Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-05-25
MYFIRST SHIPWRECK

Nl u III nus NA'tg IA l'tf bhb SSiiOtL-
sr Margaret, William Thomas master,
laden with cargo of merchandise from
Holland, was proceeding up the British
channel toward her home port Bristol.
She was small trading vessel, 120 tons
register, carrying crew of four men with
the captain, mate, cook, carpenter and two
boys, one of whom was myself
X months before, /, a youngster of Is,
had left my home at St. Helena and was
now serving my first term of apprentice
ship with Captain Thomas, to whom had
been bound for four years
All that day the weather had been glori.
ous Toward sunset the clouds began to
gather in heavy masses to the southeast,
and a little later heavy breeze sprang up
from that direction.
AS morning dawned dense fog settled
down over the vessel and completely OBJ
scured everything. Soundings We're taken,
but the captain seemed to get no knowl-
edge of our whereabouts.
When daylight came, the sea had changed
color. This proved us in shallow water.
The lead was hove. The soundings were
only IL fathoms.
"Wear shipr' shouted Captain Thomas in
laundering tone
Suddenly the fog lifted. At the same in.
stant the wind changed to the southwest,
blowing harder. A cloud of canvas flew
into the air. Looking up saw it was the
jib. The vessel lost what little headway
she had and drifted heavily to leeward
AS the fog cleared toward the land we
looked eagerly in that direction, and to our
dismay and horror we saw heavy breakers
beating so close on us that there was no
room in which to wear the ship round
ba tuip nto o,oa a.
away the anchors The mate went forward
with an ak and cut the lashings of the one
on the port side. AS soon as the cable be-
gan to run out the starboard anchor was
cut adrift, and 30 fathoms of its cable were
run out.
The order was then given to hold on"
AS this was obeyed the port cable broke
The schooner Immediately swung around
bringing all her weight on the starboard ca
BILE. The latter, unable to withstand the
strain, parted, and then we were left en-
tirely to the mercy of wind and sea.
Nothing less than n miracle could save
us. 1t was impossible to see whether we
were driving onto sandy beach or onto
the rocks. The suspense was short. A tre-
mendous sea came rolling toward us. Strik-
ing us with terrific force, it lifted us high
on its crest and carried us forward toward
the breakers and then drove us with crash
onto the sandy bottom, and at the same
instant down came the foremast, taking
with it the jibboom and bowsprit, and all
disappeared together into the sea.
Wave after wave washed over us in quick
succession. The mainmast was split, and
the noise made by it as it was beaten about
by the gale was deafening. All we could do
was to hold on for dear life.
At last one sea heavier than all the others
lifted the ship bodily and then dashed her
down with "a giants strength onto the
sand. The bottom was stove in, and she be
gan rapidly to fill with water.
Every one for himself was now the cry
throughout the ship. How far from shore
we were could not tell. We had to take
our chances. Although a good swimmer,
| knew that in such a tremendous sea |
should be powerless. There was, however,
but the one thing to do.
Raising my hands before me and press
ing them firmly together, l drew a long
breath, then sprang from the schooner's
rail down into the water beneath When /
rose to the surface tried to swim. 1t was
impossible, as had foreseen. l was like a
child in the grasp of a monster. The waves
tossed me up like a plaything and carried
me on-I could not tell how or where
Suddenly great black object loomed up
before me- 1t was part of the wreckage !
tried to ward it off, but | might as well
have tried to ward off the schooner itself,
for the sea lifted me up and dashed me on
ward, and the great mass struck me
heavy blow over my eyes-a flash of light
ming gleamed then all was darkness and
blank.
How long after, could not tell, strange
sensation came creeping slowly over me.
A low murmur of voices reached my ear.
was bewildered and benumbed, but soon
the truth began to dawn, and | knew that
wherever | might be was not dead. Pow
erless to speak or move, opened my eyes
which were large and dark-and fastened
them upon the faces around me- With
screams of fear, ell turned and ran, leaving
me there alone.
Again looking around discovered that !
was lying on bed of straw in large barn.
How could have got there was yet mys-
terry. While attempting to understand how
it came about my ear caught the sound of a
heavy footstep on the board floor. Raising
my eyes, to my great delight recognized
the mate of the schooner.
"Well, jack yer amt dead yet, are yerP"
said he, coming to my side and bending
over WED all gin yer up, and the people
here tho't yer was II sperrit," laughing to
himself as he made this encouraging obser-
walton.
For several days no one supposed would
live All that pity could do was done for
me by those kind Welsh people Day and
night they watched by my bed, and al
though all communication was made by
signs felt that was in good hands But
at the end of two weeks | was able to re-
port to Captain Thomas, who was staying
a short distance away, and in few days
was again on the sea, feeling no bad result
from my first shipwreck. Captain Charles
William Kennedy in Detroit News.