Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-31


/ should determine to put to sea with
her; but meant to stick to the ship as
long as possible.
thought that we could float the long
boat, as she appeared at times to be
afoat now. and TO be only held down
by her lashings when the water swashed
heavily across the deck. But as we
could not possibly lift her, 1t would be
necessary TO get rid OF the high bull
warks and rails on one side, at least.
After good rest and long talk
with Louisa, for her father had but
very little to say, and seemed to droop
more and more every hour, l again left
| them to renew my labors.
had tough job to cut through the
rail, though l made short work OF the
| bulwarks; but, hardest Of all, had to
chop off several stout, upright staRch-
| ions and my work was not finished that
day.
OF course we talked much and made
the time pass as cheerfully as possible,
but as for the father, he could be only
temporarily aroused from sort OF half
stupor, so that my conversation as TO
our plans and chances was mostly con-
/ fined to the daughter.
Her good sense, as we'll as her graces,
made her more interesting and dear TO
me each succeeding hour that we pass
ed together.
But was tired enough to lose my
senses at an early hour and slept sound
~, waking with the dawn OF day.
fully realized the danger OF COLI
sion, as we lay in the track OF other
ships crossing the Atlantic, but could
take no precautions against it, as our
own vessel was entirely unmanageaole,
and | had no means OF setting lights or
making night signals.
must sleep myself to be fit for what
was devolving upon me, and made no
attempt at setting my regular watch.
But I had reason TO know afterwards
that bright, young eyes were watching
over my safety a great portion OF the
nighttime.
But there is no great variety OF Incl
dents to relate in the history OF those
nine long days and nights that we re-
NAMED on the water-logged wreck OF
the Scarborough.
The patience and fortitude OF Louisa
were something marvellous to me, for l
had until then known as much, or as
little, about women as young sailors
usually do, and had no idea Of the re-
serve force that is in them, or, at least,
in some of them She seemed TO me
something more than human when l
studied her patient endurance, her I'M
selfiShnesS, her SOlicitude for her inya-
lid father, and her sweet gratitude for
me for the little that was able TO do
for her and for him.
knew then, for the first time in my
life, the loveliness Of true woman,
and felt that she had done quite as
much i'm sustaining me as | could do for
her, for was sure | could live and die
with her; while life became more dear
to me, and all my energy Quickened, by
reason of her presence there, and the
faith she evidently had in me as her
nearest friend aud protector, for she
could no longer look to her parent for
strength, but was obliged to draw con-
| stantly on her own to sustain him.
During all this time we had no heavy
gale of wind, and very little rainy
weather. Sometimes the sea was com
paratively smooth, but at other times
the wind rose and the sea became quite
boisterous, making our situation very
uncomfortable and causing the shatter-
ed hull to strain fearfully.
The old gentleman grew weaker and
weaker, and, excepting for the child's
sake, she being the only near and dear
one he had in the world, seemed to care
but little whether he lived or died, But
Louisa and | had preserved our strength
and health wonderfully, considering our
coarse prison fare,a as it might De called,
though it was not deficient in quantity.
But l watched the condition of the
old ship with much the same anxiety as
that OF our own health, and each recur-
renee Of rugged weather increased my
| terrible anxiety.