Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-12
The Story Of a Wreck.
yhriIiing and Romantic Account OF
q Mutiny et eea
NJ w. CLARK RUSSELL.

Tue bOuuuS Couotus anu thb NteH'i
anne looming up slowly, until she
stopped. ,
astrong bass voice.
"Yesn' answered the boatswain.
"We've been shipwrecked; we're adrlit
In q quarter-boat :"
"Can you bring her along-sidop"
faye, aye, sirl"
threw out an oar, but trembled 30
violently that IL was us much as coul |
do to work II. We headed tho boat
for the steamer and rowed toward her.
As We approached perceived that she
was very long, bark-riggcd, and rak-
ing. manifestly a powerful, iron-built
ocean steamer They hung n rod ii hit
on the forestry and n white light
over her port quarter. and lights fitted
about her gangway.
A voice sung out' "IIow many arc
there OF your"
The bOatswan answcrodi "Threo
men and lady"
On this the same voice called; III
you want help TO bring that boat along
side, wen send toyou."
"We'll be alongside In fow min
utes," returned the boatswain.
But the fact was, tho vessel hal
stopped her onc' les when farther OF
from us then We had imagined; being
deceived by tho magnitude Other loom
inE hull, which seemed 10 stand not n
hundred fathoms away from ua. and
by the wonderful distinotnoss OF the
voice that had spoken US.
did not know how feeble / had be-
A. . .~ta
lent emotions excited in mo by our res
cue, now TO DO effected after our long
and heavy trials, diminished still tho
little strength there was lc Z in me; 20
that the boat moved very slowly
through tho water. md It was full
tweni' minutes, starting from tho
time when We had shipped tho oars,
before We came up with her.
"W, II fling you ropes end" said
voice; "look out for H."
A line fell into tho boat. The boat
swain caught 1t, and sung outs "Ail
fast"
l looked up the high sido OF tho
steamer; there was crowd OF men ns-
sembled round the gangway, thcir
faces visible In tho light shol not only
by our own masthead lantern (Which
was on level with tho steamer bu e.
warks). but by other lanterns which
some OF them held. In all tbs LIGHT
we. the occupants OF tho boat, wcrn
TO be clearly viewed from tho deck;
and the voice that had first addressed
us said:
"Are you strong enough TO ret up
tho LADDER II not, wen sling you on
board"
answered that II couple Of hands
would como down into tho boat so as b.
help the lady and n man (who ha4
fallen inbecilu) over the ships side, the
other two would manage to get on
board without assistance.
On this short gangway-laddor was
lowered, and two men descended uHd
got into tho boat
"raks that lady first" I said, point.
ing to Mary, but holding on. rs spoke.
TO the boats mast. for folt horribly
sick md faint. and knew not, indeed.
what was going 70 happen to me; AMI
l had 10 exer. all my power TO steady
my voice.
They took her by the arms, and
watching the moment when tho wash
Of tho swell brought the boat against
tho ships side. landed her clevcrly on
the ladder and helped her onto the deck.
''Boson," | cried, huskily, "she-shc
ls-saycdl am dying, Think. Col
bless herI and - and - your hand.
mato-"
l remember utterlng these incohcr-
ont words, and seeing the boaiswain
Spring forward 20 catch mo. Then my
senses left mo with flash.