The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-26
BY A MIRACLE.
A Mans Life Saved by a Nail in a
Piece of Wreckage.
The Thrilling Narrative of Mate Barclays
Experiences After Leaving the Deck
Of the Doomed Elizabeth.

1hdthOi iCSo bIdu lheuly years ago LIl0It
lived in Oregon City coterie of young men
who were distinguished for their excellence
in athletic sports, In which they took pleas
ure and pride. The acknowledged leader of
this band of athletes was q tail, welcomed
and splendidly developed youth, the nobility
of whose physique had been enhanced by
every kind of manly exercise. He was pre-
eminent in the arts Of swimming and boat
ing, and was never so happy as when in or
on the water
Upon the arrival of the time when it be-
came necessary for him to choose an occu-
patton. true to his first love he elected to
follow the sea, and accordingly shipped be-
fore the mast on merchant vessel In this
capacity the next four years of his life were
passed, and at the end of the period he be-
came thoroughly convinced that sailors
life was no siuecure. He stuck to the ship,
however. and his natural ability procuring
him promotion. he rose step by step until
he became first officer.
SAILED AWAY ONE YEAR AGO.
About year ago the clipper ship Eliza
beth sailed through the Golden Gate, and
her register bore the name of w. G.
Barclay, first mate. Omittng the events of
the voyage, the ships return and her sub
Sequent loss on the Tennessee rocks on Sat
urday night, the thread of the narrative
NC SdLutIcu up UH luC lCIWdlu pal VI
the deck after the ship was broken in twain
When in the bow little group of men sur
rounded the hrSt officer, who had removed
his boots in partial preparation for the I'M
known developments of the disaster
Almost before he had time TO think of the
future or to appreciate the perils of the sit
uation, huge wave swept all into the wild
waste of waters below, and Barclay sank
under the pillows. Upon reaching the sur
face again he struck out from the doomed
GAt NIT IA oil NRn rl-II = hfE
boyhood days. Throughout his terrible bat
tie with the waves which followed the in
trepd sailor continued cool and wary, and
his first thought was. as he relates his aw-
full experience, TO avoid the dangerous net
work of rigging in the vicinity of the doomed
vessel.
HEADED FOR THE SHORE.
Accordingly he swan about forty yards
to the nOrthward, when he seized a floating
plank and headed for the shore, which
could be plainly seen apparently 80 yards
away from the struggling seaman fighting
for his life with the angry waters. In an
other moment solid green wall of water
lowered over him, crushed him, and drove
him down into the depths, where the under
tow dragged him stlll further down and
held him. BY sheer muscular effort he
fought his way slowly to the surface,
where floating spar struck him sharply on
the furehead.
With breath of air his caution returned,
anu removing MS vest lie
held that garment in one hand as shield
for his face ana head. Not many seconds
had passed when another giant wave, pitt
less in its dark green robe, again drove him
toward the bottom, and the undercurrent
seized him in a tgh: embrace as before.
With another struggle he emerged from be-
meath the waves, only to be dashed again
below After every ascension, Mr.. Barclay,
with little difficulty, laid hold OF pieces of
floating wood and eudeavOred to rid himself
Of his involuntary salt draughts and to re-
gain his breath. These reSpItes were mo-
mentary, and ere he could swim more than
a few yards monster billow would send
him downward again.
STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE.
So he labored on. Swimming. sinking,
gasping, struggling, fighting against what
seemed to be his fate. He dare not diYe be-
meath the breakers for fear OF striking some
floating wreckage. His fight was not alone
with his arm, but also with his brain,
against the combined forces of sea and
storm, and it seemed impossible for him to
conquer in the unequal combat AS he
neared the shore his danger was increased
| instead of diminished His enemies found
| other allies in the towering rocks, and III the
| treacherous powders beneath the waves.
| He turned about and approached the
| rocks feet foremost He was dashed against
them and one foot was cut aud bruised by
| the sharp stone and then he was carried
back, but not far, when a gigantic breaker
! uiOAC MIN uUhu anu UG WAS WNlTIeu ABOUT
| by powerful whirlpool. He seemed to be
many fathoms down. The waters were
| dark and dreadful 4 feeling of hopeless
| ness came over him, and for the first time he
| felt that his hour had come. 4 feeling of
| unutterable horror came over him. He felt
| poweflesS to continue the struggle for life
and he abandoned himself to his late.
SAVED AT LAST
Then occurred a miracle. In some fortui-
tous manner a floating timber mad been cast
Into the same waters. In this timber was
nail, and as the man and timber were
whirled about the nail caught the soft flesh in
the mans arm and as the buOyant wood rose
to the surface it dragged upward the almost
fortunate TO seize hold of a portion of the
wrecked ship wedged between two rocks
and struggled to avoid being drawn under
the Wreckage piled upon the shore. His
legs had become benumbed and seemed tenn
porarily paralyzed, but by an almost SUPER
human effort he managed to drag himselfup
on the slippery rock.
1t was slow and laborious work, and Mr.
Barclay was twenty minutes in crawling
half as many feet but he finally reached a
spot above the waves where, half-dead with
cold, exposure and exhaustion, he could
rest and regain his strength. The waves
and floating tlmbers had torn his clothing
into Shreds, ana the wind WAS bitterly cold.
lie forced himself TO resume his painful
efforts to move forward. Horrified with his
fearful experience, the further he was from
the angry waters the nearer they seemed
in his excited imagination. At last he
gained the top of the bank, and the welcome
calls of a cOvey of quail. disturbed by his
approach. assured him of his safety.
THANK God" he cried. '1m saved at
lastw