Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-06

struggle was about to take place, and I
turned and extended my hand to steady
her. did so Howe uttered sort of
scream, aprang upon and seized his wife,
and, though | clutchcd her skirts, the
fabric tore. and both went overheard and
out OF sight in an instant. Neither one
rose to the surface, or, if they did, they
were far beyond reach. The sudden and
awful tragedy deeply affected us all, aud
the girls flung themselves down and
could not be reused up again until after
noon. Ben didn't realize it so deeply,
but it was like Il dagger at my heart to
see him sitting with closed eyes and
white face, and his lips framing the
words Of tie Lords Prayer now and
then.
AT noon the wind'and sea began to 90
down and the sky to clear up. The gule
had blown itself out, and now consid.
cred it only question of time when we
should sight the coast. The better state
OF affairs brought new life to the Urls,
and | was glad to have them rouse IN
and show some signs of life. A rough
nan like me is no real comfort to one in
distress, but did the best could, and fin.
ally got them interested in the question OF
saving themselves. BY ) O'Clock rot i'm
the drag, shook one reef out Of the sail,
and stood of on II southwcs. tack, but
before had made five miles the wind
died out entirely and we were left tun-
bling on the last of the sea. Might came
on as mild and balmy us you please, the
ocean grew quiet, and every one OF us
lay down and slept the whole night
through without break. was the FIRST
up, and the minute | saw the sky !
Sroancd i'll despair. 1t portcndcd hot
day and dead calm, and both followed.
Even before breakfast | had to make
shift to get some shelter from the blazinc
sun, and when l came to overhaul the
provisions my facc SO betrayed my feel.
ings that the younger girl cried out
"Oh! Jack, but what has happcuct
now?" - :. <
| could have eaten and drank all W,
had III i've minutes. had not filled tn,
water kcg 10 its capacity, and even som,
that did put i'll had leaked out by wa,
OF the bung. | had to tell them that We
must put ourselves on allowance, anc
hardly more than Il crumb ut that, b,il
they chccrfully accepted the situation.
am not going into the details of the mex:
week. For seven successive DAYS W,
hli dead calm or contrary breeze
winch was of little use Il
help us beat up. We spun the waite.
and provisions ont for four DAYS, anc
then we had nothing left BY rcsortins
TO those cXpcdicnts known to snilors W,
kept hunger and thirst in allegiance unit
the evening of the sixth day. Then th,
three walled and wcpt, and took off m,
cowhidc shoes and cut one into strips fol
us 10 chew ut. There was some sli~m
relief, and the three only called out il
their troubled sleep II few times We hac
only the leather all day of the seventh
and on the morning of the eighth, al
though favorable breeze was blowing
and we all felt in better spirits, had tt
cut up the other shoe. Little Ben was nov
reduced to n bundle of bones, and he hnc
the CLASSY eyes which 30 with fever
while the girls were burned and frccklcd
and starved until could not bear to look
at them. Both were looking ahead in
vacant, uncanny way, and Ben was rest
ing III my arms while I stccrcd, when w,
ran straight across the course of Il trader
coming up from New leland, and wcr,
picked up.
Being young man, and tough one
it wasn'ta fortnight before | was nv old
self again, but the girls and the boy were
down with fever for Il month or more.
and were Il whole year in being restored
to hcaith.-Nc,o lor& Sun.