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

~ starving to death. / did not see 1t in
NV mower to prevent such fendish de-
sign from being carried out, but
formed the sudden resolution TO take
nv chance with the victims on the
wreck. A.
There was wild commotlon In the
boat. and she had narrow escape from
being crushed or capsized; but as the
shin recovered herself on the weather.
roll I perceived that the boat was still
aAoat. though entirely adrift from us.
A moment more and she had fallen so
I fNr on the lee-Quarter that the effort to
get alongside again would have been a
doubtrQ! cue, even had they made 1t
with all their skill and energies. 1
conld hear loud voices in alteration as
| she vanished away in the darkness,
and I climbed on board, seriously won
dering now whether their chance OF be-
ing saved was any better than my own
and feeling that l must now live or ole
with Mr.. Armstrong and his talr
daughter.
I found them both on deck, clinging
10 the rail to keep their balance under
the violent lurches Of the ship, for the
cabin was now half full of water, and
its level fast raising. The last place
OF safety would be the poop-deck,
which might stand like low island In
the sea. after all else should be sub
merged.
reflected that the Scarborough
from the buoyant character OF
the cargo, would not 60
down entirely, but would hang
suspended at the surface and float as
long as she was strong enough to hoat
/ together.
l could, therefore, take measures &C
| cordingly, and the manner In which
! she had stood the tremendous shock OF
the iceberg without instantly filling
gave me the best opinion of strength
and inspired me with a glimmer OF
| hope.
The scuttle-butt stood firmly dashed
/ in its place, under the break OF the
poop, and was still half full OF water,
even after all the kegs had been filed
for the boats. There was no imme-
diate danger Of suffering on that score,
and l hoped to secure food enough be-
! fore the ship should entirely sink.
stopped scarcely a moment to ex-
plain the circumstances TO my cOmpan-
/ ions. but wading breaSt-deep in the for
ward cabin, | secured d barrel OF bread,
which, as yet, had received but little
/ damage, and calling upon MIR. Arm
/ strong TO help, | secured il after hard
struggle, high and dry upon the most
elevated part OF the pOop-deck.
Foru ~ ar FaQftNre nj
provision from the stewards StOreroom.
| though at the last / was obliged to swin
\ for it, and was finally driven out en-
| tirely by the rising water.
| All this had occupied but little time,
and il still wanted TWO hours to day
break.
Up to this time I am positive that
Louisa aud her father did not really un-
| derstand the situation, but had a vague
| idea that somehow the mate was COM
/ ing back 10 take us off, and that | was
collecting the provisions against their
return.
But l had done all that l could for
the present, and had leisure to talk
/ with them at length.
They could hardly realize that Mr..
| Digby could be guilty OF such tendish
/ wickedness; but when, after my ex-
! PLANTATION, they succeeded in grasping al
| the facts, I was surprised to find the
| daughter much more cool and courage
/ Gus than the father.
| felt the greatest admiration for her
| character, being convinced that we
| should have no trouble in the form OF
l pnnfan6 with
/ and IL I had admired her while the
| Scarborough was still afoat, | think
that my love for her dates from the
| hour when she sank.
''Mr. Wall" she asked, why are
you here with us? / think can now
understand that, for the sake of the
gold, the mate, Digby, has left me and
nv father TO this dreadful fate. But
why did he abandon you, too? All, il
occurs 10 me- You we're the only other
person who knew about the money and
he means TO try and secure it all to
himself.
modestly related all the circum-
stances. telling how | had been seized
with a sudden impulse to return TO the
ship aud share their fate as soon as l
found myself pOwerleSs against Dlgoy
wiCkedneSs.
She said nothing for some minutes
afterwards, but could see that she
fully believed all my words, and that
they had made deep impression.
When the tardy daylight at last broke
upon the ocean our situation, though
bad enough, did not seem to me so des-
perate as in the preceding hours OF idle
ness and darkness.
The ship now lay totally logged with
water, and her main deck all awash. bat
the poop formed our little island of
refuge, and TO this we must cling.
had covered the bread and other
provisions with canvas, of which ! had
an abundance from torn sails, and we
were safe from starvation ana
thirst for some time, unless heavy gale
and sea should sweep away our store.
But in such case we were likely to per-
ish with it. 1t was, however, a favor
able season of the year, and the temper
allure too mild for US TO suffer much
with cold.