El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-05

away capsize was inevitable, for the
wild wind howled over the waste of
seething water. and the schooner
, groaned and trembled as wave after
wave Numbered on her empty and re-
sounding hull
Notwithstanding my weakness, I en-
deavored to tighten the brailing of the
fore and aft foresail: but how vain
was the attempt! The moment 1 re-
moved the rope from the Delaying pin
it was torn from my hand; the whole
sail fell heavily loose, and swelled out
upon the wind. 1t tapped with a
sound like thunder in the blast, and
in a moment the deck seemed to pass
from under my feet, and I was strug-
Cling alone in the midnight sea-
To the horror of being drowned was
now added that of being devoured by
the fishes.
rose painting and almost breathless and
struck out to prolong existence. The
sea repealed and buoyed me up, for it
is by no means so easy to sink as many
persons imagine.
The schooner was lying now COM
pletely on her beam ends to port; her
water. It had filled the body of the
loosened sail, and served to keep her
steady, but still the waves washed
wildly over the hull. I knew she must
soon fill and go down; yet so strong is
the instinct of self-preservatfon that I
soon reached the foremost, climbed
into the now horizontal rigging, and
seated myself on the row of dead eyes,
w hn oh
clutching them with wild tenacity,
while drenched, cold. and despairing
The spray flew over me, thick as
rain, but bitter, heavy and binding.
How long I could have survived I |
know not; but felt as one in dread |
full dream and acted with the decision |
and frmness with which we often seem |
to acquaint ourselves amid the most |
fantastic situations created by the
fancy in sleep.
Suddenly, amid the stupor that was
coming over me. heard a voice and
saw large brig looming between me
and the pale, waning moon. She was
close by, with her courses, topsails, lib |
and fore-and-aft mainsail set, but with
her foreyard laid to the wind as she
lay to. Then I heard the rattle of the
blocks and tackle, as boat descended
from the stern davits with a splash
into the sea.
"Cheerily, now, my lads, give way"
cried the voice I had heard before:
pull to windward round this craft, and
overhaul her.
There's a man in the fore .rigsine,"
cried another
Then stand by in the bow with the
boat-hook"
I strove to speak, to shout; but my
voice was gone
Spring into the sea-" cried a voice;
90 you hear me, you sir-you in the
[ore-r1gg1ng there? Jump in; we can
not sheer alongside craft that pitches
about like cork in such a sea as
his
Don't fear. my lad" cried others;
we'll pick you up
But L was powerless, blinded by
spray; and though unable to respond.
,lutched the rattlins with fatuous en-
ergy Then strong hands were laid
lpon me. and felt myself dragged into
he boat
SHOVE on, shove off-give way! this
'raft Will sink in minute" cried some
me; give way for the brig!" and lust
Is they turned the head Of the boat to- {
Vard their vessel, the Dutch schooner
appeared to right herself; there was a Y
rash as her deck burst up, and then a {
oo seemed to mingle with the air /
hat was expelled from her hold as she
lied and went down like a stone. I
Though 1 had been so long unseen. 9
afterward learned that at this time
here were not less than fifteen sail
n sight of the vessel whj oI, D;o1>ad ~ |
p.