The Helena independent., 1889-04-14

In half an hour the Trenton had drifted %
within few yards Of the Nandalia's bow,
and the men who were in the rigging of
the latter vessel trembled with fear as
they saw the Trenton approach. Pres
emily the last ray Of daylight faded away
and night came down upon the awful
scene. The storm was still running with
as much fury as at any time during the
day. The poor creatures who had been
elinging for hours TO the rigging OF the
Vandalia were bruised and bleeding but
they held on with the desperation OF men
who hang by thread between LIE and
death.
Suddenly shout was horne across the
waters The Trenton was cheering the
Nandalla. The sound OF $50 voices broke
upon the air and was heard above the roar
OF the tempest, "three cheers for the Van
dAliA," WAS the cry that warmed the
hearts OF the dying men In the rigging
The shout died away upon the storm and
there arose from the Quivering masts Of the
suken ship response 50 feeble il was
scarcely heard upon the shore. The men
who felt they were looking death in the
face aroused themselves 10 the effort and
united In faint cheer Ior the flagship.
Those who were standing ON The
shore listened in silence, forthe feeble
cry was the saddest they had ever
heard. Every heart WAS melted 10 pity.
God help them" was passed from one
man 10 another. The sound of music next
came across the water-the Trenton's band
was playing the "Siar Spangled Banner"
The ethousand men on shore had never heard
the strains OF music at such a time
as this. An indescrlbable feeling came
over the hundred Americans ON the beach
who listened 10 the notes Of the national
anthem mingled with the howl OF the storm.
For moment only were they silent and
then they broke forth with cry that rent
the air and reached the struggling men on
the rigging of the VandaliA.
RESCUE OF THE TRENToS's ZEN.
The collision Of the Trenton and Wanda
LA, which IL was thOdght would crush the
latter vessel to piVces, proved to be saliva
tiOn 10 the men In the rigging. NOtwith-
standing the tremendous force of the waves
the Trenton dragged back slowly and
when her stern finally struck the side of
the Nandalia with great shock she grad
ually swung around brOadside 10 the
sunken ship. AS soon as the vessels
touched the men on the miZzen rigging
crawled out of the yards and jumped TO
the deck OF the Trenton. They escaped
just In time, for as the last left the yard the
mizzen mast OF the Nandalia fell with a
crash on the side next the shore. The
men In the mainmast escaped in the same
way. They Trenton was rapidly filling
with water and but little could be done for
the rescued men.
By o'clock the wind had abated,
though the sea WAS very tough. The ma.
tives yolunteed to man boat 10 90 10 the
Trenton. IL WAS still very dark and the
trip most perilous one, but the natives
put the boat through the current in safety
and reached the bow of the Trenton
They were given hswser which they
took TO the shore and made fast. AL
hands were ordered to remain on tn,
T, ship, as the storm having subsideC
there was no immediate danger
The total list of the dead Is as follows
| From the crew OF the Eber, II; Vandalia
49, Adler. 20; Nipsie. Z; schooner Lilly. 2
Trenton, |; natives, 2; total, li6.