Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-05


The breeze did not push us over five miles
before it tired out, and we were left rs
before, tine sky full of stars and the sea
like mirror. was in the mates watch
and came on duty ut midnight. Indeed,
we were all on duty for that matter, as
there was nothing whatever to do and we
were sleeping ON deck. l was aroused,
however, to take the lookout, and took
my scat on the heel of the bowsprit as II
matter of form. As we were not moving,
no other sailing craft could move, and the
few steamers crossing on our line could
see our lights and avoid us. Something
happened, however, before had been on
duty III hour. The Josephine was rising
anti falling on the CLASSY swcls, and
swinging her head To every point Of the
compass by turns, and was scanning, the
sea and the heavens in the most perfume
tory way, when IN object suddenly came
into view. Ii was black spot against
the darkness, and after rising 10 my feet
and Watching it for few minutes made
ont. us | Thought, the dismasicd hull of Il
! small vessel. 1t was coming down to-
ward us, and when sure of this hailed
the mate. lie came forward with the
glass, and after Il long look he said:
"Wcll that beats my time. 1t is the
hull ri Il disnusted schooner, and stands
up high and dry. There's Il lot OF rattle
around her bows. and believe whale is
tangled up i'll it and towing the wreck :"
He sent me 10 call the Captain, and in
few minutes all hands had caught the
excitement. The wreck stopped for
while on oar starboard bow, and moi over
Il quarter of Il mile away. Then il crossed
our bows and came down on our port
side to the quarter, where il lay 50 close
that every man could see what it was.
1t was then, nj the suggestion of the
Captain. that We raised orr voices in Il
shout to scr if anybody was aboard the
strange craft We were answered almos;
Immediately by the barking of Il dog, and
the Captain said:
"fhcrc are men there, and they may
be starving and suffering. We'll, lower
Il boat and pull out to her"
"lIcavcns. sir, but you wouldn't think
of it. whispered the mate ''Shc's being
| towcd By VINO knows what. See! There
she moves again! And just listen to
that Eowling"'
II N.'1 ~ t-isit ttit illtiN WAS mo- lslH.
She moved across our stern ut slow speed
and ranged up Oh the other quarter. and
the dog ceased his barking and sent forth
such mourniul howls that every man WIS
upset.
"Wnai do You make ont under hcf
bowsE asked the Captain Of the mate as
he handed him the glass after "A long
look
"Why, sir, there's he bowsnrit, the
forctopmast, and big tnnglc of ropes.
w;l' the reply. at looks 10 me rs if all
the foremaSt rattle had somehow slowed
around under he: bows, and I'm certain
that wh;!!c is tangled up therein.
can see fia'liS of foam rs he churns away,
and you can hear = ripple along our side
from ihc sea he kicks up
Tn" dog barkcd ana howlcd by turns,
but we 30, no other answer to our re-
pcatcl shouts
"Men," said the Captain, as the wreck
began moving slowly away, ''it's orr
plain duty to board that hulk. could
never forgive myself if left any one to
tie Of starvation. won't order any one
to 20, bu; I'll call for volunteers"
4NbA ~ NlitIi lNSl)OH'lcti loI minute.
waited to give the men Il chance, and
as they hcsitatcd | volunteered Two
Others then came forward, and their ac-
tion Siiamcd the mate into saying:
"Ncry we'll. sir. I'll take Jones and
. Harris and pill oil and investigate
Why he left mo on! | do not know,
but WAS quietly ignored, and the two
mi,idle-aYet men whose names | haze
given had the oars rs the boa: moved
away. The Captain called after the mate
to he sure 20 board the hulk. and if he
! fonnd her in good condition 10 cut the
rattle loose and report the wreck had
been moving away from Us pretty steadily
for len minutes, and Us the yawl left us
could hardly make her ont The nat.
was 10 show q light when he boarded
her, ansi for the next half hour we were
straininG onr eyes 10 catch it. Then we
/ figured that he had missed the hulk and
was pulling baci; to us, and although we
had out our regular lights. which could
have been seen for two or three miles, we
sent zip several skyrockc;s and burned II
iiarc rs further guides. But the hours
wore OH ard brought no tidings. and
4
I for sight OF either hulk or boat
y breeze came with the SIN, and we
began search which lasted all the day
without result The loss of three men
reduced us to sad straits. There were
only two working hands, and as measure
OF safety we had TO get the big sails recfe,l
against what might come. The breeze
WAS light, and as we were under shortened
sail we did not cover any great distance
during the day, not over thirty miles.
: This satisfied us, however, that :; calamity
/ had occurred. The wreck could not
have been ovc- half mile from us when
the yawl pulled away. would not take
over ten minutes to pull to her What
could have happened TO the boat? If not
able 20 board, she should have re-
turned. In boarding she should have
/ displayed Il light, as ordered, and then
, returned TO report the state of the wreck
! The last ever seen of the three men was
when they pulled away from us. Not II
word has been heard from them TO this
day, nor will it ever be known how they