The Press., 1898-03-31
MRS. RESCUE"

Y We were between the Azores and Ma deira, bound for a port in the West h. dies, in the American ship Ben Joyce, when a curious thing happened one morning about an hour before daylight. The wind had died away soon after mid night, and by 9 o'clock the sea was like mill pond. The ship was swinging her head to every point of the compass, and with the exception of the lookout man the watch on deck were catching 40 winks of sleep. was that lookout man. It is required on all vessels at sea that the man on the bows shall be as wide awake in a calm as when the craft is moving, and was digging my eyes and fighting away sleep when a curious ear. It was a dark night, with not a star visible, and I could not see beyond the end of the jib boom. AS listened to the noises the only thing I could compare it to was the noses of sharks pumping against small boat It would have been ridiculous to call to the mate and give him any such explanation, but finally called his attention to the curi- ous noises and left the cause to his own perception.
 "There's a raft or boat out there,'' he said after a moment, "and the noise may be made by oars. I'll burn a port fire.''
 The port fire lighted up the sea for 100 feet around, and the first thing we saw was a ships boat within 40 feet of us on the port bow. In the bottom of the boat were two human figures and one of them a woman, and all around the boat the sea was alive with sharks. They were diving under the boat, running their noses against it and seeking to up- set it, and had it been a shore boat they would doubtless have had it over. As soon as we caught sight of the boat the mate ran to call the captain. By the time the captain had arrived the boat had drifted right down against us, and one of the crew lowered himself into her and made fast the painter. Then I got down to assist him, and we passed up the bodies, the man first. We might just as we'll have dropped him into the sea, for he had been dead for 24 hours at least. As we picked up the woman, having not doubt that she was also dead, she moved and uttered a groan and gave us a great fright. We had her OA DOd1o d1tC1 O SOup4O O4 uUCSs d4O the small boat which was captain s gig, new and without a name, was later on hoisted up.
 Captain Clark was 8 single man 30 years old, and neither of his mates was 8 married man. They found the woman greatly exhausted through thirst and hunger, but with life enough to build hopes on, and they handled her so we'll that at the end of an hour it was re- ported on deck that she was asleep and would probably pull through. An hour after daybreak breeze came, and we got on our course, and after a careful inspection of the body of the strange man it was given sailors burial. His pockets turned out nothing but some to- bacco and few bits of silver, but he was recognized by all as a sailor. He had the dress and general look, and the initials IS. E. w." had been pricked on his left arm in india ink. The boat was provided with mast, sail and oars 1; but, as I said, she was new, freshly painted and had no name on her. We didn't do much wondering over it, as we knew the woman would explain all when she regained her strength, but all were glad that it had fallen to our lot to pick up the boat. It may surprise you to learn how long that woman slept. At intervals the captain raised her head to administer soup or drink, but not to actually interrupt her sleep, and she did not open her eyes until 80 hours had passed. Then sleep had brought her fully back to life. It was 24 hours later before we heard her story or, to our un- bounded amazement, learned that there was no story to tell. The woman could remember nothing of the past, not even her name.
 If you have ever read Clark Russell, you will remember two such incidents in his books. You may have set them down as sailors yarns, but such things have happened on land dozen times over. Every day for the last five years have occupied desk with man who was practically drowned while bathing. After two hours hard work they brought back the spark of life, but | it was weeks before he left his bed He