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


but the sea continued to run 20 high
that were compelled 70 remain close
under the berg till the following morn
ing.
We managed TO get some sleep. BY
taking II In turns 70 keep tho boat In
saie position. and at daybreak We
were able 10 put into moro open water.
the sea being calmer. Our ono hope
was that We might sight a passing vcs-
sci.
The second mate was standing on
athwart. nnxiously searching. with
straining eyes, across the gray waters
Suddenly he throw his arm mp and
shouted. In Wild excitemene
"a saill A sRilir
The cry sent tho blood coursing
through our veins once moro, rs we
followed the direction Of his gazc, and
saw, towards the northeast tho well
come sight.
Our FIRST sensation Of Joy was soon
followed by anxious doubts. Our lives
depended on the course sha was steer.
ing. and Of that we must remain in ig.
norance for some time.
II she proved to be closc-haulcd. she
would bear down on rs IN few hours;
but II her course was northward we
were doomed men.
What Is she?" asked the captain.
.tIIomcward boundln cried one,
mo; eau SEQ her head-sailsr said
Capt Burton.
She was standing towards the berg
OF that there could be no doubtr-and
our hearts were lifted mp again. Sud
denly her aftcr-sails darlened, while
those forward still shone white.
"She has tackled Wc are lostis
Shc had come rs close TO the berg az
was prudent, and was now standing
away on tho opposite tack.
Nov, men, let us make last effort
for onr livesl' cried the captain, taking
on his coat and jumping on nthwart
and waving il as q signal of distress.
We all shouted till our voices failed
ns, but the vessel kept her course and
sank below the horizon, and wc were
alone ngain on the sullen sea
We all sank into the boat, crushed
and hopeless. This bitter disappointr
mcnt, coupled with our long exposure
to cold and wet and the want OF food,
quite unnamed us. It turned me sick
and faint My head swan, as though
the boat were In the vortex Of whirl-
pool, and swooncd away.
WhenI recovered consciousness bc-
camc aware, from tho motion Of our
boat, that we were in comparatively
smooth sea.
A few stars were visible md ] could
sec the outlines Of my companions hud-
died together In the stern. Their list
less conversation reached me. and they
were talking Of our probable position.
which was supposed To be somewhere
near tho South Shetland island, bar
rem rock lying quite out Of the track Of
ships
They talked like men resigned to
their fate. They had abandoned all
hope and considered themselves doomed.
just before dawn cold sen fog set
tied upon MS, making our position even
more miserable than before
When the dawn appeared there were
indications Of clear sky, and whom
the sun rose the fog rolled away like a
curtain. TO US the effect was like that
OF stage spectacle. for every man
staggered simultaneously TO his feet
md stared with incrcduious eyes at tho
sight before him. am certain that
for second or so we all thought we
were dreaming.
Right ahead Of MS lay d large brig.
her forctopmast, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
and jib-boom carried away, and the
wreclSage still floating alongside,
.TIrig nhoyi' shouted Capt Burton;
but there was no response.
Again and again he shouted, while
we. with suddenly revived energies.
work ed the boat alongside.
No sound or Sign Of life came TO US,
and she wns evidently abandoned She
proved TO be an Italian brig, linden
with coal. bpt with both her matches
stove in
Oar first care wns to sound the we'll
There werc four feet Of water in the
hold. The pumps were choked. and We
were powerless. therefore, to keep her
nfioat. Her crew had evidently aban.
doncd her in q panic, for we found
clothes In the forccastle and ample pro-
visions on board.
After q hearty meal end welcome
exchange of our wet clothes for dry,
we returned TO the well. and found tho
water ia the hold had not increased In
depth.
Il do not believe she Is leaking. The
water must have gone down through
the hntches." Capt burton said
And this proved to be the case.
You may imagine our feelings Of re-
lief and Joy. Tho food. SO much nccd-
ed, and the change Of clothes. added to
this new hope Of escape. revived our
energies, and we set to work TO clear
the wreckagc and rig up o jury top
mast and jib- boom.
The matches were secured against
further accidents, and before night set
in we had shaped course for the Falk-
land islands
The log book showed that the brig
was bound from Cardiff to Valparaiso.
and we afterward learned that the
crew had been picked up By the vessel
we had sighted.
Next day we succeeded In clearing
the pumps The wind freshencd into
another gale. but by careful seaman
ship we weathered II without much
further damage, and had the satisfac-
ton Of bringing the brig 70 opr desti-
nation IN safety
The salvage money came to a pretty
good sum, which, when it was divided.
compensated Ia some measure Tor the