The Press., 1893-05-11

AIC0T Hduy y0ctfS SpcuG HI 1o1CASA travel, sailed in the year 18- from the port of Batavia, in the rich and populous island of Java, on voyage to the arch ipelago of the Sunda islands. went as 8 passenger, having no other induce ment than kind of a nervous restless ness which haunted me as fend.
 Our vessel was a beautiful ship of about 400 tons, copper fastened and built at Bombay of Malabar teak. She was freighted with cotton, wool and oil from the Lachadive' islands. We had also on board coir, jaggeree, ghee, cocoa nuts and a few cases of opium. The stowage was clumsily done, and the yes sel consequently crank.
 We got under way with mere breath of wind, and for many days stood along the eastern coast of Java without any other incident to beguile the monotony of our course than the occasional meet ing with some of the small grabs of the archipelago to which we were bound.
 One evening, leaning over the taffrail, I observed very singular isolated cloud to the northwest. It was remarkable as well for it's color as from it's being the first we had seen since our departure from Batavia. watched it attentively until sunset, when it spread all at once to the eastward and westward, girting in the horizon with a narrow strip of vapor and looking like long line of low beach. My notice was soon afterward attracted by the dusky red appearance of the moon and the peculiar character of the sea. The latter was undergoing g rapid change, and the water seemed more than usually transparent.
 Although I could distinctly see the bot tom, yet heaving the lead found the ship in 15 fathoms The air now became intolerably hot and was loaded witI spiral exhalations similar to those arising from heated iron. As night came or every breath of wind died away, and ( more entire calm it is impossible to con ceive. The flame of a candle burned upon the poop without the least percepti ble motion, and long hair held be tween the finger and thumb, hung with out the possibility of detecting vibra ton. However, as the captain said he could perceive no indication of danger and as we were drifting in bodily te shore. he ordered the sails to be furleG and the anchor let go. No watch wa: set, and the crew, consisting principally of Malays, stretched themselves deliber ately upon the deck.
 went below-not without full pre- sentiment of evil. Indeed every appear ance warranted me in experimenting g simoom. I told the captain my fears but he paid no attention to what I said and left me without deigning to give 2 reply. My uneasiness, however, pre- vented me from sleeping, and about mid night went upon deck. As placed my foot upon the upper step of the compan ion ladder I was startled by loud, hum ming noise, like that occasioned by tht rapid revolution of mill wheel, and be fore I could ascertain its meaning I found the ship quivering to its center. In tht next instant wilderness of foam hurled us upon our beam ends, and rushing over us fore and aft swept the entire decks from stem to stern.
 The extreme fury of the blast proved in great measure, the salvation of th' ship. Although completely waterlogged y0U dS uoI IIltStS IldlL s5Ol10 Uy GliO OOHAS she rose after minute heavily iron the sea, and staggering awhile beneatl the immense pressure of the tempes finally lighted.
 By what miracle escaped destruction 1t is impossible to say. Stunned by the shock of the water, found myself upon recovery jammed in between the stern post and rudder. With great difficulty gained my feet, and looking dizzily around was as first struck with the idea of our being among breakers, so terrific, beyond the widest imagination, was the whirlpool of mountainous and foaming ocean within which we were engulfed.
 After awhile heard the voice of an old Swede who had shipped with us at the moment of leaving port. ha1looed to him with all my strength, and presently he came reeling aft. We soon discovered that we were the sole survivors of the accident. All on deck, with the excep- ion of ourselves, had been swept over board The caDtain and mates must