The Colfax chronicle., 1890-05-17

a the entrance, to avoid the mosquitoes
and sandfiies which swarmed upon the
shores of the inlet. With one man on |
watch, the rest of us stretched out upon
the thwarts and casks to rest and sleep
as best we could. The long night final.
1y wore away, and waiting until 1t was
fairly daylight, reused the crew,
weighed anchor and pulled down toward
the bar to take look at it, Arriving
there, we found that a moderate swell
was still running in from of the shore,
which at times broke with considerable
force upon the shoalest spots on the bar,
yet felt no great concern about at
tempting the passage, as we had often
CROSSED it safely in far rougher water.
1t was now about half-tide running
food, with light breeze blowing of
the land, and altogether Q favorable
time for making the attempt. Accord
iugly, we proceeded, with five men row.
ing, and the rest of the crew In the
after part of the boat, to tighten the
bow in order that it might lift easily to
the incoming seas. Taking advantage
of . comparatively smooth time, we
| forced the boat across the bar at the
utmost speed attainable, and fortunately
passed over the worst of the dangerous
places without mishap. We had nearly
reached the deeper water on the OUT
side, and were anticipating successful
ending to our trip, when two mighty
seas in close succession came rolling in
toward us. The boat safely surmounted
the first. which broke just astern, and
we were pulling to meet the following
one, when the stroke oar snapped in
two, throwing the rowers into confusion,
and deadening the boats headwsy. Be-
fore they could recover, the sea, break
ing at that instant, caught the boat
under the bow, swinging her violently
around broadside to, overwhelming and
capsizing her, and spilling US all out
into the water.
1t was all done in q moment and be-
fore could fully realize the situation.
| was rolled over and over by the rush.
ing waters, and buried in the seething.
foaming mass until thought that
should never find my way back to the
surface again. remember that, in my
bewilderment, did not know in what
direction the surface lay, and probably
would have drowned right then and
there, had not my arm, as was swept
along, scraped upon the firm sandy bot
tom, when planting my feet upon it,
gave a strong push and rose with q
bound to the top of the water. As soor
as could get my eyes open and lool
around, saw the boat, bottom up, about
, thirty feet from me, with several mer
! around her, while others were struggling
, in the midst of the scattered oars, water
casks and other loose floating articles
I which had escaped from the boat.
II A man near me calling for assistance
l pushed an oar to him, which h'
Rrasped, and then, seeing that he wa
, now able to care for himself, swan Il
! the boat, intending to get on top of he
astride the keel. Upon reaching her,
found that she was held in one position
by her anchor which had dropped ou
, and caught in the bottom when she wa
, overturned. There were four or five o
! the men, Tom among them, hanging OF
to the boat, and shouted to them to tr.
and cut the anchor-rope so that sh
2 might drift into smoother water, an
also to get hold of the painter and lea
, | It along aft over the bottom of the boa
? 90 that we might have something t
j hold on by.
; Meanwhile, the seas dashed over tn
entire length of the boat, sweeping m
off several times and washing me asterr
. so that, owing to the current caused b
0 the tide running in, it was with the nj
1 most difficulty that / could regain m
1 precarious hold upon the boat. FINAL
q perceiving that was fast losing m
' strength. abandoned all effort to clin
: to the boat, and driftsd away with tn
r tide, only exerting myself sufficient
to keep my head above water. Jus
|. then Tom, who was an excellent swim
8 mer, came near me and called out:
: "Are you all right? Can you TAX
care of yourself?"
t "Yes. l guess can keep afloat," l n
r piled. W
!, ssvery well, I'll stay by you in cas-
+ you should want help" Tom said, an
e then drifted along with me. At b
+ suggestion commenced to pull of m
y clothes to relieve myself of their add
v tional weight, when suddenly felt
rushing and swirling of the water
= around me, then heard q brief, agonizet
% cry, and turning quickly, saw the hug
,. dorsal fin with the white streak acrol
,, it where my bullet had creased it, an
. the mottled back Of the ''Old Comm'
k dore" vanishing beneath the wave
, The sight of the monster filed me wit
8 terror and apprehension. was almo
Is paralyzed with fear. Whose was tt
cry had heard? 1 looked around fl
= Tom, but could not see him.
d "Tomi Toni" 1 shouted, but receive
d no response. An intense feeling of lon
:. illness oppressed me. Slowly it dawne
d upon me that Tom had left me foreve
T, 1t was his last cry that had heard. n
le prophecy had come true. The 20
g Commodore" had at last 'sgot the ma
q he was waiting for" At first my gri