Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-20
in THE QUICkSANO.
rr,ble Fate of a Sailor Before the Eye
of His Hoipless Companions.

rbere were a number of drummers tell
some of their experiences at an up
,, hotel. Many stories of more or less
IS, had been related, when one of the
u present said:
h,be most thrilling experience that ever
| 4 occurred about seven years ago. Ihad
recovered from severe illness and ny
I'm wished me to go to southern Califor-
and get completely rested before tool,
1 nv franks again for the road. / wan
he'd from place to place, soon getting tired
each. | was getting my strength so
bUly that was annoyed and worried so
[,cb that my full recovery was kepB
EWbat YOU want" a friend said, sis to
IN on one of the coasting schooners anC
<hale Pacific ocean ozone while you sleep
H. 0uiet hours away" Acting upon this
hi | found, after some search, a vesse
H. pleased me / took some of my traps
board and for several days led life o.
IS and quiet.
IOpe day we lay becalmed off long shelly
! beach. which apparently was about hall
8nile in width, and then high bluffs, which
[ose almost straight up, barred the pro
&ess inland. 1t was beautiful place to
/ u unon. and as our drinking water was
h. If the freshest the captain thought il
kouId be "A good idea to send ashore and
u if some fresh water could be OBJ
The little dory was lowered and
H. sailors started for the land with a
<arrr barrel 1t appears from the story
frpryvard told that one Of the sailors sug-
asfed that he 20 ahead and prospect while
H. cawpaui01 attended the boat and kept
away from the beach, which at That point
4 as quite rocky.
The sailor walked slowly inland, picking
III she'll or stone here and there, entirely
Sivi1us Of the great danger which sur
Bundled him. The sand appeared the
s.me over the entire beach, but it was soon
'6served that something was wrong. The
Rilor cried ont for help in manner which
! here was no mistaking-the man was in
ksperate troIble. His companion rushed
brward TO help the man who was found
bins about, every nerve strained to its ut
ct. He was in a shifting sand and there
! as no help for him. He realized his great
shnger now, and with prayers and entrea-
L. he called on his comrade for the aid
Fhich could not be given, for the compan-
b. of the doomed man had stopped at a
pie distance, afraid to advance and shocked
fifth the horror of the situation.
We on the vessel could plainly see and
lear all that transpired, and l can truth
billy say that never wish to have another
|uch experience. The poor fellow sank
ower and lower, but so slowly that ! was
empted to try and put an end TO his suf
Ieriug with bullet from the captain.
fi1e His shrieks, his wild clutching al
he air, his piteous appeals to heaven anC
ban for help are still fresh in my mind
He sank lower and lower. Now his body
bnly is above the soft but terrible mass; hi:
B cad only can now be seen; now all but hi!
pyes and wildly clutching hands are left
Bnd finally hand raised above the sand
md this disappearing the tragedy ended
This awful overwhelming of a man, slowl,
but not the less surely, was the most hor
rible experience that l have ever had, and
have been in a hotel fire and railroat
smash up. What those shifting sand
.0utains heaven alone knows. for whateve
ouches them is irrevocably doomed
Dry Goods Retailer and Jobber