The Republican., 1898-07-28

ment we thought that even TINS huge
sea would go harmlessly by.
But it was too steep, and too near its
fellow wave for the ship to ride it
safely. She had glided swiftly down
from the smaller, and the larger cargh'
her at a disadvantage.
As the stern began to rise, the top of
the swell broke over the taffrail. 1t
came with inconceivable force upon the
poop deck, which was seven fe--. high,
and under which was the cah1a. The
boat which hung at the stern was stove,
the binnacie broken, the compass
smashed, and the mizzen mast carried
by the board.
Roaring forward, from the taffrail to
| the bowsprit, went the prodigious mum
dation, filling the decks to the top Of the
rail, staving great hole in the house
| forward, where it deluged all the berths
of the sailors, and tearing away many
| of the bulwark boards.
Our captain, together with the doctor
and his wife, had darted into the cabin
under the poop, while the rest of US ran
up the fore and main rigging, there be-
ing at the time no one at the nelm on ac-
count of the calm.
The poor peacock and his mate went
out in their cage over the forward bull
warEs, and the cat with them, and all
this while there was not breath of air.
But what 4 sight the abin presented! !!
The water had entered it to depth of
three or four feet, and gone swasaing
from side to side till it swept down ali
the bird cages, besides half drowning
the captain and the two passengers.
However, as the floor was on level with
the main deck, the flood soon abated.
We cleared the wreck with all pos
sible haste, and had just completed the
work when the great East Indian hurri-
cane, of which the waves we had seen
had been the advance guard, struck us
with terrible fury. 1t had somewhere
been circling around for many hours,
although making no very rapid head
way in a direct line, hence the mighty
swells that swept far out into the calm.
For the rest of that day and all the fol-
lowing night the roar of the wind was
awful. Our two remaining masts were
whirled out of the ship, as if they had
been only dry twigs, while the forward
house was carried overheard with all
our sea chests and mattresses. A man
could not stand for a moment without
grasping some object to support him.
Soon after daylight the hurricane on
a sudden died away, and an hour later
the ship, which had been driven to all
points of the compass by the circling
wind, struck or the island of Singapore.
and spot about five miles from the
city.
An enormously high tide carried her
sheer over the seashore rocks, and into
the edge of swampy forest which lined
the low bank. yet she was drawing at
the time IS feet of water.
Here the old Lion stuck fast, a per-
feet wreck, and when the tide went
down, she was high and dry, with
'windrows" of great trees lying about
her, looking as if some terrific scythe
had cut them down.
In the afternoon we made our way on
foot along the island shore toward the
city.
When half the distance had been ac-
complished, it became necessary to pass
over a piece of broken and difficult
ground, where we came upon the dead
body of tiger, which had been crushed
by the fall of tree.
Pausing to examine the grim but still
handsome creature, we began 20 hear,
close to us, a low, deep sound, resem-
bling the just perceptibe roll of very
distant thunder. Everyone started, and
the doctors wife turned pale with af-
fright.
Hist" exclaimed the captain, point
ing to spot not more than 20 yards off,
where there was a low, fiat rock, par
TALLY hidden by treetop which had
fallen across it. We fixed our gaze
upon the place, and sharp thrill passed
through us. There, crouched ubon the
rock, growing in suppressed manner,
and with its flaming eyes intently
watching us, was another tiger, and in
the full possession of life and strength
There is but one way" said the cap
tain 1--WE must step back as gently as
we can. 1t is just possible that ne may
not spring upon u.s."
He was large and fierce enough to
have been able to kill &c human beings
in as many minutes, but perhaps the
terror inspired by the hurricane had not
yet left him.
We drew slowly away from the dan
ger, the tiger all the while Watching us
with those terrible eyes, but remaining
as motionless as the ro X on which he
lay. [ remember distinctly the black
stripes that marked the orange ground
of his face and shoulders as he crouched
there looking at us.
Our retreat, however, was effected in
safety, and never were people more
grateful for happy deliverance from
most appalling danger than we're we.
Reaching the city of Singapore, we
found that the damage to its buildings
and shipping had been immense. My
tarry at the spot was not long. l was
placed with the other foremost hands
on board a steamer ard we we1t up to
Calcutta.
The captain remained for awhile long
er at Singapore, but the doctor, and his
wife accompanied us to the great capt.
tai of HinGostau. where they fixad their