The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1891-06-26
ATHRILLING NARRATIVE.
The Tale o. u Young Navigator More
EasfIv Told Than ReIfaVed

The Tale o. u Young Navigator More
Easily Told Than Believed.
There was an acquisition to the
select circle at the corner grocery He
was tail, cadaverous looking in.
dividual, with ehy. dropping ears.
goblin blu, eyer, and pale, wan
nose. The crowd inme lately sized
him up az a man with a history, and
he was asked to contribute something
for the OBLIGATION OF those present.
His eyes wandered, with n far away
expression, over the faces OF the men
grouped around him, and then he said
he would relate IN incident that oc-
CURED while he was at sea, about fiji
teen years ago.
Il was born, he began, "at Ports
mouth. OF rich but honest parents
Ny father owned line OF steamships,
~ J. as WAS pas>ionately fond OF
,..- water. he said he would put me in
ommanl oS Il steamer as soon as /
MS old enough. if Iwouldstart Mt the
hl --'' I'd learn all there was 90 n,.
.casu-d bout navigation elu,.y
ace ! h's proposition. and at ti..
az @ fifteen was installed on ore OF
the ho-;s as cabin boy, From tina,
position was promoted, rs soon as
capsule, to the dilIrryn. posts unit:
At las. reached tia; o, captain.
Then my iataer, to my great 10Y.
gave me command OF the sea IIawi.
one OF the trimmest vessels il his
service 1t was a proud day for me
when I started ON my first trip acto>s
the Atlantic. had made several
successful trips. and as theseason was
about o close it was decided that my
next one was TO be my last. IL was,
but hardy in the sense my father
meant il. On this passage we had a
very sm:I number OF passengers. as
the wca; her was quite dlsagreeable
We got of all right and had been out
shout four days when the barometer
indicated that we were to have some
ugly weather, and 1t was nc mistaken.
Il have seen storms IN my life, but
never, ! think, one equal TO that
which, about midnight broke upon us
with all the uubridled fury of the
clements. The waves reached a height
that would seem incredible to one who
had ne. or been in a storm at sea, and
our.Vesscl was tossed about as though
1t had been n chip. Suddenly there
WIS vivid flash of lightning; then,
above the terrible tunult OF the roar
lis waves, above the shriels OF the
2 passengers. came the most soul ter
ri'ying clap OF thunder it has ever
lcen my misfortune to hear. lmme-
Giately following a great cracking OF
timbers was heard amidships. and 4
yawning chasm appeared in thecenter
cl the boat. We had been struck by
lightning
in another instant the ship. with
fearful plunge settled rapidly and
sank from view. carrying every NOR
tai ON board with her. | had been
standing near the rail. and when |
Saw We were about to sink / leaped
uponthe hulwarks and sprang into
the water as lar from the vessel as
POSSIBLE to avoid being drawn down
with her was fortunately
successful How the night passed [
know not When the morning dawn
ed there was not a vestige OF either
wreck or human beings. was alone
upon the broad bosom OF the Allan
tie. withnot so much as straw to
cling to and a thousand miles from
land
Here the narrator paused and gazed
cOntemplatIvely into the stove. His
audience sat with bated breath, star
ing ut him with horrihed ,ountoilan
cts.
And what did you do2" one OF the
men asked in awestruck tones.
oh. answered the stranger, Il
SWAN ashore.
And accompanied by his breath, he
went into thestil, chilly night Tho
crowd in the store was mute for fully
tenminutes Then one OF them soft
ly whistled. And you wink the
uther eye Chicago Figaro.