Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-08
own story plain enough to seaman's

counter, we caught at the iron works OF
the mizzen channels, and directing two
men to remain in the boat, I clambered
on deck, followed by the other two
seamen.
"The ship had evidently been on fire
some time, the flames having full con.
troll of the forward portion Of the ship.
The foremast had gone by the board,
the topgallant forecastle was sea OF
fire; the mainmast was already totter-
ing, and I knew there was no time to
lose. The smoke was dense and sitting,
but as yet did not affect the extreme
after portion of the vessel. The decks
were strewn with half-open cases and
articles of clothing, but no trace of a
human being could be seen.
"Diving down into the main cabin,
which was half filled with black twist
ing smoke, / took hasty glance about.
The rich hangings, appointments,
and ornamentation surprised me, show
| ing that the unfortunate ship had been
designed to carry passengers. The
sharp shooting CLEANS Of writhing
flames from aloft penetrated through
the broad skylight, tinging every OBJ
ject with ruddy glaze.
"From stateroom to stateroom l
hurried, but found them all empty
until I came to the after one. There I
experienced some difficulty in opening
the door, the smoke every moment be-
coming more dense, and the respiration
more difficult. Exerting my strength,
the woodwork gave way, revealing a
confused mass of white drapery lying
on the stateroom floor. The very
sight made my heart beat quick
with apprehension, and STOPPING, I
soon ascertained that it was woman.
"Placing my hand over her heart, l
felt it throb, and without further delay
I rushed on deck with her in my arms.
Through the companionway l stag
gered, with a strange dizziness in my
head, gasping for breath, but still re-
tanning my grasp on her ] had saved,
The fresh air revived me the pain left
my head, 80 that I was enabled to pay
proper attention to the woman who
lay helpless in my arms.
"Thep, for the first time, I looked at
the face of my burden and by the bright
light of wreck I discovered she was
both young and handsome. At that
moment the mainmast went crashing
over the side, sinking with hiss in the
black water. A shower of cinders and
sparks, column of roaring flames,
shot on high, followed by the excited
shouts of the men, who had leaped,
panic stricken, into the boat, urging me
to follow.
"Clasping the lady with my left arm
7 used my right in gliding down the
ships side. The mems oars were
poised, I gave the word and the next
instant we were clear of the vessel ,
which was now wrapped in flames from
stem to stern. -
"Dashing some water into the lady's
face, bagan to chafe her hands. The
treatment, though rough, had the de.
sired effect. She opened her eyes,
closed them again as if the awakening
was painful, but in few moments she
was fully herself. In few words |
told her how she had been saved, and
assured her that in short time she
would be safely on board the brig.
"In return she told me that her
father was the Senor Jose Gonzales, of
Santos, the wealthiest planter III the
country. She had been on visit to
Spain, where her father had large
number of relations, and had taken
passage for home in the Spanish ship.
"The ill-fated vessel by some means
to her unknown, had caught fire dur
the night. A panic ensued, and, over
come by terror, she tainted away.
Probably, in the excitement and alarm
which followed, her absence was over
looked, and when the boats showed of
from the ship the Senorita Marie Con-
zales was left unconscious in her state
room to perish.
Balancing around the horizon, I
could see no sign of the brig. Not the
flash of a light betrayed the position
of the vessel. But I had compass
with me, and noted the course I had
steered while pulling for the burning
wreck. 1t was not the fact of the brig
being invisible that caused me uneasi-
ness, but the startling knowledge that
a great convulsion of the elements was
about to burst upon US.
"The dark bank I had at first no.
ticed low down on the horizon had
risen rapidly, until the entire heavens
were obscured the atmosphere had
grown dense, and the darkness was
simply intense, relieved only by the
now dismantled hulk which occasion
ally threw out gleam of light.
"a strange, indefnable, rushing
sound pervaded the air, slight rip
pie rufIed the stagnant waters, cold
breath of air famed my cheek, while
under the black, frowning clouds 1 saw
white line rapidly rushing upon US.
"Louder and louder grew the sounds,
and the men gazed at one another
aghast. With a wave of my hand l
motioned the seamen to pull the boat
round so as to bear before it, and the
next instant the hurricane burst upon
US in all its fury.
EITha cbriok Of tho temDest drowned