The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-05
THE CASTAWAYS.
Eight 6hipwrecked Mariners and
THOR Unvarnishod Talo.


THOR Unvarnishod Talo.
On December morning, in the year
1888, mail steamer. homeward bound
from q New Zealand port, was mp
preaching the meridian OF the Horn,
but on parallel moro southerly than
il Is now the custom Of steamships to
take in rounding that stormy, ice-girt,
desolntc and most inhospitablc 81 all
headlands.
December In those distant regions Is
midsummer, and the weather of that
morning was MS fair and still as
breezelcss April day In this country.
bat the swell Of IN vast tract Of ocean
ran ccaselessly reminiscent respira-
tions OF giantcss whose conflict with
the heavens is eternal. and whose
breathing panses are very few and far
between, indeed Over this long, dark
blue. westerly swell the great metal
fabric went sweeping in long, floating,
launching courtesies, whitening the
water astern Of her with q mile Of
wake.
The chief officer was on the bridge;
the first breakfast bell had rung and
tho captain, smart as naval officer In
buttons and lace trimmings, quilted the
chart room and Joined the mate to take
alook around before going below This
skipper was q man Of eagle sight. and
instantly on directing his eyes over the
ships bow he exclaimed
What Is that black object yonder?H
The chief mate pecrcd and the cap
tain leveled telescope.
"A ships boat, said he, "and seem
ingly full Of people"
The boat, when sighted, was some
three or four miles distant. and the
speed Of the steamship was about thir.
teen knots In few minutes the
alarm In the engine room rang its re-
verberatory warning. sending a little
thrill Of wonder throughout the ship so
rarely is that telegraph handled on tho
high seas.
II count eight men. SIR cried tho
chief mate, with binocular glass at his
eye. ,.aa-
Again the engine-room alarm rang
out; the pulsing that for days had been
ceaselessly throbbing through the long
fabric languished, and in few min
utes to another summons Of the metal
tongue below ceased, and the great
steamship hoated along TO her own i'm,
petus slowly till the boat was within
the toss Of biscuit off the bow, with
tho passengers crowding TO the side,
and sailors and walters and Storage
folk blackening the rail forward.
The occupants Of the boat consisted
of eight wild, hairy, yeritablc scare
crows OF men, dressed In divers fash
ions Scotch caps. yellow sou'westers.
sea boots, toil-worn monkey jackets,
and the like.
Boat nhoyp' hailed the captain, as
she slowly washed alongside. What is
wrong with you?"
A fellow standing up in the stern
sheets cried back in strong Yankee
accent
For Gods sake, sir, take us aboard
Our waters almost given out, and there's
nothing left to eat. /"
Look out for the end OF line,
bawled the captain Are you strong
enough TO get aboard without help"
Aye, sir, Wen manage it !"
A rope was thrown, and one after an
other the fellows came swinging and
scraping and scramblinG up the cleur
side Of the steamship The passen
gers crowded around and gazed al
them with curiosity and pity. Thcil
sympathetic eyes seemed to find famine
painfully expressed in the leather
countenances that stared back through
A mats of hair.
I'VE must let your boat 60, SAID n,
captain
Cant help it, sir; tina nkful enough
TO be here, reckon, answered tn,
fellow who had called from the steri
sheets and who acted as spokesman.
\ Anything belonging TO yon to com'
out?"
Nothing, BY the etarnaL Let he
go. sir. If sailors sea blessings cal
freight craft she amt going to hoa
long
The boat was sent adrift, the ergin,
bell rang out, once more the great mai
steamer was thrashing over the long
tall heaye Of Cape Horn swell
How came you into this mcss2'' In
quired the captain
The man who had spoken betor
made answer:
We're all that's left Of the crew o
the Boston bark George Washington
She was a whaler, one hundred an,
eighty-four days ont II werr fou
days ago was the first TO smell fire