The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-13

A S
Our nasim u.s.: No tcitneSScsi
ophy. Who gives us quarter unless it be t.
hang us, But 10 continue: We did hand
somely, but were a long time about it, anC
after careening and filling up with water
fwixt San Carlos and Chloe we set sail foi
the Antilles. Like your brig, we were blown
south. The weather was ferociOus Gale
after gale Numbered down upon US, forcing
US TO fly before it, We lost all reckoning OF
our position; for days, for weeks, sea and
sky were enveloped III clouds of snow. in the
heart Of which drove our frozen schooner
We were none of Us of a nationality fit TO en-
counter these regions; We carried most of us
the curly hair Of the sun, the chocolate cheek
Of the burning zone, and the ice chained the
crew, crouching like Lascars, below. We
swept past many vast icebergs, which would
leap on a sudden out of the white whirl of
thickness, often so close aboard that the re-
coil of the surge striking against the mass
| would flood our decks At all moments of
the day and night we were prepared to feel
| the shock of the vessel crushing her bows
against one of thoSe stupendous hills. The
cabin rcsounded with Salves and AYES, with
invocations b. the saints, promises, curses,
and litlnies. The cold does not make men
of the Spaniarrls, who are but Indifferent sea
men in temperate climes and We were chiefly
! SraniardS, with consciences as rcd as your
| English flag"
He grinned, emptied the pannikin, and
stretched his hands 10 the fire 10 warm them.
zone morning, the weather having cleared
somewhat, We found ourselves surrounded by
| ica A great chain 1oated ahead of us, ex-
tending far into the south. The gale blew
| dead on 10 this coast; we burst not haul the
, schooner 10 the wind, and our only change
lay in discovering some bay where We might
| find shelter. Such bay it was my good
/ luck to spy, lying directly in line with the
| ships head IL was formed Of a great steep
of ice jutting q long way slantingly into the
sea, the width between the point and the
main being about third of mile. ] seized
the helm, and shouted 10 the men to hoist
the head Of the mainsail that she might round
TO when put the helm down But the fel
lows we're in panic terror, and stood gaping
at what they regarded as their doom, calling
upon the Virgin and all the saints for help
and mercy. Into this bay did we rush on
top OF a huge sea, TrcntanOye and the cap
tain aud | swinging, with set teeth, at the
tiler, that was hard alec. She came round,
but with such way upon Ter that she took
long shelving beach Of ice, and ran up IT 10
the distance of half her own length, and there
She law with her rudfer within touch of the
=, wash Of the water. Tie men, regarding the
schooner as lost, and concluding that il she
went to pieces her boats would be destroyed,
and with them their only chance 10 escape
from the ice, fell frantic, and lost their wits
altogether They roared, TO the boats! 70
the boatsp The captain endeavored TO bring
them back TO their senses; he and and the
mate, and joan Barros, the boatSwain-a
Portuguese-went among them pistols in
hand, entreating, cursing, threatening.
think VI the plumber IN this holdl VIII
you abandon il without an effort TO save It!
What think you are your chances for life in
open boats in this sea- The schooner lies
protected here; the weather will moderate
presently, and we may then b. able 10 slide
her Off But reason as We would, the COW
ardly dogs refused 10 listen. They had
preached spirit cask aft, and passed the
liquor along the decks while they hOisted the
pinnace out of the hold and got the other
boats over. The drink maddened, yet left
them wild with fear too. They would not
wait to come Mt the treasure in the run-the
fools believed the ship would tumble TO pieces
as she stood-but entered the forecas,le and
the officers cabins, and routed about for what
ever money and trinkets they might stun
into their pockets without loss of time; and
then provisioning the boats, they called 10
Us 20 join them, but we said, Noon which
they ran the boats down TO the water, tum-
bled into them, and pulled away round the
point of ice We lost sight OF them then,
and have little doubt that they all per-
ished shortly afterward"
lie ceased. was anxious TO hear more.
"YOu had been six months on the ice when
the stupor fell upon your
"Ay, about six months. The ice gathered
about us and built us in. | recolect it was
three days after we stranded that, going on
deck saw the bay laS term III filled with
ice We drew up several plans to escape,
but none satisfied us Besides sir, we had
treasure on board which we had risked our
necks to get, and we were prepared to so on
imperiling our lives TO save it. Twas natu-
raj We had great store of coal forward
and amidShips, for we had faced the Horn in
coming, and knew what We had to expect n
returning. We were also richly stocked with
provisions and drink of all sorts There were
but four of us, ami we dealt with what we
had as if We designed it should last US fifty
years But the cold was frightful. it vas
not IN flesh and blood TO stand il. One 1fy-
we had been locked up about five months
Mendoza said he would get upon the rocks
and take view Of the sea. lie did not re
turn. The others were too weak to seek him,
and they were half blind besides went. but
Tie Ice was fun OF cav.A..-n6 boliovs. ard