Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-15
The Story of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
a Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.


skin and never in all my life had felt
so uncomfortable, weary and spiritless
as / did standing at the wheel when
the dawn broke, and | looked abroad
upon the rugged fields of water and
found no vessel in sight to inspire me
with a moments emotion of hope.
was replaced at the wheel by the
boatswain and took another turn at
tn pumps. When this harassing job
was ended went into the forecastle,
making my way thither with much
difficulty.
had sacred duty to perform and
now that the daylight was come it was
proper should go to work.
l procured q clean hammock and
with the help of Cornish l spread it out
upon the deck and laid the body of
poor old MIR. Robertson upon it. 1
brought the sides of the hammock to
meet over the corrse, and held them
while Cornish passed the stitches. l
chen sent him to find me big holy
stone or any pieces of iron, SO as to
sink the body, and he brought some
pieces of stone which l secured IN the
clews at the foot of the hammock.
We left the face exposed, and raised
the body onto n bunk and covered it
over. Having completed arrangements
went aft and knocked at Miss Rob-
crtson's door.
She opened the door and looked at
me inquiringly, but seeing me glance
toward her fathers cabin, she under
stood all of a sudden, and covered her
face with her hands.
Il have left mis- face uncovered for
you to kiss" l said, gently, laying my
hand on her arm.
hn 81 s,,+
! closed the door upon her and waited
outside.
She did not keep me long waiting. ]
think, brave girl that she was, even
amid all her desolating sorrow, that
she knew l would wish the burial over,
so that we might address ourselves
again to the ship.
Il leave him to you now" she said.
l thought she meant that she would
not witness the funeral, and was glad
that she had so resolved, and l accord
ingly took her hand to lead her away
to her cabin.
''Let me be with your she ex-
claimed. "Indeed, indeed, am strong
enough to bear it. I should not be
happy if l did not know the moment
when he left me, that might pray to
God for him then"
BE IL so, answered. II Will call
you when we are ready"
She left me; and Cornish and the
steward and l went into the cabin to
complete the mournful preparations.
l cased the body completely in the
hammock, and we then raised it up and
laid it upon the stage, which We had
made to answer for a stretcher, and
over it l threw a sheet, so that only the
sheet and the ensign was visible.
This done, l consulted with Cornish
rs to what part of the deck we should
choose in order to tilt the body over
board. 1t is generally the custom to
rest the body near the gangway, but
the ship was rolling too heavily to en-
able us to do this now, and the MAIN
deck was afloat; so we decided on
carrying the body right aft, and thither
we transported it, lodging the foot of
the stretcher on the rail abaft the port
quarter-boat.
The boatswain removed his hat when
he saw the body, and the others initial
ed him.
l went below and told Miss Robert
son that all was ready, and took from
among the books belonging to the
captain an old thin volume containing
the Office for the Burial of Dead at Sea
pIILGCN ~ Wei W pc
She started and stopped when she
saw the stretcher and the white sheet
and the outlines beneath it, and her
hand clasped mine tightly; but she re-
covered herself and we advanced, and
then, resolving that she should not see
the body leave the stretcher, procured
n flag and placed it near the after-sky-
| light, and said she could kneel there;
| which she did with her back turned
upon us.
l then whispered Cornish to watch
| me and take note of the sign | should
| give him to tilt the stretcher, and to do
it quickly; after which L placed myself
near the body and began to read the
service.
When came to that part of the Of
flee wherein it is directed that the
body shall be let fall into the sea, my
heart beat anxiously, for l feared that
the girl would look around and see
what was done.
l gave the sign, and instantly Cor
nish obeyed, and 1 thank God that the
sullen splash of the corpse was lost in
the roar of a sea bursting under the
ships counter.
Now that it was gone, the worst was
over; and in short time l brought the
service to an end, emitting many por-
tions which assuredly had not skipped
had not time been precious to us.
motioned to Cornish and the stew
ard to carry the stretcher away, and
waited for Miss Robertson to rise; but
she remained for some minutes on her
knees, and when she rose the deck was
clear.
She gave me her hand, and smiled
softly, though with a heart-broken ex-
preston in her eyes, at the boatswain
by way of thanking him for his sympa-
thy, and l then conducted her below
and left her at the door of the cabin,
saying:
81 have no words to tell you how I
feel for you. Pray God that those who
are still living may be spared, and be
sure that in His own good time He will
comfort you"
| CHAPTER xvii
All that morning the gale continued
| fresh and the We