Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-08-19
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
a Mutiny at Sea-
by w. CLARK RUSSELL.

tunnel pouring IOfln uenSe NOlume
OF smoke, spotted with tire-sparks, and
tapering masts and fragile rigging,
with the stars running through them.
Ease hcrr'
The sounds of the throbbing grew
more measured. We could hear the
water us it was churned up by the screw.
stop hertz
Inc sounds ceased, and the vessel
came looming up slowly, until she
stopped.
''What is that?-a boat?' exclaimed
strong bass voice.
"YesH answered the boatswain
"We've been shipwrccked; we're adrlft
in a quartcr-boat."
Can you bring her along-sideP"
"Aye, aye, sir!''
| threw out an oar, but trcmblcd so
violently that it was us much as | could
do to work it. We headed the boat
for the steamer and rowed toward her.
AS we approached perceived that she
was very long, bark-riggcd, and rak-
ing, manifestly q powerful, irOn-built
ocean steamer. They hung a red light
on the forestry and a white light
over her port quarter, and lights fitted
about her gangway.
n voice sung out: allow many are
there of yOu?"
The boatswan answered.: Three
men and lady"
On this the same voice called: ''lt
you want help to bring that boat along
side, Wen send toyou."
Wen be alongside in few min
utes," returned the boatswain.
But the fact was, the vessel had
stopped her engines whcu further off
from us then we had imagincd; being
deceived by the magnitude Of her loom
ing hull, which seemed to stand not .
hundred fathOms away from us, and
by the wonderful distinctness of the
voice that had spoken us.
| did not know how feeble | had be-
come until ! took the oar; and the VIC
lent emotions excited in me by our res
cue, now to be effected after our long
and heavy trials, diminished still the
little strength there was left in me; SO
that the boat moved very slowly
through the water, and it was full
twenty minutes, starting from the
time when we had shipped the oars,
before we came up with her.
''We'l fling you ropes end" said
a voice; ''look out for it."
A line fell into the boat. The boat
swain caught it, and sung out: "All
fast"
l looked up the high side of the
steamer; there was a crowd of men as
scmbled round the gangway, their
faces visible in the light shed not only
by our own masthead lantern (Which
was on level with the steamers bull
war1s), but by other lanterns which
some of them held. In all this light
we, the occupants of the boat, were
to be clearly viewed from the deck;
and the voice that had first addressed
us said:
"Are you strong enough to get UP
the laddcrP If not, Wen sling you on
| board"
/ answered that if couple of hand
would come down into the boat so as tc
help the lady and a man (who hal
fallen inbecile) over the ships side, the
other two would manage to get OIL
| board without assistance.
On this a short gangway-ladder w as
| lowered, and two men descended and
| got into the boat
"Takc that lady first" l said, point
ing to Mary, but holding on, as spoke
to the boats mast, for l felt horribly
sick and faint, and knew not, indeed
what was going to happen to me; ant
had to eXer: all my power to steady
my voice.
They took her by the arms, and
watching the moment when the wash
of the swell brought the boat agains
the ships side, landed her cleverly OF
the ladder and helped her onto the deck.
Bosom l cried, huskily, "she-sho
s-savcd! l am dying, think. Goo
bless her! and - and - your hand
mate"
1 remember uttering these incoher
ent words, and seeing the boatswai1
spring forward to catch me. Then IN.
senses left me with flash.