The Daily bulletin., 1890-12-31
BURIED IN THE OCEAN,


side OF the Golden Gate heading for
home. Everything went smoothly, and
nothing occurred to forewarn me of the
terrible adventure the future had in
store for me.
We were to the southwark of Valpa-
raiso when | fell ill., 1t was kind of
faintness that would suddenly and with
out warning come upon me, so that ]
often fell on the deck and lay there un-
til some one could come to my assist
ance. This continued without my get
ting much worse until we got down off
the Magellan straits, in the latitude of
Cape Pillar or thereabouts
One day, gloomy, forbidding day,
such as the mariner often meets with
down there, had the afternoon watch,
and was superintending one of my men
who was fixing ratline in the weather
mizzen topmast rigging. The fellow
was very clumsy, TO say the least OF 1T.
| got annoyed watching his awkward
ness; more annoyed, in fact, than was
warranted, think, now that look back.
But | was growing more and more
irritable every day, which was probably
owing 10 nay fainting spells, Suddenly
became so excited that ! jumped into
the mizzen rigging, and was into the top
in trice. was about to pull the fellow
away from his job when fit came on.
A sudden mist clouded my eyes. My
senses left me; l reeled and fell from the
top to the deck In my descent struck
once or twice, which caused me to turn
over, with the result that fell on my
head.
When recovered consciousness | was
lying in bunk in the hospital. Still
there was thick mist before my eyes
could indeed see everything so as to
recognize where was, but somehow my
eyes refused to move about, and could
only stare straight up at the deck, ]
tried to turn in my bunk, but could
not To raise my arm, but could not
To sit up, but my muscles failed me.
AT last the truth struggled into my dark
ened mind. perceived ut last that |
was in perfectly cataleptic trance.
The strange part Of it was that my mind
was almost as active as ever. | knew
all that was going on about me, and
felt an overwhelming terror at my pos
sible fate.
1t was soon made known TO me. The
captain entered my room. could hear
indistinctly, rs if it were afar off, his
footstep on the deck. Then the steward
also came in | heard them consulting
together, and both came to the conclu-
sion that was dead, that my neck was
broken by the fall.
b, -, col nc
measure. We must bury him to-mor-
row while the fine weather lasts"
heard the captain say, and presently the
sailmaker came in and measured me for
the last hammock | should ever sleep in.
could not feel him, but / knew by his
motions what he was doing will not
describe how they laid me out on the
cabin table and left me there, while
Sails, close by, made my shroud. Stitch
stitch, stitch Went his needle, seeming
to enter into my brain every time in
stead of the thick canvas. lean distinct
ly remember that while lay there the
steward tried to close my eyelids, but
thank God, they few up every time an6
left me tsle poor consolation Of seeing
the preparations for my doom.
at last all was finished. The canvas
was spread on the deck and | was lait
in it. Then the sailmaker began t.
stitch me up He had stitched up nj
but my face when | heard him say ht
had lost his knife. A rigid search wa
made everywhere, but it could not b'
found, so Sails returned to work, and al
that time | was thinking in my dull WA,
what fools they were for not looking int
my shroud for the lost knife. AS after
ward learned it was next day ut moor
that | was carried on deck and laid on
plank preparatory TO being shot over
board. The men one by one took lool
at my face, and then it was covered III
forever. The burial service was read b,
the captain, there was little delay, ant
then the plank was tilted, and | sho
int Tue bitter cold water off the deg
Ramirez. 1t must have been the shocl
that brought me TO my senses, for as
sank down, dragged lower by the sho
at my feet, felt my feeling and actiol
return.
At the same moment my right hand
released from its dread inertia, graspe
what | instantly knew to be knife
Mechanically | forced the blade an
ripped my canvas shroud so that tn
shot fell, and began to rise to the sui
face In a few seconds, | suppose, al
though it seemed years, | opened H.
eyes-for it is curious fact that Will
lay in a state of coma they remaiue
open, yet when my feelings reture
with the shock | closed them at once
and saw once more the light Of dag
which had never expected 10 sec again
was an excellent swimmer, and ha
soon regained my breath, and cast frol
me the canvas which impeded my move
ments. Then looked around over Ill
waters, and cav that my miraculor
sscape had been al for nothing. Thl
ship, looking like a great swan, was sey
eral miles away, getting smaller an'
smaller even as ! looked,
There arose from my lips a frenAe'
curse against God that had abandoned
me thus, bVt almost megiately after
ward, as IL 10 rebuke me Tor my wicked
ness, / noticed piece of wreekago font
ing toward me Hope once more file
my breast, aud ! swan toward tho piec
of declfhonse, as u proved ~ DE, an'
elambeHng op top throw myheli op n
face and wept f0r very wrotehhdneas.
Alone on the Nido ocean, piece q
wood tho only thing between me an
kaalA 4AMsa aea vsAk tgois M lAsl ~