
when they were mustered aft, there's
woman somewhere in probably
floating on cake Of ice. Wen have a
hard pull to get TO her, but what is hard
ship to saving human life Who'll vol
unteer ?" A dozen men, myself among
them, at once stepped forward, touching
| their caps. The cutter was manned, and
away she went, cracking along through the
| ice.
The pull was hard one sure enough.
Meanwhile, every time we threw glance
| over our shoulders, there was the mirage
still, rs far of as ever, moving along
through the air.
"Pull aheadl" our captain would ex-
claim, cheerily. zone more stroke ]"
And that one more stroke was given over
and over 1000 times. bringing us no
nearer than before. We had not pro-
ceeded much further when the mirage dis
appeared and gale bounced upon us,
screaming like 1000 devils.
Night closed round us---darkness every
where. The wind still howled with fury,
and on all sides We heard the incessant
thunder and crash OF the bergs striking
against each other. II was bitter cold,
and to keep ourselves warm we were
obliged constantly to exercise.
Suddenly one OF the men, shouting,
pointed through the gloom, and following
the direction we beheld a light, apparently
several miles distant.
ave must get to 1t, exclaimed the cap.
tain, probably is somehow connected
with the girl we saw"
The bergs had now separated, so that by
being very careful we contrived to keep
from being stove in. On We went for at
least two hours. when the light bore d.
rectly ahead, scarcely quarter OF a mile
of.
Light OF" shouted the captain, "who's
there3" No response. The question was
repeated. No better result.
/ "Strange," said the captain. AS he
spoke the light went out. Foul play,
he exclaimed. "Pull ahead, lads.
A minute after the boat grated on
| TOuHn DeuCil. we saw tho ouahhOo VI "
, ceding figures.
"Follow me, men," was the captains
, order.
Soon we were upon the fugitives--6erct
looking fellows, evidently Russian desert
ers, with girl captive with them.
They dropped their burden and made
off, offering but brief resistance as VI
dashed among them. The boats Lantern
T. then was lighted. The girl proved beauti
: full, but very pale, cold and terror stricken
q In few words she stated that she wa
: the daughter OF the captain OF the Win
chester, wrecked in the ice. The captain
o proceeded ashore. He, with his crew, wa
attacked by the fierce land pirates, robbe'
and slain. The girl hid herself in rock
came out on this day nearly frozen, say
i the surveying craft and stood watching II
. intending TO signal II when II should com
near enough for its crew TO see her.
y "Poor child" said the captain. Thank
i to the mirage you saw 80 long ago. That
!. why we lowered our boat"
J: "Thank heaven, you came justi time!
d exclaimed Mary Williams-this was he
d name-'for those shore barbarians, seein
me, pursued and captured me a shol
time since"
Subsequently she married one OF III
10 ships lieutenants-a fine young fellow I
et twenty-five, who thanks the good Prov
n dence which, by means OF a mirage, pr
~ cured him wife.