The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-04-28
AN EPISODE OF THE INDIAN
MUTINY.

was born in Upper Indiana. When
about sixteen years of age, was sent
home to study medicine in my faith
el's alma mater at New York. And,
though many years have elapsed,
still vividly remember all the Incl
dents of that eventful voyage.
A young lady, about my own age,
and her mother, were the only other
passengers. Mrs. Cleveland had re-
Gently lost her husband, an Indigo
planter. Her only child. engaged to
young Calcutta merchant, was in
delicate health, and had been recon
mended to spend year or two in the
temperate and brscing climate of the
United States The widow, her
pretty and interesting daughter, and
her iancee, we're we'll known, and a
large crowd witnessed our departure;
while succession of ringing cheers
bid us farewell, az we swung from the
busy wharf at Calcutta into the tur-
lid and rapid mid stream of the Gan
ges.
Our captain, not a only a skiIlful
mariner, but also a gentlemanly and
genial man, was soon on the best of
terms with the passengers, and the
voyage bid fair to be both speedy and
enjoyable. With the Clevelands
rapidly became fast friends Travel
ers necessarily see much of each other
on shipboard. And they reminded
me of the members of my own family
circle, SO lately left. We were all of q
literary turn, and l often read 70
them.
When thus engaged one evening on
the poop, about fortnight after leav-
ing, one of the crew accidentally fell
overheard from aloft. Miss Cleve-
land, who saw him fall, snrieked and
Immediately swooned. The ship was
going twelve knots before strong
trade wind. in a rough, chopping and
dangerous sea. We saw the man rise
to the surface, but the next wave hid
him from sight, and we could not as
certain if he had caught the life buoy.
1t was utterly 1mpracticale under ths
circumstances to save him. The ship
could not have been stopped under a
mile; it would have been dangerous
to lower boat, and impossible to find
him in huge circle of turbulent
water. He was therefore left to his
fate. 1t appeared cruel, but there
was no help for it. So Captain Venn,
who seemed intuitively to take the
whole situation in at glance, hurried
right on.
When the commotioh caused by
this sad occurrence had subsided,
there was time to think of Miss Cleve
land. She was still insensible, and
we carried her below, and in turn
tried all the restoratives we could
think of; but in vain. There was no
doctor on board; and as yet I knew
little or nothing of medicine. Her
mother and continued our efforts
during the entire night; but she gave
no sign of returning animation. At
last we concluded that it was one of
those cases of certain death which
now and then occur from some OBJ
scure internal disease.
1t was painful to witness the poor
mothers agony, especially when Venn
told her that he mus. bury the body
next morning, as decomposition be
gins early in the tropics, ard there
was no ice on board on which to put
her. She would scarcely permit the
body to be sewn IN the hammock;
there was no time to make a coffin.
The body was then laid on grating,
aft near the taffrail. The Lascar
helmsman did not quite like this; but
there was no other suitable place, and
Venn allayed his fears by giving him
companion.
Next morning at eight o'clock the
ship was hove to, and all hands must
cred Oh the poop. The body, laid on
the long plank by which it was to be
launched into the sea by raising its
end, was supported by two Lascars.
Captain Venn read the we'll known
and deeply impressive burial service.
He had just reached the words, I'VE
commit our body to the Deep" when
the Lascars, on raising the plank to
make the corpse slide, accidentally
lost their balance by the rolling of the
ship, and fell across the body. On
getting up they uttered a howl end
bolted.
The hammock had moved!
Mrs. Cleveland shrieked as she
saw her daughters body fall, and
with several others ran to lift it up,
unaware of the reason of the Lascars
fright.
Mamma" came from it distinctly
as it lay. Where are you? Why
am l tied down so?"
She had not been dead, but only in
one of those prolonged fainting fits,
occasionally met with, arising from a
stoppage of a weak hearts action,
and requiring some strong shock to
rouse it.
Mrs. Cleveland in her turn swoon-
ed; but this was an ordinary fainting
fit, and she soon recovered, Mean
while the hammock was unlaced, and
Miss Cleveland came forth, looking
pale, but otherwise well. The matter
was soon explained to her; and / leave
the reader to imagine the delight of
all, and the Clevelands thankfulness
at the narrow escape from a watery
grave, from which nothing could have
saved her. The hammock was heav
lily weighted at the feet, and she would
have gone to the bottom in less time
than have taken in describing it
After hearty and happy breakfast,
the Cleveland's Venn, and myself,
were closeted in secret conclave.
Miss Cleveland had an important
communication to make, requiring
great caution and secrecy. 1t was
this: AS she lay the previous night
on the taffrail,, she said that she re-
collected overhearing q conversation
between the two Lascars, carried on
in a low voice in Bengal. She