The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-08-11
SEMILLANTE'S WRECK.
A Thrilling Story Of the Sardinian
Sea,


coast. let me tell you terrible story
of the sea, of which the fishermen Of
the place often speak at eventide, and
about which chance has enabled me
to learn strange particulars
1t was three years ago. l was sail
ing the Sandman sea with seven or
eight sailors of the coast survey. 1t
was rough voyage for a novice: we
did not have one good day through
March. The wind was furious and the
waves never calmei. One evening, as
we were flying before the tempest, our
vessel came for refuge to the mouth
of the Straits of Bonifacio. among some
little islands.
Their aspect was not alluring. They
were great, bald rocks. covered with
birds, some bushes of lentisk, Il few
tufts of absinthe, and here and there,
in the slime. decaying pieces of wood.
But, my soul! it was better to pass the
night among these sinister rocks than
to be on frail old bark half decked,
where the blast came in as though it
were quite at 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 inclosurc surrounded by
a white wall almost lost in the mist at
the end of the island. ''Will you come
to the cemetery?' said he.
"a cemetery. captain. where are
we?"
ION the Lavezzi islands, monsieur.
| -. ~f T~sx~
Semillante are buried here at the spot
where she was lost ten years ago. Poor
fellows! AS 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
Semillante! ] see it still, with it's lit
tie, low wall; it's open door, rusty and
hard to open; its silent chapel: the hun
dreds of black crosses hidden by the
weeds. Not one wreath of immor-
telles, not one souvenir-nothing! All,
the poor. abandoned dead. How cold
they must be in their chance tombs!
We stayed a moment lSneeling. The
captain prayed aloud. Enormous
gulls, the only guardians of the Gem
etery. circled over our heads. mingling
their 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 great fire flaming in the
shelter of rock. and the soup smok-
ing. Sitting down in a circle. with
our feet to the flames. soon each had
on his knees bowl of red pottery. in
which were two slices of black bread
covered plcntifully with the broth.
The repast was silent one We were
wet, we We're hungry. and then, the
nearness of the graveyard.
However, whsn the bowls were emp
tied we lighted our pipes and talked u
little-naturally of the Semillante.
Tell me, how did it happcn?"
asked the captain. who, with his head
on his hands stared at the flames with
thoughtful air.
''How did it happen?" said the good
Iionetti with a heavy sigh. Alas, no
human being can tell. All we know is
that the Semillante, laden with troops,
weather. During the night it grew
worse wind. rain and terrible sea.
the like of which was never seen be-
fore. In the morning the wind fell a
little. but the sea was worse. if pos
: sible, and with it the DEVILS own fog,
SO that one could not have distin-
grished beacon light four feet away.
Those fogs, monsieur You have no
idea how deceitful they are! But !
! also have an idea that the Scnllante
: must have lost her helm in the morn
, ing. for the captain. even in Il heavy
fog, could hardly have made such a
; mistake. He was well-tried mariner.
! We all knew him. lie had commanded d
the Corsiean station for three years,
and knew the coast as well as !, who
know nothing else
AT what time do they think that
the Semillante persisted?
1T must have been al noon-yes
, monsieur fully noon, but, forsooth
with that fog, that noon was worth nc
more than night as black as the jaws
!. of a wolf. 4 life-savcr of the coast
told me that the same day toward half
: past eleven. having gone ont of his
; cabin to fasten his shutters. the wind
,, whirlcd away his cap. and nt the risL
!. OF being carried off himself by the
blast he commenced to crawl aloAc
= the beach on all fours after IL. Yo,
? see the douaniers aren't rich. and .
. . sap costs. Well. it seenis that o;ll
man. lifting his head, saw right ncal
' him, through the fog II great shiI
. scndding along under bare poles to
) ward the Luyezzi islands.
= This ship went very fast so fasr
: that he had hardly time for ~ gooa
/. look. Everything points TO the beliel
!, that it was the Semillaute. because
= half honr later the shepherds of tn.
islands heard-why. here comes TIL.
i shepherd himself, he win tell yon
4 Bonjour, Palomb0. G. ne, warm thy
!, self. Have no fear"
|. A mntiied man, whom had seen TO
n some minutes prowling around our fire
and whom had taken for one of tn,
rev, because l did not know tha
Y ,here was shepherd on the island
approached us tirnidly. He was II
= I'D leper, three.quarters OF an idio
v md prey Ia know not what otlie
I" scorbutic evil, which made his lip
VI Il tl1 !. itff ~. "a tl 4 .1i NJ "a,