Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-15

bu houL SPoAl db Ino pun Fps WIN VAO
boatswain and the steward, when l
heard Cornish's voice shouting down
the companion: I" sail! a sail"
But a minute before l had felt so ut
terly Frustrated that l should not have
believed myself capable of taking half
a dozen steps without a long rest De-
tween each. Yet those magical words
sent me rushing up the companion
ladder with as much speed and energy
as 1 should have been capable of after
a long nights refreshing slumber.
The moment Cornish saw me he
pointed to the horizon on the weather
beam and clearly beheld the sails of
a vessel. Both the boatswain and the
steward had come running aft when
they heard Cornish's exclamation. l
got the telescope and pointed it at the
vessel and found she was heading di-
rectly for us. l grasped Cornish by
the hand and shook it heartily, and
then holding the telescope to my eye,
exclaimed:
''She's big ship, bosom. She's car
rying a maintop-gallant sail, and
there's a single reef in her foretop sail.
She can't miss us! She's coming right
at us, hand over fist, boys! Steward,
go and tell Miss Robertson to come on
deck. Down with you, and Delay that
squalling! Do you think we're blindP"
The small ensign was still alive,
roaring away just as we had hoisted
and left it; but in my excitement
did not think the signal importunate
enough, though surely it was so; and
rushing to the flag-locker, I got out
the book of signals, and sung out to
the boatswain to help me to bend on
the flags which threw out, and which
would represent that we were sinking.
We hauled the ensign down and run
up the string of flags, and glorious
they looked in our eyes, as they
streamed out in semicircle, showing
their brilliant colors against the clear
blue sky.
Miss Robertson came on deck with
out any covering on her head, and the
wind blew her hair away from its
fastenings and floated it out like a
cloud of gold. She held onto the rail
and stared at the coming ship with
wild eyes and a frowning forehead.
The boatswain contemplated the ap-
ccountenance. Powerfully as the sight
Of the ship had affected the others he
showed no excitement or feeiiL, what
ever. l had infinite confidence in this
mans judgment and bravery and his
lifelessness weighed upon re like a
heavy presentiment, and the cheering
words l was about to address to Miss
Robertson died away upon my lips,
l knew that the sea was then too
high to permit se0ding boat for us,
but expected the ship would lie by
until the sea moderated which would
probably be by night or the next morn
ing at the latest
The ship must have been about sew
enteen miles distant when first sighted
but she came toward us rapidly before
the stiff breeze When about two
miles away she hoisted Russian colors.
1 was bitterly disappointed when 1 saw
the flag. l had hoped most earnestly
to see English colors. Our chances of
rescue by an English or American ship
were fifty to one as against our
chances with a foreigner.
'He's goin' to round tor exclaimed
the boatswain, who watched the move
ments of the ship with an unconcern
absolutely phenomenal to me even to
recall now, when l consider that the
lives of us all might have depended
upon the strangers actions.
She went gracefully swooping and
smashing along the water, and [ saw
the hands upon the deck aft standing
by at the main-brace to back the yards.
Bosom" 1 cried, ''she means to
heave to-she won't leave u.s."
He made no answer, but continued
watching her with an immovable face.
She passed under our stern not more
than a quarter of a mile distant, per-
haps not so far. There was a crowd
| of persons near the wheel, some look
ing at us through binocular glasses
others through telescopes
1 jumped upon the grating abaft the
wheel and waved my hat to them, and
| pointed to our signals. A man stand
ing near their starboard quarter boat,
whom, by the way he looked aloft, l
| judged to be the captain, flourished his
hand in reply.
l then, at the top of my voice and
through my hands, shouted: Were
sinking! for Gods sake stand by us!"
On which the same person held up his
hand again, though do not believe he
understood or even heard what l
said.
Meanwhile they had braced up the
fore-yards, and as the vessel came
round parallel with us, at a distance
of about two-thirds of a mile, they
backed the main-yards, and in few
moments she lay steady, riding finely
| upon the water and keeping her decks
dry, though the seas were splashipg
over US freely,
Seeing now, as I believed, that she
meant to stand by us, all my excite
ment broke out afresh. l cried out
that we were saved, and fell upon my
knees and thanked God for his mercy.
Miss Robertson sopbed aloud, and the
steward came down out of the rigging
and danced about the deck, exclaiming
wildly and extending his arms toward
the ship. Cornish retained his grasp
of the wheel, but could not move his
eyes from the ship; the boatswain alone
remained perfectly tranquil, and even
angered me by his hard, unconcerned
face.
Good God" 1 cried, "do you not
value your lifeP Have you nothing to
say? See, she is lying there, and will
wait till the sea moderates, and then
fetch us on board"
| ttPerhaps she navn he answered