Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-09

at once to get some breakfast instead OF
holding them. starving and dry with thirst,
in talk. The eagle eyed skipper, however,
asked several questions before dismissing
them.
"Since by their own confession the fire
gave them plenty Of time to escape from
the bark, how was it they had left her so
i'll provisioned rs they represented"
This was most satisfactorily accounted
for. Other inquiries Of a like nature were
responded to with alacrity and intelligence.
Every sentence that one or another of
them let fall was corroborated 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 20
forward, adding, that after a good hot
meal had been served them they might
turn in and sleep for the rest Of the day
wherever they could make bed.
AT the breakfast in the saloon nothing
was talked about but the American whaler
that had been consumed by fire, the dread
full drowning of some two-thirds of her
crew, and the miraculous deliverance Of
the survivors from the inexpressible perils
and horrors of an open boat in the solitude
of the stormiest part of ocean the wide
world over A benevolent gentleman pro
posed a subscription. Before { be luncheon
bell was rung a sum Of thirty pounds had
been collected. The incident was a break
in the monotony, and when the eight men
reappeared on deck during the afternoon
they were promptly approached by the
passengers who obliged them to recite
again and yet again their melancholy story
OF maritime disaster.
On the morning Of the third day, follow
4rtfr / l.s. . Al
sighted almost directly in a line with the
vessels course. AS she was neared she was
seen to be rugged with stump or Cape Horn
topgallant masts; she was also under very
easy canvas, which gave her a shorthanded
look in that quiet sea- Great wooden dav-
its overhung her sides, from which dangled
number Of boats. She presented a very
grimy, worn aspect, and had manifestly
kept the sea for months. 1t 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 steerage pas
sengers, discovered 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 distressi The engines were
Slowed and the steamers head put so as
to pass the vessel within easy hailing dis
lance. A man aboard the bark stood in the
mizzen rigging.
Steamer ahoyp' he roared through his
nose
"Halloi'
Il have lost a boat and eight of my men.
Have you seen anything of her2h
The captain, who had gained the bridge,
lifted his hand.
Ozark ahoyp' he cried "What bark is
that"
1.-THE George Washington, whaler, Of
Boston, 1s4 days OUT
The captain Of the steamer controlled a
sour grin
How came you to lose your boat and
the mem"
"They stole her one middle watch and
sneaked away from the Ship
The captain of the steamer uttered
laugh.
I'VE have your men safe here he
shouted; "glad to learn that you are not
burned down to the waters edge, and that
the rest of your crew look brisk consider
ing that they are drowned men, Send a
boat and you shall have your sailors
Twenty minutes later the eight whalemen
were being conveyed to their bark in one
of their own boats, most OF them grinning
as they looked up at the line of heads
which decorated the steamers sides; and
indeed there was some excuse for their
smiles, for among them they were carrying
away the thirty pounds which had been
subscribed for them. 1t would be interest
ing to know what their skipper said when
he learned that they had lost a fine boat
for him; but ocean mail liners have to keep
time, and the steamer could not wait to
[ send a representative on board the whaler
to report the many elegancies Of Boston
sea dialect which we may reasonably as
sumo embellished her shippers rhetoric.-
! w. Clark Russell in Wit and Wisdom.