The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-11-01
CHAPTER VIII.
SIlInWREC il ED.

"A little more breeze to-day said
Capt Bodtsh. one morning after the
vessel had been bccalmed for nearly
week "I'hc air gives signs of Il com
ing storm. and when it does come may
the good Lord Keep and preserve us.
Even rs tn. captain spoke Il trace OF
dark cloud was diuly visible away to
tho west To the captains experienced
eye tho tufts OF uncardcd wool. 50 slow
IL moving along in the direction OF the
vessel, 50 near the blue sky and yet so
close to the green ocean. meant that
The. calm had ended and that Il storm
was beginning.
Tho rapidly given orders OF the cap
tain were quick y ObrNcd and the gal
liant crew made the preparations pOs1l-
bic for the good ship to receive the
gale and ride through it. The winds
came as Though they had used the days
Of calm to- gather force from all tine
ocean and all the sky. and in their
madness they seemed to see on all the
broad expanse Of surging waves but one
trail ship to wrcstlc with. and that one
they wrecked us if it had been made OF
paper and manned by little children.
Every mast and every spar. and every
stitch of canvas, and every soul on
a.
sea. The life boats We're torn to pieces
rs though made of cloth.
When the storm ceased and the sun
appeared. all that was left of the Lucky
Star was hull. dismantlcd. dislnasted.
rudderless. and water soaked. The
captain and the two clerks, Louis and
Charles. had lashed themselves to a
calst.sn which prOtrudcd Il few inches
above the shattered deck. and when
the storm was over they were stu
l,shcd there and still living.
Two deck hands had tied themselves
to one of the pOndcrOls anchors which
hung over tho ships side. and they
too, wcro sayed-tivc souls in all-tivt
human beings on d wreck, and. as tai
as thcy knew, without food or water
or even hope of rescue from grave
the sea: and. in fact. with nothing hl
life left them. What was that worth
On being released. after the storm
had somcwhat abatrd. the men toul
eclod together rs to what was best t
be done 1t was evident that the hui
would go to pieces should there com
another storm or should the wind co..,
tinue blowing for any great length {
time AS it was blowing then.
Even W lille the conversation was gt
making Il desperate effort 70 keep II
place on the water.
Suddenly it broke apar, and all tn:
was left Of the ship went down hcncat
the waves. except portion of It's prov
to which the shipwreckcd band clun
Us their last hope of rescue.
When the hall parted. boxes. ha
rels. packages OF various sorts. 81
pieces Of the wreck. came TO the Sil
Race. and. as they tioatcd by. the me-
boldly riskrd their lives ~ secure son
OF the debris. Providence helpt
them. and before niEhtfall they ii;
stored on their fr;lil craft two barre
OF water. Il fierce of rice ana Il caSS
brandy. The PROV they We're on W
Il compartment by itself. and agal
providcntiaily. the severed end "
not stove III or damaged. and 10 all Il
pearances. was water tight and mig
float until :. storm should wreck II.
There was no fire nor any way
provide one. The rice. soaked
water. was their food. The water W
1sed sparingly. The brandy was de;
out as medicine. For days and nigh
the craft tloated.
One day they sighted land. and VIII
they were close enough they saw 70,
upon which their strange craft m
surely drift for they had no means
controlling it and they would be i
within sight Of land.
Instead. however. of floating direc
upon the rocks. as was expected. tn.
came y wind from beyond the CT
and surSed the craft along
shore and away from the roc
until rounding point. the cl
ohruptly ended. and then the brc
and beached it wherr the water '
but = few feet deep.