The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-12

now from the stern, then tumble on bel
beam ends, careening till mast and kee
| must have been level, then rebound ther
spring, shaking herself like thing de
mented with pain, and all the while she
cried and groaned in every timber with g
terrorizing, humanlike sense of the panps
ofdissolution. Iclung to my bunk with ali
my feeble might, unable to discern any.
thing clearly, yet conscious in spite of dark.
ness and terror of the swish of water rush.
ing through the open door.
After awhile Mr.. Watson came back.
His face was very white and his manner ex-
cited. looked at him beseechingly for
| news, for in the tumuIt could not hone to
make myself heard. He did not keep me
long In suspense.
smashed by the sternl" he shouted at
the pitch of his voice, bending over me as
he held on by the side of my berth. .'The
spout hit us, carrying with it masts and
rigging, and now we're reeling in the grip
Of tornado. The fury OF the pits let
loose ON us. Wind and fire and water, all
contending against US. And, worse than
that, we're waterlogged and the internal
crew threatening to take to the boats. Cap
tain's keeping them at it with the pistol.
Keep you still; I'll come back again.
could say nothing, could do nothing.
only lie and listen to the raging of pande-
monium and speculate what would come
OF It all. Presently Mr.. Watson returned,
his face whittier than ever.
"The brig's done for" he shouted.
"The first blow killed her. It's terrific. I
have been through simeon and tornado and
never saw anything like this. They're 60
ing TO batten down, though heaven knows
why. must run. But don't you be fright
ened; Ill not desert you"
He bolted up the companionway, and the
matches closed with a bang.
passed an eternity hearkening in the
darkness, which the lightning made lurid,
expecting every moment to feel tho suction
and hear the gurgle of death as the ship
went down. But we were dying hard.
By and by began to think the fury of
the tempest was abating and that the
movements of the brig were steadier. Then
l wondered why they were keeping me
closed down there like rat in its hole.
Another eternity passed ere there was any
evidence that was remembered. At last
the matches were thrown open, and looked
with joyful and frantic eagerness for Mr..
Watson. To my horror, he did not come.
Sicker with fear than disease, got to my
elbow TO listen. In a momentary lull Of
the blast l heard the rattle of ropes on the
ships slde, and then a splash, as if some fiat
bottomed object had struck the water.
Aterrible fear, a terrible suspicion, struck
into my vitals, and weak as / was / rose,
and groping my way through the darkness
to a,porihole thrust my face against the
glass. There were boats alongside and the
officers and crew, who looked like demons
in the livld light, were struggling and fight
ing to get into them. With the frenzy of
death, twisting and tugging and tearing,
tried TO open the port, but the screws were
stiff apll my fingers nerveless, and failed
Then, ply face against the glass, 1 shrieked
as only lost man can. The next instant
the glass was in shivers, and l was implor-
ing those without not to abandon me. But
the terapest drowned my voice No one
heard at least no one needed me- One by
one in the hellish confagration of sea and
sky the boats rowed away, leaving me alone
on the sinking brig.