The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-03

The Croydon had drifted more to ieaward
tnan the wreck, but We could soon make
| her out on the horizon, and tie well-selected
crew, with long and steady stroke, soon
shortened the distance. As we drew nearer
the form OF 1homcs could be seen, through
the glasses, leaning against the rail.
Thank heaven! ICES still alive!" ex-
claimed Mr. Horton, the officer in cha ge of
tue boat. When we came within hailing
| distance we shouted to him words OF CHEEKY
| greeting, but Thomas made no response
until when within a few boat lengths he
sprang to the rail and, screaming to us
| to keep Oft, hurled pieces of wreckage,
| which he had gathered about him, at the
advancing boat.
| He's mad!n we crie7. '.the NIGHT on
board has made him mad"
we stopped pulling, and then backed
water TO keep clear of the missiles which
the maniac never ceased throwing at US.
Ordering the crew to lay on their oars,
Mr.: Horton rose in the stern sheets and
| said:
We've come to take you back to the ship,
THOMAS. Don't you know us. Don't you
know me2 | am Mr. Horton
know your shouted back the poor fell
low, of course do. Haven't been fight
ing to keep you off my ship for the last
week! Ha! ha !" he laughed, land I've done
it, too. One boats length nearer, and III
blow you out of the waterm
We hesitated. undecided what TO do. OF
course we might dash up and board the
ship, but then there was danger that
Thomas, in his present excited state, might
throw himself into the sea and be drowned,
! and so it was deemed best to act with eau
ton, and, If possible. to gain foothold by
stealth, and then TO seize and put him in the
boat. We pulled slowly around the ship,
Mr. Horton, by soothing words, endeavor-
ing to calm the maniac, who followed us as
we circ!ed about and with many threats
warned Us to keep away.
When we reached the other side O horrible
sight met our eyes. Propped up against the
stumps of the mizzenmas5 was the
skeleton which Thomas had dragged from
haneath the tOrecastle, and the grinning
jaws and sightless sockets were surmounted
by his own ragged cap. Around the bones
he had drawn the old pea jacket found in the
cabin, and the long and whitened fingers
hung limp below che sleeves.
And as the ship plunged and lurched tho
arms swung to and fro and ratified against
the mast. while the shiny head bobbed and
bobbed in hideous salutation.
"Horrorsm cried Mr.. Horton; "I can't
stend that. Give way, my lads and board
her!"
We shot the boat through the water, and
in an instant had gained the vessels deck
DS iDO hbDb tu6 DOAB IOuCU6u Ll0 SlQ0
Thomas fled and grabbing the skeleton as
he ran with swftness born of the terror
that possessed him, mounted the rigging,
and, clutching the dangling bones with one
hand and the shrouds with the other gazad
down upon us with fear-distended eyes,
With fair words and promises we tried to
tempt him down, but there he hung, a ter
ror-stricken maniac Ii we approached be
would ascend still higher on his treacher-
Gus support, until at last, crouching on
the extreme end of the swinging mast,
he swept back and forth with the rolling
ship.
Every moment we feared that his hold
would loose, but he, apparently fearless Of
everything but us, gave heed to nothing but
our movements down below. There seemed
no escape for him now except by the sea,
and while some of us manned the boat and
stood ready to pick him up should he jump
others climbed cautiously up either side OF
the mast TO seize him.
He betrayed no sign that he observed the
men as slowly they approached, and we
hoped that his madness was leaving him and
his own quiet nature returning, when Just as
one of mis- pursuers was about to stretch forth
his hand and lay it on him he sprang to his
feet. With wild shrek he Rugged the
skeleton close to his breast and hurled him
self into the sea- and the bubbles that
hoated up from his fieeting breath as he
and his ghassly comrade shot into the
oceans depth marked his grave for an in
slant and then were swept away by the hur-
rylng waves.
Half an hour later the Henrietta was
blown into a thousand fragments. and
shortly after the Coryden, making all sail,
speedily left behind her the floating debris
of the abandoned ship.
WIN. F. Low, Lieut., U. S. N.