The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-31


His sorrow charmed away.
George E. Bowen in Chicago Inter Ocean.
u THE WRECK.
As the violent storm Of the other
night has thrown us on the Corsican
coast, let me tell you terrible story Of
the sea, of which the fishermen of the
place often speak at eventide, aud about
which chance has enabled me to learn
strange particulars.
II was three years ago was sailing
the Sandman sea with seven or eigh,
sailors of the coast survey. 1t was @
rough voyage for novice; we did not
have one good day through March. The
wind was furious, and the waves never
Gained. One evening as we were flying
before the tempest our vessel came foi
refuge to the mouth Of the strait Of
Bonifacio, among some little islands
Their aspect was not alluring. They
were great bald rocks, covered with
birds, some bushes of lentisk, o few
tufts of absinthe and here and there in
the slime decaying pieces of wood. But,
my soull 1t was better to pass the nigh,
among these sinister rocks than to be on
a frail old bark, half decked, where the
blast came in as though it were quite al
home So we contented ourselves.
No sooner had we disembarked than
the sailors lighted fire for the fish
soup, and the captain called me, point.
ing to little Enclosure surrounded by q
white wall almost lost in the mist at the
end of the island. "Will You come tc
the cemetery" said he.
"A cemetery, captainl Where are
we?'
"On the Lavezzi islands, monsieur.
The 900 men of the frigate Semillante
are buried here at the spot where she
was lost 10 years ago Poor fcllowsl AT
they don't receive many visits, the least
we can do is to go and say 'bonjour' to
them, SO long as we are here. "
with all my heart, captain. "
How sad it was, the cemetery of the
ISemillantei sec it still, with its little,
low wall; its iron door, rusty and hard
to open; its silent chapel, the hundreds
of black crosses hidden by the weeds
Not one wreath of immortelles, not one
mountaineering All, the poor, aban.
doned deadl How cold they must be in
their chance tombsi
We staid moment kneeling. The
captain prayed aloud. Enormous gulls,
the only guardians Of the cemetery, cir
n1nl oil hpi
hoarse cries with the wailing of the
sea. The prayer finished, we came sadly
back to the corner of the island where
the bark was anchored. No time had
been lost during our absence. We found
a great fire flaming in the shelter of O
rock and the soup smoking. Sitting
down in a circle, with our feet to the
flames, soon each had on his knees n
bowl of red pottery. i'll which were two
slices Of black bread covered plentifully
with the broth The repast was silent
one We were wet, we were hungry,
and then the nearness of the grave
yardl .-.. .--...-.." -5...-..
However, when the bowls were emp
tied, We lighted our pipes and talked a
Tell me- how did it happen?"
asked the aItain, who, with his head
on his hands, stared at the flames with
10 thoughtful air.
How did it happen?" said tho good
Lionetti, with n heavy sigh. ALAS, no
human being can tell All we know is
that the Semillante, laden with troops,
left Toulon the evening before in bad
weather. During the night it grew
worse-wind, rain and a terrible sea,
the like Of which was never seen before.
In the morning the wind fell little,
but the sea was worse, if possible, and
with it the devils own fog, SO that one
could not have distinguished beacon
flight four fec, awav Those fogs, mon.
isieurl You have no idea how deceitfuI
they arc. But also have IN idea that
the Scmillant5 must have lost her helm
4 in the morning, for the captain even il
la heavy fog could hardly have mad,
such a mistase He was a we'll triet
mariner. VIC all knew him. He hue
commanded the Corsican station 70,
three years and knew the coast as wei
J. as |, who know nothing else. +"
"At what time do they think til,
Semillante perishedf"
/ ut must have been at noon-yes
monsieur, noon-but, forsooth, will
that fog that noon was worth no NOR,
than a night as black as tho Jaws Of ,