Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-11
SUNK IN THE oUICKSAND.
Terrible Fate of a Sailor Before the Eyes
of His Companions.


Of His Companions.
There were a number Of drummers
telling some of their experiences
al an uptown hotel, says the Dry Goods
Retailer and Jobbcr. Many stories of
more or less interest had been related,
when one of the men present said:
THE most thrilling experience that l
ever had occurred about seven years
ago. ! had just recovered from Sc
we've illness, and my firm wished me 10
20 Southern California and get COM
pletely rested before ! took up my
trunks again for the road. wandered
from place, soon getting tired OF each.
! was getting my strength so slowly that
l was annoyed and worried so much that
my full recovery was kept back.
What you want" friend said, us
10 get on one OF she coaSting SchOonerS
and inhale Pacific Ocean ozone while
you sleep the quiet hours away. Act
ing upon this hint / found, after some
search, vessel that pleased me. / took
some Of my traps aboard and for sever
al DAYS led a life OF ease and quiet.
One day We lay becalmed of a long
shelving beach, which apparently was
about half a mile in width, and then
high bluffs, which arose almost straight
UP. barred the progress inland. IL was
beautiful place 20 look upon, and as
our drinking water was not OF the
freshest the captain thought II would be
a good idea 20 send ashore ard see II
some fresh water could be obtained. The
little dory was lowered and TWO sailors
started for the land with water
barrel. II appears from the story after
ward told that one Of the sailors Sug-
geSted that be 20 ahead and prospect
while his companion attended the boat
and kept II away from the beach, which
al that point was quite rocky.
The sailor walked slowly inland,
picking up she'll or stone here and
there. entirely obliviouS of the great
danger which surrounded him. The
sand appeared the same over the entire
beach. but 10 was soon observed that
something was wrong. The sailor cried
out for help in manner which there
was no miStaking- man was in deS-
perate trouble. His companion rushed
forward 20 help the man who was uoun-
derinc about, every nerve strained 70 Us
utmost He was In shifting sand ana
there was no help for him. He realized
his great danger now, and with prayers
and entreatieS he called on his comrade
for the aid which could not be given,
for the companion Of the doomed man
had stopped az a safe distance, afraid TO
advance and shocked with the horror OF
the situation.
We on the vessel could plainly see and
hear all that tranSpired, and can truth
fully say that never wish 10 have an
other such experience. The poor fellow
sank lower and lower, but so slowly
tina, was tempted to try and put an
end 10 his suffering with bullet from
the captains rifle. His ShriekS, his
wild clutchingS at the air, his piteouS
appeals 20 heaven and man for help are
still fresh in my mind.
He sank lower and lower. Now his
body only is above the soft but terrible
mass: his head only can now be seen;
now all but his eyes and wildly clutch
ing hands are left, and finally hand
raised above the sand, and this diSap-
pearing the tragedy ended. This awful
overwhelming of man, slowly but not
the less surely, was the most horrible
experience that have ever had, and |
have been in a hotel fire aad railroad
smash-up. What those shifting sands
contain heaven alone knows, for what
ever touches them is irreyocably
doomed.