Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-25

overheard and were drowned. and that
one OF the remaining crew had bis leg
broken that several others were injured,
that some Of the sails and all Of the
boats were lost, that all the compasses
Except a small one, which was out OF
ordsrl were destroyed. that the cabins
were full OF water, and the contents In
Guiding medcine-chest. charts. and nsuti-
cal Instruments) were washed away or
DESTROYED, that the pumps were out OF
order. that the vessel had nineteen inches
of water in her that there was no one
on board to navigate the ship, that they
were entirely ignorant OF their position,
that in consequence of their injuries the
survivors OF the crew could not trim the
yards, and that at night they shut them
selves up In the forecastle and left me
shin 10 herself. The men were crying.
panic-stricken, and thoroughly exhausted
and worn out.
Charts. nautical instruments, star
board light, and medicines were put on
board this disabled bark. which had at
this time from two 10 three feet OF wa
ter over the cabin floor. This was not
accomplished without difficulty, because
there was heavy gale blowing. Inc
cabin was quite Quilted. and the only piace
available for the mate to occupy was
the carpenters shop, which was also
flooded with two feet OF water. There
he made a bed up on the carpenters
bench. and took his meals In the galley.
Having repaired the sails. etc., ana at
tended to the wounds OF the injured tne
Montgomery Castle followed on again
after the Vega. the weather all the nme
being very bad and causing both vessels
TO roll heavily and ship large quantities
Of water.
During all this time the Vega kept as
much as possible In sight of the Mont
gomery Castle, and signalled TO her the
courses and position every day at noon.
on February sd both vessels came TO
anchor In Fayal Roads. The Vega, IL
NAV be added earned for her owners
and crew the very nice sum OF $50 Tor
salvage. OF this s,250 went to the own
ers: the mate, who took charge OF the
Montgomery Castle, got N.oo; the mas
ter. who had extra labors TO per-
form. received 81, 900: the sailor (Nordling),
who steered the Montgomery Castle.
800 and $3.50 was divided between the
crew. the other seamen. who went on
the boat with the mate and Nordling
having an extra share.
A NIGHT IN THE FORETOP OF
WRECKED VESSEL.
A few years ago the ship Indian CHER
was wrecked on Long Sands. The fol-
lowing description OF a night spent In
the foretop while the ship was aground
comes from one OF the seamen:
After the destruction OF the boats i
took shelter in the forecastle. Just be-
fore 8 o'clock a tremendous sea swept
the decks fore and aft. and burst right
into the forecastle. We all rushed out
and began to swarm up the rigging, Tor
the prospect before us was truly appaii-
ing The ship was settling down fast.
and every sea now swept right over US,
and we saw that very soon there would
he nothing left but for us to take 10 the
rigging. ..
II don't mean TO say that | thought az
this time that there was any chance OF
my life being saved, but n fancy prompt
cd me to have a good shirt or TWO 10
my back; so / put on two new shirts
and all my going toys. That cut
ting. biting northeast wind penetrated
10 our very marrow, and by the time
| got into the top my hands were so
numbed that | could scarcely feel. so
that | had some difficulty in lashing
myself 10 the mast There We sat ten
moor. helpless creatures, almost In
state Of stupor. but, though we were half
frozen. there was none of us SO para
lived but that we could fully re-
alize the horrors that surrounded US.
The remainder OF the crew. together
with Captain Frazer. Mr.. Lloyd, the
mate, and Mr.. Frazer. the second mate.
who was the captains brother, ana
fine young fellow. whose name l do not
remember-in ALL seventeen In number
took to the mizzenmast. and We could see
them lashing themselves on the rigging
when the moon shone out there was
iust light enough TO show the three
gaunt masts sticking out OF the water.
Every sea that swept over us made the
mainmast rock and oscillate so that
every minute expected that IL would go
by the board. IL made me cringe again
every time IL lurched 10 leeward because
the chances were that when il did so
one of the other masts would follow 1t.
Nobody can tell. and / can't describe
what my feelings were as i sat there IN
the top with nothing but a few shrouds
and the frail. shaking mast between
me and eternity How the hours passed
/ cannot tell We all sat on. cold and
utterly miserable. All that l seemed to
care for was II the end was TO come
that IL might come quickly. ! shut my
eyes and prayed.
A STRANGE FOREWARNING.
II had been sitting ever so long look
ing into myself, as II were. when l
opened my eyes and looked up. / was
startled by seeing a black object COM
ing down the maintopmast stay. 1t came
nearer and nearer and at last l could
see that IL was a man coming down the
stay hand over hand. When he reached
us l found IL was the mate, Mr.. Lloyd.
What's the matter. sir? j asked in a
hoarse whisper Nothing, my lad no.
thing; only l could not rest on the mH-
zenmast. Somehow, ] seemed to have a
warning that IL was not safe i made
room, and then We sat on long while.
silent and motionless.
Presently, 1t grew as dark as pitch,
and the gale came swooping down upon
US with tremendous violence The fury
OF the waves as they dashed over the
ship / cannot describe. All at once
there was a fearful crash, followed by
cries and shrleks. The main and miz-
zen-masts had both gone by the board
minute or two afterward a CLEAN OF
moonlight shone out from between two
clouds. The scene that II disclosed VIII
ever be engraved on my memory The
mass OF wreck TO leeward, the struggling
forms in the waves, and the frantic
cries of distress | never can forget. II
was a heartrending sight. and the whole
period OF my life seemed TO be concen-
trated into that one awful moment. You
can imagine | was thankful when the
Iifeboat came and took US off-eleyen men
out OF the twenty-nine.