Connecticut western news., 1890-12-31
THE WRECK.

breA6asted with my old friend George 0arin. The servant brought him let ter covered with foreign stamps.
 'eYou allow me7" George asked.
 Certainly"
 And he began to read the eight pages closely covered with an English hand. He read slowly and with serious atten- tion; with the interest you take in that which touches you. Then he placed the letter upon the mantel and said:
 That is 8 strange adventure of which never told you; sentimental, however, and which happened to me. That was . singular New Years day. It was twenty years ago. Twas 30 then, and 1Am 50 now. Twas inspector of the in- suance company of which I am now president was preparing to spend New Years day in Paris, as it is the custom to make holiday of it, when l received . letter from one of the direct ors ordering mo to leave immediately for the island of Re, where three deck CT from St. Nazaire, insured by us, was wrecked.
 It was o'clock in the morning. By 10 was at the office for instructions, and that night I took the train and reached La Rochelle next morning, the 31st of December. had two hours in which to visit the city before sailing for Re, and spent them admiring the odd, severe architecture, it's crooked streets, the sidewalks covered with arcades, not unlike the Rue Rivoi, but lower, darker and moro mysterious, that seem built for . scene of conspirators; the old and striking scenery of the religious wars, wsrs both savage and heroic.
 When I left La Rochelle it was one of those dark, oppressive days, crushing thought, depressing the heart; 8 cold, gray day, darkened by heavy fog, wet e rain, cold as ice, noisome as the smell of sewer. Under this ceiling of low and sinister fog the yellow sea was without movement, without life, sea of muddy, greasy, stagnant water. The Jean Clinton slid upon it, rolling slightly hom habit, cutting the thick, smooth iheet and leaving behind few waves !whoh quickly subsided.
 r., began talking to the captain, a small man, as round and well balanced as his boat. Iwanted to learn the details of the accident was going to investigate, and which I correctly inferred he would be able to furnish me. We were in the meantime sailing along the island of Re. Extsmding his hand he pointed out a anan speck in the midst of the sea and said, "There is the vessel" ''The Marie Joseph?' 1 asked. "Yes." l was as- S~I e-11 miles from shore. resumed, ''But, captain, there must be twenty feet of water there" He laughed. 'sNot two feet, tell you. It is high tide now at g o'clock. Go along the beach after break. fasting and promise that at 8 o'clock ; you will reach the wreck with dry feet you will have two hours to spend there but no more, by the way, or you would bs caught by the tide. The further thu tide recedes the faster it returns. Thi. coast is as flat as bedbug."
 thanked the captain and went for ward to watch the little city of St. Mar tin, which we were rapidly approaching The city resembles all those miniatur' ports which serve as capitals for tn, small islands ringing the continent. is large fishing village with one foo on water and one on land; supporting life on fish and chickens, vegetables ant shell fish, radishes and mussels. It. i low, but little cultivated, though thick, populated.
 After breakfasting crossed smal !, promontory; then, as the tide was goin, out, continued across the sands in tn direction of large black spot, far away walked fast on this yellow plain, a elastic as flesh and seeming to sweat u1 der my feet. A minute ago the sea wa here; now could no longer dist1nguis the line separating the sand from th ocean.
 The Atlantic had disappeared like scene down the trap door of 8 theatre and now walked in the midst of del crt. Only the salt smell remained; th smell of sea weed, the smell of the wave the good and pungent smell of the coas walked fast and looked at the wrec1 :. which increased in size as approache and now appeared like an immense whal' b seemed to start from the ground, and m tho yellow and extended plain tool p1nntio proportions. She lay upon ons Ads, split, broken. showing like the rib, of an animal her broken bones, her bone of taxred wood pierced with immensI nails The sand had invaded her ana held and possessed her, and would neve let her 20. She appeared to have taken A root in the sand. The bow was deepl, tmbedded in the soft and treacherou khot4em, while the stern seemed to throv
 - tho slg. kke . despairing cay fo
 fhs words Marie Joesph wr4sesu 1,