Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-09

middle of the night was awakened by be-
ing tossed out Of my bunk by violent
shock. To cut short the story, the pilot
beat had been run down in the dark by
some kind of craft, and the next five
minutes found cinging to the wreck,
which was half submerged in water. 1t
was pitchy dark, there was a choppy sea
running. and the water was icy cold. We
climbed up on the wreck as far as could
ara there we hung, staring into the dark
ness for the lights of some passing vessel
The craft that had run down had kept
on ner course and no sign of her was to
be seen. Several of the crew had gone
down when the boat went over and there
were only two left, together with nv pris-
oner and myself. For six mortal hours we
drifted seaward before the wind, and we
were nearly dead with Geld when we saw
full rugged ship bearing down upon us.
They sighted the wreck and, rounding to,
lowered small boat, which with some diff
fculty picked us off the wreck. This was
done by rowing close and throwing a moose
around our bodies and dragging us aboard.
after had been warmed and fed in
the cabin of the ship the captain came
down to see US. He was rot in very good
humor toward us, due probably to the
thought that he would have four more
mouths to feed.
"How soon can you put us ashore?'
asked my prisoner.
"'In about two weeks If the wind holds
good answered the captain, grimly.
w hat do you mean by that"
I mean that l am bound for the west
coast of Africa with general cargo,and am
not going to put back to New York with
lot of lubberly buffers like you. You'd bet
ter be glad you are not feeding the deep
sea fish by this time
This answer seemed to stun my man.
He started to argue, when the captain cut
him short, with an oath, saying it was no
use to talk, that he knew his business. He
wanted to know whether we proposed to
turn to with the men and work our pas
sage. 1t was finally agreed that my man
oto:,o
passage as cabin passengers in his dirty
old hooker, payable by draft upon New
York, my man having convinced him Of
his ability to meet the draft
well, there we were, installed for a trip
to the west coast of Africa. You never saw
such mad man in your life my priS-
oner. He fairly frothed at the mouth and
used language which was scandalous.
When the captain stuck his head down the
companionway and asked what the row
was about my man shook his fist at the
captain and told him he would break his
head for a comparatively insignificant COM
Densation, using worse language than be-
fore. This seemed to amuse the captain
kind of meeting him on his own ground
and he was more sccfable after that. The
name Of the ship was the Sally Pratt, and
captain worked his men hard and got
every inch out of the ship that was in her.
Fortunately he was fond of good eating
and his cook and steward had been select
ed with care.
'sFour DAYS after we boarded the Sally
Pratt she was bowling along before a stiff
breeze when the cook upset pot of
grease on the galley stove, and within ten
minutes, notwithstanding our hardest en-
deavors to put the fire out, the Sally Pratt
was ablaze amidships like volcano She
burned like finder, and when she
brought up into the wind to enable us to
clear away the small boats the flames blew
aft in a whirlwind of fire. We barely had
time to get away with the boats, without
provisions or water, before she was in
flames from stem toAstern. 1t was close
on to dark, and the burning ship made
beautiful sight, she fell off before the
wind, rising and falling on the long ocean
rclI and the fire sweeping up her masts
and rigging from the volcano below
We must follow. per, boys said the
captain, for she makes a good torch.
Fortunately there were mast and sail in