The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-30

iOhSVi, ai'l WIN
ing tried to tell the news to my SON. But
could not speak. could only touch him
and point, and he for his part, as | after.
ward hcaYd from him, could neither speal,
nor see. With infinite trouble fashioned
little mast and sail from tho thwarts ol
the boat and my shirt.
This sUtliced to enable me to steer the
boat, and in an hour, during which, thanks
to God and fears that the strange shiE
might yet escape us struggled in my heart
for mastery, we ran alongside and made
fast to rope which was trailing over
board.
1t WAS with much surprise that found
We were suffered to approach without be-
ing hailed, for could perceive that our
ship was Spaniard, but even had they
hailed us we were in no condition to reply.
Indeed no sooner had made fast than
fell back senseless In the boat, nor did
know more until darkness had set In, when
the cold wind awoke me.
At first thought that was dreaming,
and not until had touched the great hull
and watched 1t slowly rising and falling
beside mo on the moonit water did l rec
ollect and rightly understand what had
happened Even then 1t was some time be-
fore, do what would, l could climb ON
board. When at length did SO the ship
seemed to be deserted She was big, high
popped craft, such ns the Spaninrds term
galleon, and chiefly used for their rich
traffic with the Indies, aud although her
mGsts were all standing and some of hCr
sail was set there was not Il man to be seen
walked forward, making great noise
with my feet, for l could not cry out.
Then | walked aft, noticing the Gluo guns
of brass and the new cordage, until put
my hand on the handle of tie door OF tho
great cabin and opened it. Then, from
weakness, | sank down on the threshold.
There was no light within aud 10 sound.
Even there | could hear the lap of the WA
ter against the ships side. II was as if tho
whole gallcon was asleep, save that could
distinguish no breathing and no motion
of slumbering men. | had sunk down
against q locker, and stretching forth my
hand found that it was open. Within, to
my great joy, was a bag of bread, which
with some small TASKS Of wine, made no
scruple Ut taking, and rs soon ns | was
again little recovered returned, even
before had ministcred to my own cray
ing, To my son, who still lay without life
in the boat alongside. He was 50 far gone
that at first | could do no more than
muisteu his tongue and lips with heWine
but ia Il short space he revived and was
able with my help to get on board
( 4 tg
lis, and no sooner were we on deck than
We kuylt down to thank God for tho deliy.
erance he had youchsafsd to us. Then,
caring little whether we had fallen into the
hands OF friends or Of foes, we dragged
ourselves under the shelter Of one Of the
quarter deck guns and there fell asleep
from sheer weariuess
The sun was high when again awoke,
but the decks were as before. No one was
at the helm, the sails tapped in the light
air against the masts, and the ship drifted
whittier she would. was still very weak,
but some bread and draft of wine
strengthened me, and then set about eX-
ploring the great vessel. Leaving my son
Humphrey, who yet slept, went to the
door Of the cabin in which | had found
the provisions. 1t was open as l had left
it the night before, and us l drew near |
perceived that a smell rs Of Charnel house
issued forth from it. Even before l enter
ed l could see that on the deck within lay
several bodies Of dead men. Not knowing
what to DO and stricken with horror, !
halted.
The nearest body 10. ne, that of tall
and elderly man, had fallen from the bed
in which it had lain and moved from side
to side with the slow roll of the ship. Close
to it on a kind Of couch was the body of a
boy. Farther aft were the bodies of three
men, one Of which was dressed in menial
fashion, yet richly withal, as If its owner
in lie might have been servant to some
great lord. Sick ut heart, entered gently
and reyerently at last. 1t was vain to
search for any spark Of life there. In GER
tain Of the other cabins were other bod
les and in the forlcastle aud on the lower
deck great store Of them, 81 in all, but
there was not one living soul On board save
US.
When returned to my son Humphrey,
Iawoke him, and finding him much re-
freshed told him, yet not without eau
tion, Of all that had seen. The ship,
said, was stout and strong and well found,
but Of the crew some were clearly depart
ed-fOr certain Of the boats were lacking
and all that remained were dead And
while we set cleansing our sores and wash
ing ourselves by the gun we debated what
were best to be done.
Humphrey, who had seen but little Of
death and was fall Of terror Of it, was all
for loading our own boat with what we
could find and for intrusting ourselves
once more to the mercy Of the sea. Nor did
at first seek to dissuade the lad, for
feared lest the sickness which had, as it
appeared, stricken down the crew might
now seize upon us Yet, seeing that we
both were weak and unable, Twas minded,
If ouly for day or two, to stay by the
ship that We might properly recover our
selves ere We ventured abroad anew.
And in this opinion he at length agreed
But in the evening, feeling wonderfully
strong again, renewed my search about
the ship and so fine and beautiful craft
did she then show herself to me that fell
to doubling whether could bring myself
to leave her again. And when beneath the
floor Of the great cabin fotnd some chests
Of pieces Of eight half broken open-I
doubt not by those who had gone away in
the boats-I determined that so long as
there might bo hope Of bringing so valua-
bleH prize into port would remain In her
In this opinion also, when had given
handful of pieces OF eight into his keeping
my son agreed, and next day, after having
passed the second night on decS for fear
Of tho evil emanations from the dead, we
set to work to rid the ship of tho bodies
and to cleanse the cabins and lower deck
That day was able to take an observa-
tiOn and to determine that we were then
in longitude 81 degrees west and latitude
40 degrees rorth-that Ia to say, in tho
full course Of that current which is called
the great gulf stream. and which, running
round the point Of Florida crosses the
western ocean toward Ireland and tho
Shetlnnds. That day also, finding that my
sons stomach wag too weak fer the work
OF the cabin, set the lad at the helm and
so kept the ship before the wind, which
blew from tho southwest, yet 80 gently as
gClrraly To rulilp the loqo,n ~ thn uao