The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-27
OF THE SEA.
WAS two or three years ago.

II was two or three years ago.
l was crossing the Sardinian sea In CON-
many with seven ar eight customhouse
sailors. A severe voyage for a novice
Through the entire month OF March we
had not a single pleasant day. The east
wind pursued US furiously m the sea
would not quiet down.
One night rs we were flying before the
tempest. our boat sought refuge at the
entrance Of the Strait of Bonifacio, amid
n group of lutte islands. There was moth.
ing inviting in their aspect; large bare
rocks, covered with birds, a few TUFTS oi
NORWOOD, some thickets of lentisks, aud
here and there I'm the mud some bits oil
wood rotting. But for the purpose oil
spending the night even these forbiddinR
rocks were better than the cabin OF an
old half-deckcd boat, which the waves
entered as II they were nj home, IN we
were obliged 10 be content.
Hardly had we discmbarked. while the
sailors were lighting the fire To make the
fish soup. when the captain called me:
and showing me a little Enclosure OF
white masonry lost in fog nj the end Of
the island, said 10 me:
"Will you come to u cemetery ~
"A cemetery, Captain Lionetd! Where
are we then?"
AT the Lavczzi Islands. Monsieur.
Here lie buried the 6U0 men Of the Semil-
lante, i'm the very spot where their frigate
was lost ten years ago. Poor people!
They do not receive many visitors. The
least that we can do Is tn go and say good
day 10 them, now that We are here"
with all my heart, captain"
How sad il was, the cemetery OF the
Semillantc, with its little low walls, its
iron gate, rusty, hard To open, its silent
.l,. anI hnp,lrals nf blnnl arnssaS
hidden by the grass. Not a crown of i'm.
mortelles, moi a souvcnir-nothing! All!
the poor, abandoned dead! How cold
they must he in their chance grave!
We remained there a moment. kneeling.
The captain prayed aloud. Enormous
gulls, sole guardians OF the cemetery,
wheeled over our heads n mingled their
sea.
The prayer ended, We returned sadly
20 the corner Of the island where the boat
was moored. In our absence the sailors
had wasted u % time.
We found a huge fire burning behind a
rock and the pot boiling. We sat In q
circle. with feet mt the fire, and o each
had oil his knees, Ia an carthern porrin-
ger, two slices OF black bread, thoroughly
soaked. The meal was n silent one; we
were wet, we were hungry, and then the
vicinity of the cemetery. However, when
the porringers were empty, pipes were
lighted. and we began TO talk a little.
Naturally we spoke OF the Semillante.
"But tell me, nov did the thing hap
pen ?m ! askcdt the captain, who, with his
head in his hands, was looking nj the
flames with a pcnsive air.
SHOW did Il happen ." answered the
good Lionctti, with a deep sigh. "Alas!
Monsieur, no n in the world IA say.
All that we know is that the Scmillante,
loaded with troops for the Crimea, left
Toulon the night before in bad weather.
The night grew worse. With wind and
rain the sea was heavier than had ever
beer known. Ia the morning The wind
quieted n little. but the sea was as bad as
ever. and there was "a fog so thick that
one could not distinguish "a light four
PAGES away. These fogs, Monsieur, you
cannot imagine how t~reacherous they are.
Still, I have an idea that the Semillante
must have lost her helm in the morning,
for, IL the vessel had 10 been damaged,
never would the captain nave crashed
upon these rocks. He was a good sailor,
whom all of us knew. He had CON-
manded the station at Corsica for three
ycars,and knew this coast as well as I,who
know nothing else"
"And at what hour is il supposed that
the Semillantc persisted -
at must have been at noon. Yes. Mon
slcur, ut full MONDAY. But, with the fog,
tIlis upotitaN WAS not Imucn Dettef IMAM 70
night as black as the laws of a wolf. A
customs employc on the coast has told me
that on that day, about II 30, having gone
out Of his little house 10 fasten his blinds,
he had had his cap carried away by a gust
of wind, and that at the risk Of bcing
washed away himself by the waves he had
started after il along the beach ON all
fours. You understand, customs employ
ees are not rich, and a cap costs them
dear. Now il seems at "A certain momen
our man. raising his head, saw very near
him in the fog a big shin scuddiug under
bare poles along the coast of the Laycy,i
islands. The shin was going So fa.t tint
the customs cmpIoye had scarcely time to
get "A GLIMPSE III her. There is every rrn.
son Ia believe, however. that il was the
Semillante, since a half hour later tho
of the islands heard ON these
here comes the keeper of
whom | speak To you, Monsieur. lie will
III -. TT "