The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-08
Every hour seemed to increase the dan
ger of our situation.


ger of our situation.
"sunday morning dawned, without
help or hope. Up to that time no sug-
gestion of religious services had been
made. To have done that would almost
certainly have produced a panic. In the
awful suspense and dread that prevailed,
s. word about religion would have sug-
gested the most terrible things to the
poor sous. 1t was necessary to divert
their minds, if possible, or they would
break down under the strain. But as
that second night came on, we held
prayer.hieeting with the concurrence OF
the captain. Everybody attended, and I
think everybody prayed, skeptics and ALL
Surely the cries of dear little children
were heard in heaven. With one arm
clasping pillar to steady myself on the
reelipg vessel, I tried to read the ninety
first Psalm, and We prayed that God
would still the raging of the sea and
bring US to our desired haven. 1t was q
new Psalm to me from that hour. The
eleventh verse touched me very deeply.
It was like voice of divine assurance,
aud it seemed a very real thing, as l
read "He shall give his angels charge
over thee to keep thee in all thy wayu."
Surely he did it I also read from the
one hundred and seventh Psalm, verses
20 to 81. One lady thought those words
must have been written for the occasion,
and afterwards asked to see the book for
herself.
ri was passing through a new expert
ence. had thought myself superior to
the fear of death. had often preached
on the subject and urged Christians to
realize this victory of faith. During the
civil war had been under fire without
fear. I was in Chicago during the great
cholera epidemic, and went around with
the doctors, visiting the sick and dying.
Where they could 60 to look after the
bodies of men, I said ! could go to look
after their souls. I remember case of
smallpox, where the flesh had literally
dropped from the backbone, yet went
to the bedside Of that poor sufferer again
and again with Bible and prayer for
Jesus's sake. In all this had no fear of
death.
"But on the sinking ship it was differ.
eut. There was no cloud between my
soul and my Saviour. I knew my sins
had been put away, and if I died there it
would be only to wake mp in heaven.
That was all settled long ago. But as
my thoughts went out to my loved ones
at home-my wife and children, an1i.
kIsly waiting my coming-my friends on
{ both sides of the seattle schools and all
the interests 80 dear to me-and realized
that perhaps the next hour would sepa-
rate me forever from all these, 80 far as
this world was concerned. I confess it
almost broke me down. It was the dark
eat hour of my life. could not endure
it. I must have relief, and relief came
in prayer. God heard my cry and ena-
bled me to say from the depth of my
soul: Thy will be DONE 1t was all set.
tied. Sweet peace came to my heart.
Let it be Mortified or heaven It made
no difference now went to bed and
almost Immediately fell asleep, and never
slept more soundly in my life. Out of
the depths cried unto the Lord, and he
delivered me from all my fears. I can
no more doubt that God gave an answer
to my prayer for relief, than l can doubt
my own existence.
"About 8 o'clock at'night was arous.
ed from my sound sleep by the voice of
my son. Come on deck, father he said.
I followed him, and be pointed to far.
off light rising and sinking on the sea-.
1t was a messenger of deliverance to US.
1t proved to be the light of the steamer
Lake Huron, whose lookout had seen our
flaming signals of distress, and supposed
it.was vessel in flames. Oh, the joy of
that moment, when those 700 despairing
passengers beheld the approaching ship
Who can ever forget it?
"But now the question is, can this
small steamer tow the helpless Spree q
thousand miles to Queenstown? Every
movement was watched with intensest,
anxiety and prayer. 1t was a brave and
perilous undertaking. The two vessels
were at last connected by two great
cables. If q storm arose these would
snap like thread and we must be left to
our fate. But I had no fear. God would
finish the work he had begun. The
waves we're calmed-the cables held
the steamer moved in the wake of the
Huron. There were storms all around
US, but they came not nigh our broken
ship. Seven days after the accident, by
the good hand of God upon US, we were
able to hold joyous thanksgiving ser
vice in the harbor of Queeustown-just
one week ago to-day, as stand here
among the friends and neighbors | love
so we'll. The rescuiDg ship, that God
sent to US in our distress, had just sufi-
cient power TO tow our vessel, and just
enough coal to take her into port There
was nothing to sparel Less would have
been insufficient. Her captain is also a
man of prayer, and besought Gods help
to enable them to accomplish their dan.
gerous and difficult task. God answered
the united prayers of the distressed voy.
ayers and brought them to their desired
haven.
"The nervous strain of those eight days
and nights of suspense was something
g.. rE,l r. r.oo pooro thon onv nm oop1d