Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-07-30

The Adler, another German ship,
lay OH her beam ends on the western
reef, a sad illustration of the fury of
the waves. Hard was the fate of her
crew. Some, unable to escape, as the
waters rushed back and forth from
her lower hold to the reefs along her
under side, died instantly. Rows of
men, more fortunate, lined her upper
rail and beam, clinging to the bull
warks and trailing rigging; but many
of them, unable to endure the seas
that broke over them and hammered
them against the sides, were swept
overheard, to be pounded to death
upon the reefs.
The American Nipsic, after short
struggle, was forced upon the sandy
part of the beach, fortunately for her
crew, and all hands were transported
to the shore over lifeline, except
seven poor fellows, lost within an
arms reach Of safety by the capsizing
of boat.
Three hundred yards directly to lee
ward of the Vandalia lay the power
full AID modern British Calliope, max
ing desperate struggle, under full
pressure Of steam, to keep up to her
anchors, but falling back inch by
inch toward the western reef. The
Olga was now here, now there, but
always to leeward, plunging madly
against the seas, but unable to escape,
and drifting slowly toward the peril
ous reefs. And we, in that deadly
dawn, were drifting toward our own
destruction.
Ont of sight and to windward was
the Trenton, carrying our brave adj
miral. She, too, was fighting des,
perate fight, as the water surged
through the hawse-pipes and rushed
below. putting out her fires.
1t is one thing to face death in q
battle, with an enemy against whom
one can exert the human powers. II
Is another to stand calmly and fee
oneself steadily going the way of those
he Las already seen sink beneath the
merciless waves; but be it said to the
everlasting glory of the Vandalia's
crew, as the ship drifted on to de-
struction, they showed no despair
but urged her to all the power she
could muster, and bent themselves a
the pumps and relieving tackles as il
strong in hope. They would die
striving, if die they must. That i:
the spirit of heroes.
At critical moment the tillol
ropes parted, aud we lay exposed te
the full force of the tremendous sea or
our broadside. TO add to the confu
sion, the glass and crockery had beer
hurled across the cabin, and rolle(
back and forth in shattered pieces
with the water covering the cabir
floor. Here, with apparently NJ
thought for such triAes as broker
glass in the hands and feet, with NJ
feeling for pain, the brave sailors
tugged at the relieving tackles; bu
despite all efforts, the poor old shil
showed she could never survive thu
fight; aud other forces besides til,
clements were to be rcckoned with.
The British Calliope had forget
very slowly ahead, and was struggling
to get to sea. She was now only few
yards astern of us, and she must keel
head to sen. We were slowly driftin!
back toward her.
On the port hand, and only few
yards away, wallowed the German
Olga, seemingly unmanaseable. Sud
denly she plunged forward, and he
white bow struck the Vandalia's side
All standing at our posts. we thought
elias the end Gomez" She scrape'
along our side, carried away
boat, freed herself, and held her own
while the bruised and battered Van
,lala fell off to leeward.
We had scarcely time enough t.
feel thankful for thi; fortunate escape
when the cry OF "C!ear the poop
deck" rang ont, startling every on
within range of the voice. At tn
mainmast l stopped and looked aft.
eau find no words to describe the be
wilderinS thing [ saw.
A large wave swept past. droppin
low, and raising the Calliope's boz
high in mid air. The mighty mass {
iron lowered above our totteriug era
rs il to fall upon her and crush her
atoms. No man lett his post, but wit
set teeth and bated breath awaited th
crash.
A few short seconds. and then
shout of joy went up to Heaven, Will
the overhanging mass, Us if guided b
the invisible hand OF divine Prov
dence, rolled clear; but an instal
later she came against our starboar
quarter, carried away the upper ra
and mizzen rigging, aud crushed i
the quarter-gallery; then freed hersel
and steamed very slowly out of th
harbor into tho open sea-Yankc
sailors, doomed to destruction, chez
ing her to their own immortal glory, {
she fought forth to safety which the
could not share.
In the meantime we were driftin
nearer and nearer the reef. The shi
could not possibly live much longer
nor could we help her. Many me
, had been in the tire-room all nigh
Others had worked for hours 1T til
: pump aud the relieving tackles. Their
: is a limit to human endurance, II
thou gh the limit is very high, and on
by one the men were forced, by shcs
, physical exhaustion, to leave I'll
| swelterins stoke hole, being relieve
by volunteers from the deck.
r About eleven O'Clock the Vandal
, was not fifty feet from the reef, an
l absolutely at the mercy of the wave
l on ly one anchor still dragged. Th
= Others had been lost by the parting
the cables; and thous sh every ma
e struggled on as we'll "a the wanir
| strength could sustain his efforts,
- was evider. that our ship was doome
!, There was yet one chance to say
de crew. The last cable was slippe