The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-29
From the San FraneIsco Cal.

GOB anu LAAC C1 HOAAe@A AASA0DAhS Va a
Remarkable Character Connected
Herewith.
From the San Francisco Call
Last week the attention of the people
passing down Market street was at
tracted by the contrast between the
youthful face and the snowy hair of a
sweet-faced lady, who for several days
was seen on that thoroughfare. Judging
by her face she could not be more than 30
years of age at the most, but if you
formed your opinion of her from the hair
which crowned her with thickly waving,
snOw-white mass of ours and coils, she
might be at least twice that number of
years. Her complexion was as fresh as
that of girl in her teens. No wrinkles
married the fair surface of brow, cheek,
or neck, and envious time had not touched
in his telltale lines at the corners of her
eyes
This contrast between face and hair it
was, which drew so many curious eyes
after her, and many and varied were the
suggested reasons for the strange
anomaly. II was as if a drift of winter
snow should lie cold and chill above the
crimson rose bloom of June.
Illness, sudden fright, terrible sorrow,
and half dozen other causes were sug-
gested for the untimely bleaching of the
abundant tresses. Terrible fear it was
which had, not in night, but within the
short space of one month, turned the
once dark locks to premature whiteness.
The lady was the wife of one of the
most popular captains that ever COM
handed ship out Of an eastern port.
Ten years ago. he was captain of one of
the finest ships sailing out of Boston. He
had been in the same employ since boy
hood, growing up under the eye of the
owner and builder of the vessel had
passed from boy to man, from forecastle
into the cabin; had been promoted from
sailor to second mate, then to first mate,
and now was, at the early age Of %,
placed in command of the fine, new ship
just of the ways. The Fox was one of
the best ships built in that famous yard
of McKays Inc East Boston. She was
l,200 tons burthen, and it was quite q
feather in the cap of the young man that
| his employer should offer her TO him for
her first voyage.
He had been for two years engaged to a
young girl who had been his earliest com
| panion, who had grown up by his side
until the time came when he left home
for the sea, his chosen place of lifework
On each return to the little Down East
village he had found her dearer, and they
had been waiting for him to get command
of a vessel, then they would marry.
But nothing Alike the wonderful luck
which had come had they dared to hope
for. .t
Now there was noting to stand between
them. They could rmary at once, and
make their bridal trip to England on the
vessel, which they fondly hoped might be
their home for long years to come. So
they had married, and when the ship
sailed majestically down the Boston light
and away, away across the wide stretch
of the stormy Atlantic, she carried within
her stanch sides about the happiest pair
in the world Storm and calm, fog or sun
shine-all had come to meet them and all
! had been safely left behind.
They had reached the English channel
safely. Another day and they would be
| at the end of their voyage.
The night was cold and foggy. Morn
! ing broke and still the fog hung dense and
| low. Breakfast was on the table and the
captain and his wife were about to sit
down to what they fondly hoped would
be their last meal at sea for sometime
when sudden shout from the deck fol
! lowed by loud calls, and the sound of hur-
! rled, rushing footsteps, told that some
| sudden danger was upon them, They
| both hurried toward the companion way,
intending to rush up on deck but shock
sent them both staggering back The
screams from the deck were redoubled
and again came that terrible blow, min
! gled now with oaths and cries Of rage or
fear.
Both rushed to the deck A terrible
scene of disaster was before them. The
side Of the vessel, only moment ago so
stanch and strong was now nothing but
a shattered, splintered, yawning hole,
through which the water was rushing
int t1anv h. 49,. 1saAg
| way of was the steamer which had
crushed into them in the dense fog. Her
iron forefoot had cut them down, right
to waters edge. She, herself, was prac-
tically unhurt, and was coming about
to see what damage she had inflicted
upon her opponent.
The Fox was slowly sinking the water
rushing so rapidly through the shattered
| side was filing her and she already. not
settled deeply into the water. Only a
| short time remained before she would
| sink, carrying with her all within her
reach to the depths below
The steamer rapidly lowered her boats
| to assist the unfortunates on board the
doomed vessel, and Capt. King had col
lected his wits and was having his own
boats cut loose from their lashings and
lowered in the water. AS the first boat
reached the water he hurried his wife to
the side OF the ship, now only a few feet
above the surface of the sea, and hur-
riedly told the mate to put her into the
boat and with four of the sailors to shove
of from the vessel, while he would make
an attempt to save his papers and the
ships instrument and chrOnometer
Mrs. King was just about to step into
the boat when she remembered that a
heavy sack of gold and all her iewelry
were where she could lay her hand on
them in an instant. She determined to
save them, as it would take but moment.
as they lay in the corner of a drawer lust
inside her cabin door. Rushing back to
the cabin she pushed open the door of her
cabin and attempted 10 pull out the
drawer in which her valuables were
lying. The door opened back against the
drawer, and she was obliged to close it
before she could open the drawer.
Pushing it shut he pulled open the
drawer, and grabbed the sack of gold and
the case which held her valuables. She
pushed at the drawer to close it again.
that she might open the door and escape
from the sinking vessel
The drawer stuck Again and again
she threw herself frantically against it
with all of her weight Not an inch
could she stir 1t. The vessel had strained
and twisted as the weight of water had
pulled her downward, and in straining
had caused change in the position of