Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-12-11
A Miraculous Escape from Drown
ing-A True Incident.

"While we were off the Cape of
Good Hope one time, my life was saw
ed by the most direct interposition of
Providence" remarked venerable
looking mariner to group OF inter-
ested listeners who had prevailed up
on him to recount some of his numer-
Gus adventures.
81 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 il always blew hard down in
those ATTITUDES, at least I've always
found 1t did, and I've been around
there a good many times.
"Well, it was about shutdown when
it began to breeze up, and before mid
night we were hove-to under goose
winged lower maintopsl.'
"The sea was running fearfully
high, but it came in long rollers, and
we could handle it pretty well.
The morning broke upon Wild
looking sight; the sun essayed to
pierce through the dull, leaden clouds,
but they were too heavy, they complete
ly enshrouded the sun from our view,
and we knew that we were in for a
hard time.
Gas the day advanced it seemed to
blow fercer and fiercer, until the gale
ragged so that feared the small piece
of tops'l which we had set would
burst with the strain to which subject
ed. In which case, before we could
set another sail the ship would fall off
into the trough of the sea and UNI
doubtedly swamp.
81 ordered the men to rig q tar
paulin' in the mizzen shrouds; this,
with much difficulty, was accomplish
ed and not moment too soon, for
the men had not quite finished secur-
ing the lashings when, with report
like cannon, the tops'l went out of
the belt-ropes, leaving but few tat
tered threads behind.
"These we jumped to secure by
hauling up ON the bunt-lines and clew-
lines.
81 Joined the men to lend them Il
hand, but just as we were about to
Delay, mighty wave swept over us,
and | felt myself borne off by the
terrible rush.
"Tbe sensation was most peculiar,
and for an instant really delightful
it seemed in Il seconds time as if j
we're carried a mile, so tremendous
was the sweep made by the heavy
sea.
Gas the next wave caught me and
tossed me high on its crest, saw the
ship away up the 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 felt that it was a mockery !;
they would be unable to render me
any assistance.
ut would have been impossible to
launch away boat, for SO small a
craft could not have lived moment
in the mountain-like sea which was
then running, and ] being so far to
leeward life-buoy could not reach
me.
"These thoughts flashed through
my mind in an instant, for / had no
longer time than that to realize my
desperate situation ere another sea en-
quilted me, and l was carried down,
down, down to the very depths of the
ocean,"
"How did you feel then, as you
were going DOWN." inquired one of
the group.
"Well, my young friend. felt then
as though / first knew what it was to
live. Life seemed so dear to me
realized that / was drowning. Then
my feeling changed, and it seemed al
most delightful to be drowned !"
WHAT exclaimed another of his
eager listeners. Delightful to be
drowned ?"
"Yes,' replied the captain. "And
I'll tell you why. II was such an
easy, soothing sensation which over
powered me, and seemed TO lull my
senses into the most delicious slumber
/ had seen my ship far away to wind
ward and had resigned myself to die.
Just as had given up all hope big
roller run me under, and down went.
uT x-..lI - A. --.-l A ~.