The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-13
SAVED BY A MIRACLE.
RESCUE OF A SAILOR BY A NAIL
IN A PIECE OF WREC<AGE.

The Terrible Struggle for Life by q Mate
After the Vessel Had Gone to Pieces
on the Rocks-Bufing the Mountainous
Waves and Fighting the Undertow.
Rather less than twenty years ago there
lived in Oregon City coterie Of young
men who were distinguished for their ex-
| cellence in athletic sports, in which they
took pleasure and pride. The acknowl-
edged leader Of this band of athletes was
tall. we'll formed and splendidly developed
youth, the nobility of whose physique had
been enhanced by every kind of manly
exercise. He was pre-eminent in the arts
Of swimming and boating, and was never
SO happy as when in or ON the water.
Upon the arrival of the time when it be-
came necessary for him to choose an oecu-
patton, true to his first love he elected to
follow the sea, and accordingly shipped be-
fore the mast on a merchant vessel. In
this capacity the next four years Of his life
were passed, and at the end Of the period
he became thoroughly convinced that
sailors life was no sinecure. He stuck to
the ship, however, and his natural ability
procuring him promotion he rose step by
step until he became first officer.
The clipper ship Elizabeth sailed through
the Golden Gate, and her register bore the
name Of W. G. Barclay, first mate. Omit
ting the events Of the voyage, the ships re-
turn and her subsequent loss on the Ten
nessee rocks, the thread of the narrative
may be gathered up on the forward part of
the deck after the ship was broken in
twain. When in the bow little group Of
men surrounded the first officer, who had
removed his boots in partial preparation
for the unknown developments of the dis
aster
Almost before he had time to think of
the future or to appreciate the perils of the
situation huge wave swept all into the
wild waste Of waters below and Barclay
sank under the pillows Upon reaching
the surface again he struck out from the
doomed vessel with all the power and skill
Of his boyhood days.
PLUcKY FIGHT.
Throughout his terrible battle with the
waves which followed, the intrepid sailor
continued cool and wary, and his first
thought was, as he relates his awful exper-
ience, to avoid the dangerous network of
rigging in the vicinity Of the doomed YES
sci.
Accordingly he swan about forty yards
to the northward, when he seized n float
ing plank and headed for the shore, which
could be plainly seen about 200 yards away
from the struggling seaman fighting for
his life with the angry waters. In another
moment solid green wall of water tow
cred over him, crushed him and drove him
down into the depths, where the undertow
dragged him still further down and hello
him By sheer muscular effort he fought
his way slowly to the surface, where q
floating spar struck him sharply ON the
forehead.
With breath of air his caution re-
turned, and removing his vest he held that
garment in one hand as shield for his
face and head. Not many seconds had
passed when another giant wave, pitiless
In its dark green robe, again drove him to-
ward the bottom, and the undercurrent
seized him in tight embrace as before.
With another struggle he emerged from
beneath the waves, only to be dashed again
below.
After every ascension Mr.. Barclay with
little difficulty laid hold Of pieces of float
ing wood and endeavored to rid himself of
his involuntary salt draughts and to re-
gain his breath. These respites were mo-
mentary, and ere he could swim more than
a few yards monster billow would send
him downward again.
so he labored on, swimming, sinking,
gasping, struggling, fighting against what
seemed to be his fate He dare not dive
beneath the breakers for fear of striking
some hoating wreckage. His fight was not
alone with his arm, but also with his brain,
against the combined forces of sea and
storm, and it seemed impossible for him to
conquer in the unequal combat. AS he
neared the shore his danger was increased
instead of diminished. His enemies found
other allies in the towering rocks, and in
the treacherous bowlders beneath the
waves.
SAVED BY NAIL.
He turned about and approached the
rocks feet foremost He was dashed against
them, and one fost was cut and bruised by
the sharp stone, and then he was carried
back, but not far, when gigantic breaker
drove him down and he was whirled about
by powerful whirlpool He seemed to be
many fathoms down. The waters were
dark and dreadful. A feeling of hopeless
ness came over him, and for the first time
he felt that his hour had come. A feeling
of unutterable horror came over him. He
felt powerless to continue the struggle for
life and he abandoned himself to his fate.
Then occurred miracle. In some fortu-
itous manner floating timber had been
cast into the same waters.
In this timber was nail, and as the man
and timber were whirled about the nail
caught the soft flesh in the mans arm, and
as the buoyant wood rose to the surface it
dragged upward the almost exhausted
mate of the Elizabeth. He was fortunate
to seize hold OF portion of the wrecked
ship wedged between two rocks and strug-
gled to avoid being drawn under the wreck
age piled upon the shore. His legs had
become benumbed and seemed temporarily
paralyzed, but by an almost superhuman
effort he managed to drag himself up on
the slippery rocks.
1t was slow and laborious work, and Mr..
Barclay was twenty minutes crawling half
as many feet, but he finally reached spot
above the waves where, half dead with
cold, exposure and exhaustion, he could
rest and regain his strength. The waves
and floating timbers had torn his clothing
into shreds, and the wind was bitterly
cold. He forced himself to resume his
painful efforts to move forward. Horfi-
fled with his fearful experience, the fur
ther he was from the angry waters the
nearer they seemed in his excited imagina-
tion. At last he gained the top of the
bank, and the welcome calls of covey of
quail, disturbed by his approach, assured
him of his safety.
"Thank Godr he cried, "rm saved at
last, "-San Francisco Call.
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