Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-24

Of the surging breakers rushed aft and
shouted the fearful tidings la the car.
tain's ear
God help usl God help us" was all he
said
An instant after we were in white, seeth-
ing, Missing water, and then, lifted sky
ward on mountain roller, we were dashed
down with terrible crash upon the dread
ca rocks. Darkness demonstrating phos-
phorism all around-the ship SCATTERING,
parting beneath our feet, men shrieking in
Wild misery-my pen cannot paint the
picture
And now wave after wave swept on over
us, hitting the ship up and crushing her
down, tearing her all asunder, and yet
chung to rope which / had fastened to q
bolt in the deck, not knowing whether one
was allye beside me or not, for all was
silent but the winds and waters. Like
bowling demons they went on With their
fearful chorus.
How long seemed that night, while
could feel that the shattered remnants of
the old ship were going fast from under
mel But the blessed daylight came at last,
and even the sun shone out. And saw,
dashed like myself to the deck, but one
man-that man was the captain Whittier
than foam was his face, and full as white
his hair, which had been glossy brown on
the day before. Our eyes met--his were
wild and wolfsh-insanity's fire was in
them.
The sea now drove the last part of the
wreck asunder, and for moment thought
we both were gone; but on one high spot
of rock we got foothold, and there clutch
ing the coral crag with bleeding hands we
hung.
Until then neither OF us had looked
away from each other or the wreck. But
together glancing southwark, there we
saw, not mile distant, beautiful, flower
carpeted, fruit laden Cuba. White cot
tages, groves of golden oranges, and tall
palm trees-never had they looked so beau
tiful to me. Yet mile of terrible break
ers lay between us and it-a waste of wa
ters," through which the strongest swim
mer could not hope to pass.
AND the ship was gone-no, one plank
single plank-small, but large enough
for one to cling to, came drifting in our
reach. With one hand each of US seized it
while with the other we chung to the peak
of rock which alone had saved us from in
slant destruction.
'FSo ~ bhC PAIN, IL Is IllllCI Il WIFI
lash myself to it and liver cried the can
tain, his eyes glazing fiereely on me.
81 will not yield my right; the plank is
mine and life is as dear to me as to youP'
| shouted
81 have a wife and children; you have
none; let me live for them" he pleaded
81 have one dearer than all the world; !
will live for her who yet shall be my wifep'
cried.
'Fool-fooll she shall look for YOU in
vainp' And as he said this he drew a pis-
tol from his bosom. Well | knew it was
capped, waterproof; well knew how sure
he was in aim; but | drew the plank
toward me which he had let 90 of when he
clutched his weapon. He raised his hand,
his weapon was leveled at my heart.
give up the plank" he shouted.
Never, coward-neverl Fire, and my
dying curse go with your
| closed my eyes-I knew my fate-but O
wild rush of water, fearful wave, swept
me far, far away from the rock. Then |
was FowniRg-g8Fgling, choking in the
water. But rose, and as did, something
hard touched my body clutched tit
was that blessed plank. To it | chung with
death grasp; yet it seemed as if was
doomed to die, after all, for the waters Gov
cred me and lost all consciousness.
But not for all time. | was restored to a
knowledge that dear life was yet mine by
the kind acts of Cubans, who had drawn
my body, yet clinging to the plank, from
the surf, and were applying stimulants
when | opened my glad eyes once more on
the face of bright humanity.
/ asked if any others had got to the shore.
They carried me to IA mournfuI looking
group of bodies. | saw several Of the crew,
but not him-not the captain, But even
while we stood there great rolling wave
swept him in, and for an instant | thought
he lived; he looked so grim, with the pistol
yet clatched ia his hand. But he was cold
and dead, and after they bore him to the
corpse pile Of the rest, and | had grown
stronger took the pistol from his stiffened
grasp, took aim ut piece Of the wreck
and fired. The bullet which had been in
tended for my heart went deep into the
oaken wood. | went down on my knees
then and there and thanked the Almighty
that | was saved for my poor Ella; and
though have since done sailors duty in
protecting and aiding the widow and or
/ phans of the poor captain, | never have
been so unselfsh as to regret that had pos
/ session of the last plank.-True Flag.