Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-12-18

began to fall in. Between eight and
nine o'clock all her masts had fallen
in and she had burned to the waters
edge; suddenly there was bright flash,
followed by dull and heavy explosion,
the fire having reached the powder. For
few seconds the splinters and flaming
fragments glittered in the air and then
all was darkness, for the waters had
closed over the Earl of Eldon."
Sad was the prospect now before usl
There were in the long boat the captain
and 25 persons, including an infant four
months old; the size of the boat 23 feet
long by ~ broad; in each of the others
ten individuals, including the officer'in
charge. One of the boats had some bags
of biscuit, but the chief provision was in
the long boat. We were, by rough calcu-
lation about 1000 miles from Rodrigue
and 450 from Diego Garcias, the largest
of the Chagos islands; but to get there
we must pass through the squally lati-
tudes we had just left, and be subject
to variable winds and heavy weather or
calms, neither of which we were pre-
pared to resist. Seeing, then, that our
stock of food was sufficient, we deter
mined on trying for Rodrigue, and, hav-
ing humbly committed ourselves to the
guidance of that Providence in whom
alone we had hope, we accomplished -ig-
ging the boats, and got under sail. On
the third day of our boat navigation the
weather began to threaten change,
but as we were in the trade we did not
apprchend foul or contrary winds. In
the course of the night it blew fresh
with rain; we were totally without
shelter, and the sea dashing it's spray
over us drenched us and spoiled some
of our biscuit. The weather grew worse,
and one of our small boats, in which
were Mr.. Simpson, the second mate,
with nine others, was split by the sea.
She came alongside, and we put the car
penter into her, who made what repairs
he could, but with little hope that they
would answer. We then proceeded to
fasten spraycloth of canvas along our
weather gunwale, having lashed bam-
boo four feet up the mast and fixed it on
the intersection of two stancheons, at
the same height above the stern; the
spraycloth was firmly lashed along so
as to form kind Of penthouse roof.
Toward evening it blew hard, and, not
thinking the other damaged boat safe.
we took in the crew and abandoned her.
We were now 80 persons, slowed as
thick as we could be, and obliged to
throw over all superhuities, and we
had not more than eight inches of clear
gunwale out of the water. Wet, gloomy
and miserable, the night passed away;
at last the day broke, and though the
weather was still very bad, again
felt hope, which had never entirely for
saken me, that we would still weather
the storm. During the last night the
sea had broken right over us more than
once; one sea came roaring down, and
while / held my breath with horror it
broke right over our stern, wet the poor
ladies to their throats and carried
away the steersman's hat. The captain
then cried out in a tone calculated to
inspire us with confidence: That's
nothing; it's all right; bale away, my
boys!" He never expected us to live
out the night, but harassed as he was
both in mind and body he gallantly
stood up, and never, by word or deed,
betrayed feeling that might tend to
sink our hopes. He stood on the bench
that livelong night, nor did he ever at
tempt to sleep for nearly 4S hours.
Later theweather began to moderate,
and we enjoyed a comparative degree of
comfort. We had three small meals of
biscuit and some little jam, etc, and
three half pints of water per day, with
brandy if we liked it. The men had one
gill of spirits allowed them daily. Thus
we had enough for necessity, and in
cline to attributed to our having no more
the good state of bodily health we en-
joyed. The ladies were most deserving
compassion and praise, and never ut
tered one single word like repining or
complaint
On the eleventh evening we began to
look out for Rodrigue; the captain told
us not to be too sanguine, as his compass
was not to be depended on after the
rough treatment it had met with. The
| night fell, and went forward to sleep.
About dawn was awakened by the cry
that land was ahead. looked and saw
nothing through the mist. An instant
after informed the captain that could
l SEC ho ianu every pSISoh III 'haI COuI
was awake. Every eye was strained in
the direction the captain indicated.
Some thought they could see land;
others had their visions blurred by
phantom ships, AID finally the tears
from their oveIexerted eyes shut out
their vision to such an extent that their
imagination ceased to act.
| "Whera is IL q" "yWhat ia Vt 2" "I Can't
see anything" and dozenh of similar
questions were asked in az many Sec
onds
| Daylight Was now asserting itself a
little more, and the captain had the boat
brought to. and she drifted about for
an hour. Rodrigue appeared right
ahead, distant about six miles, and by
eight o'clock we were all safely landed.
A fisherman who came off to show us
the way through the reefs received us
in 4lis house and proceeded to feed MS,
l -