The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-09-12
PRICE 5 CEN s

we went drifting along to leeward before a
constantly increasing wind. The wind on
our wet clothes made it very cold and dis
agreeable and there we sat shivering ours
ing and bailing through the entire night.
r ml5h s she in morning which a hf bsay
down the sea little but the wind held up,
nor was there any sign of the ship in the
short distance we could see through the
rain. Every drop of water was caught
and saved, for we did not know now how
long we were to remain, and the breaker
we had only contained five gallons. The
bailing pans and our hats We're all filled
and an allowance meted out to each man
from then on. | thought that night was
the longest and most disagreeable person
could spend, but it was only foretaste of
what followed. All that day and night we
spent in weary watching for the ship that
never returned The next twentyfour
hours relieved us Of the rain and wind,
but still brought no hope with it of Il res
cue. If all the curses of the seven men
who We're with that mate could be visited
upon his head eternity would have to get
an extension to have time to fill them.
Hunger commenced to tell on the men and
the allowance of water was diminished
onc-half. The ship no doubt patroed the
locality of where we had been most faith
fully to rescue us, but what with the sail
ing and drifting we had done could she eX-
pect? Hope on top of hope was lost in
The nearest land was hundreds of miles
away, and nothing but a few frai panks
between us and the bottom of the sea.
The third day came and was spent i'll weary
watching. While some of Us slept the
others kept a bright lookout for a sail Of
any kind.
During my watch | stood in the bow
the entire time and strained my eyes to
sea, watching the horizon from all points
OF the compass. l felt weak and faint.
with Il gnaWlng sensation III my stomach
that is the most agonizing to endure. [
began to wish that / had died while on
the iceberg than to have been saved to be
slowly tortured 10 death by starvation.
Memories of home and loved ones came to
me, and L sat down and cried like baby.
Another night of cold and hunger passed
only to break into day Of continued tor
ture. 1t was, indeed, pititul to look into
the wan, anxious faces of the others who
silently endured the pangs of hunger and
thirst, only speaking 20 curse the mate.
Threats were rife to hurl him overheard.
There he sat suffering much as any Of
us with all the hatred of the crew loaded
on his shoulders. Thus we drifted for
seven days and eight nights with the same
days of hopes and nights Of
dependency ana tears. On the morning
of til eighth day the stroke Oarsman de
liberately slid over the side and disappear
ed forever, and by noon another was a
raying maniac, with such venom against
the mate that he cut his throat before
We could stop him, and then commenced
TO appease his Unsuitable desire fer food
and water by dcvourns his victim. We
all looked for Il moment mortified. Then
to see him eat made my mouth water to
such an extent that the brutal craving
oYcrCame all other senses, and |, too, with
all the others partook first daintily, then
rayenouSy, until nature was relieved
After the maniac had satisfied himself
with the first victim, a struggle commenced
between him and the one sitting nealcsC
him Fighting and scratching, they got the
boat to rocking until in the struggle they
Went overheard, nearly capSizing the boat
as they did So Nainly we endeavored TO
rescue them, but they kept getting further
and further away, Shrieking and struggling,
then from sheer exhaustion, they sank to
rise no more.
The remaining four of us sat silently
staring at each other, and, no doubt. think
ing who next would give up his claim for
the miserable hours dragging by. Thus
for several hours we sat. each man oc-
cupIed with his own thoughts and each
one gazing, gazing, anXiouSly gazing for
some sign OF relief to come down on US
suddenly one OF the men jumped up. clap
pig MS hands, and yelled like Il mad man:
"A sail. \ sail"
we all looked eagerly to where he point
ed, but could see nothing lie continued
With MS joyful actions and cXclamations,
but rs none of MS could see anything we
''''fl ''u'I'''td tHti nc, poor man, the
next lie ordered us to sep the masr and
hoist our sheet and another to steer while
he stood Tor ri to conn. Like pieces Of ma
cFHnery we obey"d still believing him mad
Such was not the case, however for soon
We could all MAX" ont dim white object
on the horizon and catching The enthusiasm
laughed ana cried and embraced each other
for VeI- JOY. For the moment | loved the
God who made NE suffer, the flesh. the
devil and TIE whole world with every living
creature on its surface. 1 had suffered phy-
steal pain. pangs Of starvation, anguish Of
mind and the drc&S Of dcspondcury but
these sensations dWWudlc into inSi@uifi-
canoe with tine eXcru"iating thrills of joy.
we Dor" down on her rapidly, being i'm
PEELED by strong breeze. and in two hours
time were safely aboard the frimmeSt little
bark that ~Wim& The moment ! felt the
firm deck heaying under my feet fell down
and thanked God for my second deliver
enr".
well. when YOU started out to tell me- OF
suffering expected 10 hear Of hungry
shin with some of these knocl-you-down-
with-a-bclaying-pi mates who made ships
life u burden for you but not such a blood
cur(iIing series of trials. It's wonder
You are not sray-headpd maniac
&. w. Cru SSELIE.