The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-06-29

Zone morning, the Gather having cleared
somewhat, we found ourselves surrounded by
ice. A great chain floatcd ahead of us, ex-
tending far into the south. The gale blew
dead on to this coast; we burst not haul the
schooner to the wind, and cur only chance
lay in discovering SON. lay where so might
find shelter. Such a by il was my good
luck to spy, lying dircctly i'll a li-Io with the
ships head. 1t was formed of IL great steep
of ice jutting a long Wa s,i":n.,iy into the
sea, the width betweS.I tho point AID the
main being about third OF Il Elic. ] seized
the helm, and shouted 10 tho II0l to hoist
the head of the mainsall tia: a might round
to when put the helm down Hut the fcl-
lows were i'm n panic terror, 4 IA stood gaping
at what they regarded as Their doom, calling
upon the Virgin and all the s'.iuts for help
and mercy. Into this b2y did We rush on
top of huge sea, TrentaIoVe uai the cap
tain and l swinging, with set teeth, at the
tiller, that was hard alec. She came round,
but with such way upon her that she took
long shelving beach oil ic2, ana ran up it to
the distance of half her owa lcn@th, and there
she lay, with her ruddcr within touch of the
wash of the water. the men, regarding tho
schooner as lost, and concluding that if she
went to pieces her boats would he destroyed,
and with them their only chance to escape
from the ice, fell frantic, and lost their wits
altogether They roared, TO the boatsl to
the boatsr 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 of the plumber in this hold! Will
you abandon il without an effort to save itf
What think you are your chances for life in
open boats in this seat The schooner lies
protected here; the weather will moderate
presently, and we may then be able to slide
her off, But reason as we would, the cow
ardly dogs refused to listen. They had
preached a 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 at the treasure in the run-the
fools believed the ship would tumble to pieces
as she stood-but entered the forecastle and
the officers cabins, and routed about for what
ever money and trinkets they might stuff
into their pockets without loss of time; and
then provisioning the boats, they called to
US to join them, but we said, Moon 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."
He ceased. was anxious to hear more.
"You had been six months on the ice when
the stupor fell upon youf"
"Ay, about six months The ice gathered
about us and built us in. recollect it was
three days after we stranded that, going on
deck, saw the bay las term it, filled with
ice. We drew up several plans to escape,
but none satisfied us. Besides, sir, we had
treasure on boar which we had risked our
necks to get, and we were prepared to 60 on
our lives to save it. Twas natu-
raj We had a great store of coal forward
and amidships, for we had faced the Horn in
coming, and knew what we had to expect in
returning. We were also richly stocked with
provisions and drink of all sorts. There were
but four of us, and we dealt with what we
had as If we designed it should last us fifty
years. But the colo was frightful; it was
not in flesh and blood to stand it, One day
we had been locked up about five months
Mendoza said he would get upon the rocks
md take view Of the sea. He did not re-
turn. The others were too weak to seek him,
and they were half blind besides; went, but
the ice was full of caves and hollows. and
the like, and could no. End him, nor could
look for him long, the cold being the hand
OF death itself up there. The time went by;
Erentanove went stone blind, and / had to
put food and drink into his hands that he
might live. A week before the stupor came
upon me went on deck and saw JOAN Bar
ros leaning at the rail. l called to him, but
he made no reply. approached and looked
at him, and found him frozen. Then hap
pened what l have told you. We were in
the cabin, the mate seated at the table, wait
ing for me to lead and support him to the
cook room, for he was so weak he could
scarce carry his weight. A sudden faintneSs
seized ME, and sank down upon the bench
opposite him, letting my head fall upon my
arms. His cry startled me- looked up
saw him, rs have said; but the cabin then
turned black, my head sank again, and 1 re-
member no moren
He paused, and then cried in French,
THAT is all! They are dead-Jules Tassard
lives! The devil is loyal to his own" and
with that he lay back and burst into laugh
ter.
Sand this" said /, twas i'm 1883"
YES" he answered, land this is 1901
eight and forty years afterward, heyr' and
he laughed out again "Tve talked so
other nap will do me good What Goals
have you found In the shipf'
told him.
"Good!" he cried; "we can keep ourselves
warm for some time to come, anyhow"
And, so saying, he pulled a rug up to his
nose and shut his eyes.