Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-05-12

slope, and these rectangular objects
showed themselves thickly in that direc-
ton.
''They don't look unlike houses" re.
marked the quartermaster, peeriDg earn
estly through the gloom. II don't know
any coast hereabouts that has rocks like
that"
eff they were houses" said the second
officer, who stood near with his arm brok-
en-, 1--WE g ould be in the midst of town,
and no small town, either"
"Hark! what's that?"
All listened. There was the eound of a
halloo, clearly repeated, and in moment
it was answered from further distance.
Then In several directions, near and fa-,
were heard cries, calls and lamentations.
The listeners uttered murmurs of surprise
and perplexity.
Just then great mass of cloud in the
east broke away, and the full moon shone
forth with surprising brillisnce, shedding
over the scene a light which, in compari-
son with the previous darkness, seemed as
bright as day. 1t revealed an extraordi-
nary spectacle.
Beyond the stem of the steamer extend
ed the tossing waters OF q large bay, strewn
with wrecksge and an indescrible medley
OF floating objects. In front and on either
side were the streets and houses of half
destroyed town. The steamer had
been carried over TIE esa
wall and lay beyond the wharves, between
the ruins of hotel and large warehouse.
A little way off was what had been pub
lie pleasure garden or casino; ii looked as
if gigantic roller had been passed over it.
In terrace higher up heavy iron gun
stuck out like half driven bolt; it had
been whipped out of vessel in the bay
and borne nearly half mile, passing CON-
pletely through house on the way.
Nearly every house left standing was un-
rooted; many were torn from their
foundations and thrown topsy tirvy.
The iron shaft of a street lamp
was bent over and twisted like a
corkscrsw. In the center Of small fort to
the west of the town was brig, with one
mast still standing A floating wharf just
outside the sea wall was sunk; steamer
was on top of it, and on top of the steamer,
lying crosswise, were the remains of a
three masted merchant ship. A large pre-
vision store had been blown to pieces and
the stores whirled about in all directions
over the town and adjacent lands. In the
bay, now rapidly becoming calmer, appear
ed the masts of score of sunken yes
sells, sticking up like reeds in swamp.
Amor g them foated casks, blocks, spars,
boxes, quantities OF oranges AID cocoanuts,
fragments of trees, the rafters and beams OF
houses; and bobbipg about everywhere
were the drowned and mutilated corpses OF
hundreds of men and women. But these
were not to remain long visible. Ever and
and anon there would be swirl in the
water, a jerk and splash, and shark
would glide away with human arm or leg
in his Jaws. The banquet was an unusu-
ally rich one, and the banqueters were os-
sembling in thousands.
'Well," said the quartermsster, as his
eyes rapidly traversed the scene, "Pve
heard of miracles, but this is the nearest
to one that ever eaw. OF all the things
that might have happened, this is the I'M
likeliest; We get caught in hurricane, and
blown north and eOuth, we don't know
where, nor whether we were under water
or above it; and here at last we find our
selves high and dry, in the port we were
bound for. and within dozen rods of the
wharf we should have lain up to- This is
queer woIldn
"What place 60 you cay this is?' in
quired one of the passengers, drawing
Lear.
This is st. Thomas, sir what there is
left of it-and no other place in the world,
On, is that you, Mr.. Martin? Pm glad TO
gee you safe and sound; l expect a good hall
of US will never speak again. Where Is your
friend, sir?"
81 don't know" replied the other; II
have been looking for him. haven't seen
him since the wind first stopped blowing
out at sea"
at was that big wave that came aboard
us, most likely" said the qusrtermaster,
gloomiIy. "Tba. carried off the captain
and many a good man with him. You may
sail the seas till you're an old man, sir,
and never see the like Of that storm again. +"
But his interlocutor had moved away,
and was beginning a search through the
ship in the forlon hope of finding at least
the body of his friend.
TO BE CONTINUED