The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-10-07

ihN ten - CLOCK li lllr ilpTlilus l4iT
flames had bursted through and was
shooting up mast high, and then Ne
calculated il was time 10 look II tie
boats"
The others stood listening with hard.
solid. leathery faces, generally gazing
with steadfast eyes Al the speaker. hut
sometimes CHANGING a>kant at the cap
tain and the crowd Of others which
stood around.
There was tarnation ugly sea run
ming the man went on, and, tEc
wheel being dcsartrd. the ship had
fallen off and lay in the trough. and the
lowering of the stern boats. whaleJnen
though they was who had the handling
IF EN-, cost our company of twenty
eight souls the loss Of all hands, sa wing
th>m aS stand aforc We.
"A bad job, \ mca>lv. cruel, bad
JOB here broke ia a lonE-Jawrd man.
whose brow and eye were almost CON
cealcd by Il quantity Of coarse. rcd hair.
We'll, us eight men got away in the
boat proceeded the spokesman,
bringing along with us nothin but a
small bag of bread and about SIX gal
Ions of fresh water. We've been wash
ing ABOUT since Tuesday, and now, the
Lord be praised. here we bc. with a
chance of getting something to eat.
and, what's more pleaSurcable still tn
our feelings. the opportunity of com
fortably turning in
murmur of pity ran among the pas
Sengers, several of whom were ladies,
and there was more than one SomeN hat
loud whisper To the effect that the cap
tain ough; really TO send the poor crc;-
lures forward at once to get some
breakfast instead. of holding them
starving and dry with thirst 10 talk.
The eagle-eyed skipper, however,
asked several questions before dis
missing them.
since, then. by their own confes-
sion, the fire gave them plenty time
to escape from the bark. how was it
they had left her SO ill-provisioned as
they represented?"
This was most satisfactorily account
ed for. Other inquiries of like nature
were responded To with alacritv and in
tcllIgence. Every sentence that one or
another of them let fall was cor
robOrated by the rest. Their tale OF
suffering, indeed, in the open boat
was almost narrowing, and the cap
tain, with the first note OF sympathy
that his voice had taken. ordered them
To go forward. adding that after i good
hot meal had been served them they
might turn i'll and sleep for the rest Of
the day wherever they could make
a bed.
At the breakfast in the saloon moth
ing was talked about but the American
whaler that had been consumed by fire
the dreadful drowning of some two
thirds OF her crew and the miraculous
delivcrance of the survivors from the
inrXpreSsible perilS and horrors Of an
open boat in the solitude of the
stormicst part of ocean the wide world
over. benevolent gentleman pro
posed n subscription. Before the
luncheon bell was rung IA sum of thirty
pounds sterling had been collected
The incident was {. break in the mo
notony, and when the eight men reap
pcared on deck during the afternoon
they were promptly approached hv tin.
passengers, who obliged them TO recitc
again and yet again their melancholy
story of maritime disaster.
On the morning Of the third day fol-
lowing the date of this rescue a ship
was sighted almost directly in u line
with the vessels course. AS she was
ncarcd she was seen TO be rigrcd with
she was also under very easy canvas.
which gave her ~ very short-hanGed
look in that quiet sea. Great wooden
davits overhung her sides, from which
danglcd a number OF boats. She pre-
sented n very grimy, worn aspect. and
had manifcstly kept the sea for months.
Ii was observed by the chief officer,
standing on the bridge of the steamer.
that the eight rescued men. who were.
looking at the sail ahead, along with
some of the crew and steeTage passen-
gers, disclosed several symptoms of
uneasiness and even of agitation. Sud
denly the stripes and stars, with the
stars inverted were run alOft TO the
peak end-a signal of distress. The
engines were slowed and the steamers
head put so as To pass the vessel within
easy mailing distance. y man aboard
the bark stood in the miZZen rigging.
steamer ahoy!' he roared.
Hello
Il have lost boat and eight of my
men. Have You seen anything of her.
The captain, who had gained the
bridge, lifted his hand.
Bar !, ahoy!" ne cried. What bark
is that?'
The George Washington. whaler. of
Boston. one hundred and eighty-four
days out.
The captain Of the steamship con-
cealed Il sour grin.
How came you to lose your boat and
the mcn?"
They stole her one middle watch
and sncal5ed away from the ship.
The captain of the steamship laughed.
I'VE have your men safe here" he
shouted; glad to learn that yCu are
not burned down to the waters edge.
and that the rest of Your crew look
brisk, considering that they are
drowned men. Send Il boat and You
shall have your sailors w. Clark
Russell. in Wit and Wisdom.