The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-25


/ turned 70 with hosea and buckets. But
there was . deal Of oil IN the hold, and
The ships planks was thick With grease
besides, and that gave us no chance.
by ten o'clock Ia the morning the
flames had burstcd through and was
shooting up mast high. and then wo
calculated II was time TO look 70 tic
boats"
| The others stood listening with hard,
solid, Icathery faces, generally gazing
with steadfast eyes at the speaker. but
sometimes giancing asltant 1T the cap
tain and the crowd Of others which
stood around.
There was tarnation ugly sea rum
ming" the man went on, "and, the
wheel being desarted. tho ship had
fallen on and lay IN the trough, and the
lowering Of the stern boats. whaiemen
though they was who had the handling
Of EN-, cost onr company Of twenty
eight souls the loss of all hands, 81 wing
Them na stand afore ye.n
"A bad jobl A measly, cruel, bad
jobrs here broke In q long jawed man,
whose brow and eyes were almost con-
cealed BY a quantity Of coarse red hair.
Well, us eight men got away In the
boat, proceeded the spokesman,
bringing along with us nOthin' but d
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, hero we be, with
chance 81 getting something TO eat,
and, what's more pleasurcabic still to
our feelings, the opportunity Of com
fortabiy turning In"
A murmur Of pity ran among the pas
sengcrs, several Of whom were ladies,
and there WINS more than one somewhat
loud whisper to the effect that the cap
tain ought really TO send the poor crea-
lures forward at once TO get some
breakfast instead Of holding them
starving and dry with thirst 10 talk.
The eagle-eycd 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 ii
they had left her 80 ill-proyisioned az
they represented2"
This was most satisfactorily account
ed for. Other inquiries of alilte nature
were responded TO with aiacrity and in
telligence. 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
70 go forward, adding that after good
hot meal had been served them they
might turn In and sleep for tho rest Of
the day wherever they could make
bed.
At tho breakfast In the saloon moth
ing was talked about but the American
whaler that had been consumed by Are,
the dreadful drowning of some two
thirds OF herr crew and the miraculous
deliverance Of the survivors from the
inexprcssiblc pcrils and horrors Of an
open boat In tho solitude Of the
stormiest part Of ocean the wide world
over. A benevolent gentleman pro
posed a subscription Before the
luncheon bell was rung o sum Of thirty
pounds sterling Ind been collected
The incident was break In the mo-
notony, and when the eight men reap
peared on deck during the afternoon
they were promptly approached BY the
passengers, who obliged them to recito
again and yet again their melancholy
story Of maritime disaster.
On the morning 81 the third day fol- |
lowing the date Of this rescue ship
was sighted almost directly In 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 very short-hnnded
look In that quiet sen Great wooden
davits overhung her sides, from which
dangled a number Of boats. She pre-
sented a very grimy, worn aspect, and
had manifestly kept the sea for mouths
II was observed by tho chief officer,
standing on the bridge Of the steamer,
that the eight rescued men, who were
looking ut the sail ahead, along with
some Of the crew and steeragc passen-
gers, disclosed several symptoms Of
nneasiness and even of<agitation. Sud |
denly the stripes and stars with the
Etars 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 hailing distance. A man aboard
the bark stood In the mizzen rigging.
steamer ahoyi" he roarcd
"Hellola
II have lost boat and eight " my
men. Have you seen anything Of her?'
The captain, who had gained the
bridge, lifted his hand.
Bark ahoyl" he cried, What bark
Is that?''
The George Washington, whaler, OF
Boston. one hundred and eighty -four
days ont !,
The captain OF the steamship con-
cealed sour grin
How came you to lose your boat and
the men?''
They stole her one middle watch
and snealxed away from the ship.
The captain Of the steamship laughed
We, have yonr men safe here" he
shouted; 'aglad to learn that you are
not burned down to the waters edge,
and that the rest Of your crew look
brisk. considering that they are
drowned men Send boat and You
shall have your sailors w. Clark
Russell, In Wit and Wisdom.
Mrs. Foster Ny dear, win your
business permit you to 90 away with
me this summer2" Mr. Foster Eth
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