Wichita eagle., 1890-02-22
FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH
A MAN CARRIED AWAY INTO THE
DARKNESS AND STORM.

Canght Up from Steamers Deck by the
Bowsprit of Passing sehooner-The
Scared Crew Thought the Unexpected
Visitor Was Satan Himself.
The following incident in the life Of a late
admiral is told by Copmander Enroll, Il. N,
in The Illustrated Naval and Military Maga-
zinc:
Although the vessel was steered from the
bridge, there was a spare wheel abaft and
raised grating for the heluisman to stand
upon; got on this and, steadying myself by
the wheel with one hand tried to peer through
the darkness astern: but all was black as jet,
a darkness that almost might be felt.
l was standing there, surrounded by war
ring nature, yet full of Il great sense of in
ward calm and awe, when my sailors ear
was startled by sound that was like, yet
different from, the breaking waves Before
/ had time to consider what 1t might be q
large black mass passed between me and the
red glow forward, and the next instant an
irresistible, unseen power lifted me off my
legs, and the steamer passed away from be-
meath my feet
With the tenacity Of drowning man ]
clupg to the object which had tern ms from
my hold and was now carrying me away
into the darkness. ] found myself suspended
above the boiling waters, expecting every
moment TO beengulfed therein, and thought
desoairingly of my dear wife aud daughter,
who would never know the mystery of my
death Then it flashed across my mind that
perhaps people would say had committed
suicide, and the thought of how much pain
this would cause those so dear TO me startled
me from my dazed condition and reused fne
to make an effort, a struggle for dear life,
and began to consider if my position were
altogether hopeless.
UNCoAFoRTAPLY POSTPONED.
/ soon realized that | was clinging 70 some
spar, which had struck me full across the
chest, and over which / had instinctively
thrown my arms Ny legs and feet were
hanging down into vacancy, but occasionally
they dipped in the crest OF wave; conciud-
ed, therefore, l was hanging to the extremity
of some vessels bowsprit, evidently not d
large vessel by the size of the spar, and also
by the short distance | was suspended above
the sea. | shouted as loud as l could. in hopes
some one would hear me, but without effect,
then felt about with my feet in the darec-
ton knew the bobstay would be; and pres
entity. to my great JOY, found it. With
this aid / managed to Climb into place Of
tolerable security, where | could sit upon the
bowsprit end and hold on by the jibstay.
! dared not attempt to climb in towards
the bows of the ship as the spar was so wet
and slippery that should have been ierked
off in a moment by the violent pitching Of
the vessel. whereas ! knew that where ] was
| WIS safe enough, provided ] could hold out
apainst the cold and wet until assistance
came TO me.
The vessel, whatever she was, had no lights
burning, and was perfectly invisible in the
darkness. Evidently no one was on the look
out, the heimsnan having probably iashed
the wheel for a short time whilst he went be-
low to light his pipe, and none Of those on
board her knew how nearly they had been
in collision with the Bouloyne packet TDey
had escaped beT by mere hairs breadth,
the steamer stern must have fallen into the
trough of the sea at the very instant that
the vessels bowsprit passed over TIE tahrail.
and so neatly picked me cR.
/ was in a very perilo1s position, clinging
as well as | could u the end oi that small
spar. buried soInstirncs almost 20 my waist,
md nearly dragged from my hold ~ the
water, as the vessel pitched into The heavy
SEAS. / was also benumoed with cold and
my half frozen fingers coBld hardly feel tie
vet and slippery rope. Is soon a. had re
covered nay breath began TO shout again,
ard presently, to mv great satisfaction,
heard some one reply. then tae glinnner Of
lantern revealed a glimrse Of the vetzel's
bows and an astonished faos gazing INTO isie
night. AZ continued 70 shous tne o~aer cf
the face disappeared ia search Of asstssancs,
and shortly the whole crew clustered on tae
forecastie gazing zt in woHGer ard
anazeuaent Help beiY.a ! yelled ah
yaal' was shouted in reply, followed ~
something in language win vhlcE / was
unAcauaiuted.
EsEss AsD 4 TAN
Presently the l3tsls vessel fell og before ths
Wind as they pat the sesn up, and Esy fnosse1
became conp&rat.vely easy ard gentAs; at
the same moment sz~ sturdy fellow Climb
out upon TIE Dowsprst with ropes end. it
was Bow easy eneags 70 get sionE tie sTar;
he eoou rea~ned tie place vEsr- wse sissin@.
sTd rrpgde the rOYe fszt r9zn6 rny waist. ard,
win his asssrtance, IN srotbe- ngtngts ! forsn1
uyszIt safe uro1 tse deck II the Htsl~ crs1.
Nv ne=T friends turned cut 70 - Dvs1nzso-
fsstgnx I'd enamel fer ths TerFA They
treated re ri1h evsry kir1ns~s. ard rssfs Fsss
"a co.ssfor .able Us fae Limited resoGsoss {:
their E.tae sctoocer Gs.Enitael
cSEld ret Ianasfs4=ns word u tAssT a&fs- |
graxe CT .krT of GliBs. s1s 5y nsa2ne u
tszus 1x1 rouga skesc5Es I s1ass-sa - sr-
rain 20 them ho~ r napp~rsd tAst try osrns /
70 fzve ns@ for a Tsassszge-- | 5TeT sxssca |
ef rnyseH eii1EsaS ca 70 tie so~srFis, aaa |
e,.e cs ta4-n pror-pssv s4l6sd a ls-zs Fss4f q
horr.x All saI t. ny ss1re. - ~h4rs a.
TIE osfsers roSE.ed and sxcSAszSsof T As.
yasP a~aan hclsaag up sssaT a2s>ss g sr-
t.rs-s aaaAxererz:, sai gsTzng rss = EsssaF-
stand sas. whes thsy azzs e1sssTessT4 .sss tSrF
hs4 al .akea - s9- tzs lsvA EEz-ss1- 90
eosyras I was rs1es sn-5e@a = ea-aE- xnisass
rstt nv wife anG A1y. syAo | EE-~ Enszss.
t,- slsss I'M. b "A a-ozsss q tssres s<3 -
= xilsse--2e-s. a. rsT s7rzn-s sssa-szsara-scs
st.s s-z1strexs % s.F ess-s .1s& ! ~psssss pas
,s@uu sa-ssss1z~eir - - ne scr. N ss-s
pearss- En<iaa G. Fzs2~k o@-t~ hss ees.
ssss~rassse ss-r5-sssT = ,ss-szr - s-alss Eas
IsozsrF 20 sszsr sas eog.Sz, ~: =. lezssS sEey
eaxDs~-@G-
Hows.~-. o=rSn- q iks ,sseA v~~asS-r sz.s
ceasx esn-~s. t~c saayx .ssrasd sess<s Eas
~ortkv s-z@z1= ssr5~1 rzs t. fsezL J fssses
sst-<zfx s---r.- fr-r-sa