Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-11-18

that were compelled TO remain close
under the berg till the following morn
ing.
We managed to get some sleep, by
taking it in turns to. keep tho boat in
Il safe position, and at day break we
were able to put into omore open water,
the sea being calmer, Our one hope
was that we might sight passing ves-
sci.
The second mate was standing on
athwart, anxiously. searching, with
straining eyes, across the gray watera
Suddenly he threw his arm up and
shouted, in wild excitement:
"a sail! A sail!"
The cry sent the blood coursing
through our veins once more, as we
followed the direction of his gaze, and
saw, towards the northeast, the well
come sight.
Our first sensation Of Joy was soon
followed by anxious doubts. Our lives
depended on the course she was steer
ing, and of that we must remain in ig-
nOrance Tor some Time. t.
If she proved to be close-hauled, she
would bear down on us in few hours;
but if her course was northward we
were doomed men.
"What is she?" asked the captain.
Home ward boundl" cried one,
mo; can see her head-sails!" said
Capt Burton.
She was standing towards the berg
our hearts were lifted up again. Sud-
denly her after-sails darkened, while
those forward still shone white.
"She has tackled We are lost"
She had come as close to the berg as
was prudent, and was now standing
away on the opposite tack.
"Now, men, let us make last effort
for our lives!"" cried the captain, taking
off his coat and jumping on athwart
and waving it as a signal OF distress.
We all shouted till our voices failed
us, but the vessel kept her course and
sank below the horizon, and we were
alone again on the sullen sea.
We all sank into the boat, crushed
and hopeless. This bitter disappoint-
ment, coupled with our long exposure
to cold and wet and the want of food,
quite unnamed US, 1t turned me sick
and faint. My head swami. as though
the boat were in the vortex of whirl.
pool, and swooned away.
When l recovered consciousness be-
came aware, from &he motion of our
boat, that we were in comparatively
smooth sea.
A few stars were visible and could
see the outlines of my companions hud-
died together in the stern. Their list
less conversation reached me, and they
were talking of our probable position,
which was supposed to be somewhere
near the South Shetland island, bar
rem rock lying quite out Of the track ot
ships
They talked like men resigned to
their fate. They had abandoned al
hope and considered themselves doomed
just before dawn cold sea fog set
tied upon us, making our position even
more miserable than before.
When the dawn appeared there were
indications of clear sky, and when
the sun rose the fog rolled away like G
curtain. To us the effect was like tha
of stage spectacle, for every MAI
staggered simultaneously to his fee
and stared with incredulous eyes at tn,
sight before him. | am certain tina
for a second or so we all thought WI
were dreaming.
Right ahead of us lay large brig
her foretopmast, maintop-gallantmas
and jib-boom carried away, and tn,
wreckage still floating alongside
BRIG ahoyI" shouted Capt Burton
but there was no response.
Again and again he shouted, Will
we, with suddenly revived energies
work ed the boat alongside.
No sound or sign of life came to us
and she was evidently abandoned. Sh
proved to be an Italian brig, lade,
with coal, but with both her hatche
stove in.
Our first care was to sound the well
There were four feet Of water in th
hold The pumps were choked, and W
were powerless, therefore, to keep he
afloat. Her crew had evidently abar
doned her in q panic, for we foun
clothes in the forecastle and ample pre-
visions on board. o.
After hearty meal snd welcom
exchange OF our wet clothes for dry
we returned to the we'll, and found tn
water in the hold had not increased il
depth. Fst.
81 do not believe she is leaking. TIL
water must have gone down throug
the hatches," Capt. Burton said.
And this proved to be the case.
You may imagine our feelings of r,
lief and Joy. The food, so much neel
ed, and the change of clothes, added I
this new hope Of escape, revived on
energies, and we set to work to cleu
the wreckage and rig up jury tol
mast and jib- boom.
The matches were secured agains
further accidents, and before night sc
in we had shaped course for the Fall
land islands.
The log-book showed that the bri
was bound from Cardiff to Valparaiso
and we afterward learned that tn
crew had been picked up by the vess,
we had sighted.
Next day we succeeded in clearir
the pumps. The wind freshened I'M
, another gale, but by careful seama
ship we weathered it without muc
! further damage, and had the satisfa
, tion of bringing the brig to our dest
nation in safety.
t The salvage money came to a preti
good sum. which, when it was divide
: compensated in some measure for u
! hardships we had endured owing to Il
I loss of our ine ship. the Golden Eagl