Nevada County picayune., 1889-04-03
SAVED.
A Miraculous Escape from Drown
 ing---A True Incident.

"While we were off the Cape of Good Hope one time my life was saved by the most direct interpositlon Of | Providence. 7" remarked a venerable l looking mariner to a group of inter ested listeners who had prevailed 1 upon him to recount some of hlS humorous adventures.
 II was then captain of fine East Indiaman. That was back in fifty two. and we were homeward bound when we took gale off the Cape. We were pretty well prepared for it, because it always blows hard down in those attitudes, at least I've always found it did, and I've been around there a good many times.
 Well, it was about sundown when it began to breeze up, and before midnight we were hove-to under q goose winged lower maintops'l.
 "The sea was runnin' fearfully high, but it came in long rollers, and we could handle it pretty we'll.
 'The morning broke upon wild looking sight; the sun essayed to pierce through the dull, leaden clouds, but they were too heavy, they com pletely enshrouded the sun from our view. and we knew that we were in for hard time.
 As the day advanced it seemed to blow fiercer and iercer, until the gale ragged so that feared the small piece of tops'l, which we had set would burst with the strain to which sub iected. In which case, before we could set another sail the ship would fall off into the trough of the sea and undoubtedly swamp.
 II ordered the men to rig a tar paulin' in the mizzen shrouds; this, with much difficulty, was accom- plshed; and not moment too soon, for the men had not quite finished securing the lashings when, with a report like cannon, tho tops'l went out of the bolt-ropes, leaving but a few tattered threads behind
 "These we jumped to secure by hauling up on the bunt-lines and clew- lines.
 "I joined the men to lend them a hand, but just as we were about to 'belay, mighty wave swept over us, and l felt myself borne off by the terrible rush,
 "The sensation was most peculiar, and for an instant, really delightfuli it seemed in seconds time as if l were carried mile, so tremendous was the sweep made by the heavy sea,
 "As the next wave caught me and tossed me high on its crest, saw the ship way up to windward, and the faces of my crew above the rail.
 'They were waving their hands to indicate that they saw me and would aid me; but I felt that it was mock cry; they would be unable to render me any assistance.
 ''It would have been impossible to , launch away a boat, for so small a craft could not have lived . moment in the mountain-like sea which was then running, and l being so far to leeward life-buoy could not reach me,
 "These thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant, for l had no longer time than that to realize my desperate situation ere another sea engulfcd me, and was carried down, down, down to the very depths of the ocean,
 "How did you feel then, as you were going downY" inquired one of the group.
 Well, my young friend, l felt then as though l first knew what 1t was to live. Life seemed so dear to me. l realized that l was drowning, Then my feelings changed, and it seemed almost delightful to be drowned. .'
 What :" exclaimed another of his eager listeners. Delightful to be drowned?"
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