Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-10

7
alone we had hope, we accomplished rig
cling the boats, and got under sail. On
the third day of our boat navigation the
weather began to threaten q change
but as we were in the trade VIC did not
apprehend foul or contrary winds. In
the course of the night it blew fresh
with rain; we were totally without
shelter, and the sea dashing its 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 whatrepairs
lac could, but with little hope that they
would answer. We then proceeded to
fasten a spravcloth of canvas along our
weather gunw1le, having lushed bam-
boo four feet up the mast and fixed It on
the intersection of two stancheons, at
the same height above the stern; the
spravcloth was firmly dashed along so
as to form q 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 SO persons, stow1S os
thick as we could be, and obliged TO
throw over all superduities, and we
had not more than eight inches of clear
runwale 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
sallen me, that we would still weather
the storm. During the last night the
sea had broken right overus more than
once: one sea came roaring down, and
while 1 held my breath with horror 1t
broke right over our stern, wet the poor
ladies to their Threats and carried
away the steersman's hat, The captain
then cried out in q 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 WIS
both in mind and body he gal!antly
stood up, and never, by word or deed,
betrayed feeling that might tend to
sink our hopes. lie stood on the bench
that livelong night, nor did he ever ut
tempt to sleep for nearly 4s hours.
Later the weather began to moderate,
and we enjoyed 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 attribute to our having no moro
the good state of bodily health we eli
loved. The ladies were most deserving
compassion and praise, and never ut
tered one single word ike repining or
complaint.
On the eleventh evening we began to
look out for Rodrigue; the captain told
usnot 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 I informed the captain that could
see no land every person in that boat
was awake. Every eye was strained in
the direction the captain indicated.
Some thought they could see land;
others had their visions blurred BIZ
phantom ships, and finally the tears
from their overeXerted eyes shut out
their vision to such an extent that their
Imagination ceased to act
"Wherc is it?" what is it?" 81 can't
sec anything" and dozens Of similar
questions were asked in as 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.
4 fisherman who came off to show us
the way through the reefs received us
| In his house and proceeded 10 IceH N7'
and, in the meantime, sent to tell the
people Of the island of our arrival. Two
Of them came down Immediately, and,
having heard our story, said thatwe had
been most Iniraculously preserved
Every arrangement was made for our
comfort. and during the period of our
stay at Bodrigue we were treated with
such invariable kindness and attention
rs demands from us the fullest express
zion of our gratitude toward those to
whom we are under so many obliga-
lions, without forgetting our para
mount obligations to that Power By
whom we were preserved through all
the dangers that had surrounded US
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