San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-05

Jose, who seemed to be senseless, and
the body of the captain dashed to the
broken bridge, alone remained of the
crew and passengers of the Santa MARE
The rest had been swept away, but
there, close to us, the cutter still hung
upon the davits.
The senior saw it and cried 1.-THE
ship is sinllingl Into the boat, quickr"
and, running to the cutter, he climbed
into her, as did /, Molas and the six In
dian sailors.
She was full of water almost to the
thwarts, which could only be got rid of
by pulling out the plug in her bottom.
Happily the boats vain. that same man
who had struck the knife from the
hand of Don Jose, knew where to look
for 1T, and, being sailor of courage
and resource, was able to loose it, so
that presently the water was pouring
from her in a stream as thick as a
hawser Meanwhile the other Indians
were getting out the oars and loosen
ing the tackles.
"Get the plug back" said the senior;
''the vessel is sinking; you must bale
the rest"
Half q minute more and it was done;
then at word from the boatSwain the
sailors lowered away and we were
afloat, and, better still, clear of the
ship. Scarcely had they got the head
of the cutter round and pulled three or
four strokes when from the deck of the
Santa Maria there came the sound of
mans voice crying for help, and by the
light of the moon we discovered the
figure of Don Jose Moreno clinging to
the broken bulwarks that now were
almost awash.
For the love of God, come back to
mel" he screamed.
The oarsmen hesitated, but the boat
swain said, with an Indian oath:
Pull on, and let the dog CROWN
1t seemed as if Don Jose heard him;
at least he raised SO piteous wailing
that the senor's heart, which was al
ways over tender, was touched by it.
"We cannot desert him." he an
swered; put back for him."
''He tried to murder you Just now!"
shouted the boatswain. land if we go
near the ship she will take us down
with her." Then he turned to me and
asked: 'Do you command us to put
back, lord?''
''Since the senior wills it | command
you," answered. 1--WE must save the
man and take our chance"
'He commands, whom we must
obey" shouted the boatswain again.
Put back, my brothers"
Sullenly, but submissively, the In
dians backed water till they lay almost
beneath the counter of the vessel that
wallowed in the trough of the swell be-
fore she went down.
On the deck, clinging to the stays Of
the mast, stood Don Jose, his straighS,
oiled hair beat about his face, his
gorgeous dress was soaked and disor-
dered.
Tel" ~ save
Throw yourself into the sea, senior,
and we will pick you up"
81 dare not" was the answer, 'come
aboard and fetch me-"
docs the senior still wish us to
stay?" asked the boatswain calmly.
Listen, you cur" shouted the senior,
'the ship is sinking and will take us
with it. AT the word three, give way,
men. Now, will you come or not?
One, two
II come" said the Mexican, and
driven to it by despair he cast himself
into the sea.
VI.
an Indian with boathook, succeeded
in getting hold of him as he was
washed past on the swell. There,
however, the matter rested for the pres
ent, for just then the deck of the Santa
Maria burst with rending sound, and
she began to go down bodily.
'Row for your livesl" shouted the
boatswain, and they rowed, dragging
Don Jose in the wake of the boat.
Down went the Santa Maria, bow
first, making hollow in the sea that
sucked us back toward her.
So soon as this great danger had
gone by the sailors lifted Don Jose into
the boat, where he lay gasping but
unframed. Then arose the question
of what I'VE could do to save our lives.
Asst was, we must have been swamped
many times over but for the stanch-
ness of the boat, which, fortunately,
was new one, and the seamanship
and ceaseless vigilance of the Indian
boatswain who commanded her. For
hour after hour he crouched in the bow
of the cutter, staring through the
sheets of rain and the darkness with
his hawks eyes and shouting directions
to the crew as he heard or caught sight
of a white-crested billow rolling down
upon us, when we would be flung up
toward the sky to sink deep into the
trough on the further side, sometimes
half full of water, which must be baled
out before the next wave came.
was very thankful when, at length
overcome by cold and exhaustion,
sank into unconsciousness or swoon.
How long remained in this merciful
state of oblivion l do not know, but l
was reused from it by Molas, who shook
me and called into my ear with a voice
that trembled with cold or joy, or both:
Awake, awake, we are savedI'
'SavedP" said, confusedly. ''What
from?"
From death in the sea- Look lord. {"
Where are we?" l asked.
SIN the Usumacinto river, thanks
be to Godr' answered Molas. ave
have been driven across the bay in the
dark and at the dawn found ourselves
Must outside the breakers. Somehow
We passed them safely and there be-
re us is the blessed land"
s for the Indians, the men to whom
wed our lives, they were utterly
out. Two of them appeared to
yooned where they sat, three
cro cr,incr lava,4I, AZ.