Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-06-29
clutching the shrouds and Delaying

clutching the shrouds and Delaying
pins
| ! rushed below and brought up a
blanket and great coat to wrap him
In. and he was promptly swung over
Into the boat. where Carlton received
and supported him.
Three bags OF bread. with tarpaulin
to cover them. two kegs of rum. four
casks OF water. with oars. sails and
blankets. were thrown peli-me!l into
the boat. A hatchet and bundle Of
spun-yard completed our stores.
| The compasses were considered now
to be useless. or were omitted, I for
get which.
The wind still amounted to q gale.
though less violent, and 1t famed tho
growing flames, so that tho fated brig
burned fast. The lightning still fash
ed. but at the horizon. and the thun-
der was heard to grumble above the
hiss OF the sea: yet we needed them
not. though they added to the terror
and the grandeur OF the scene: and.
most providentially for US. the fury OF
the storm was past.
| Tattooed Tom was the last man who
left the brig. and the moment he was
In the boat he exclaimed. with loud
voice. that rang above the roaring OF
the flames. which now gushcd through
every hatchway and aperture. above
the howling OF the wind and the break
ing Of the frothy sea
| "Shove off!-out oars. there, 20 star
board-pull round her stern-pull with
a will to windward-keep the boats
bow to the break OF the seal"
| We pulled silently and vigorously.
and soon got clear OF the brig. through
the four stern windows of which four
lines Of light glared redly on the ocean.
All our strength was required to
achieve this. for the brig. being the
larger body, attracted the boat toward
her. However we got safely to wind
ward. which was absolutely necessary,
for to leeward there fell kissing into
the sea torrent Of sparks and burn
ing brands from the rigging. which was
all in flames now.
Resting upon our oars. or only using
them to keep the boats head to the
break Of the sea. and to prevent her
being swamped-an operation during
which they were us often hourished in
the air as in the ocean. when we rose
on the crest OF one vast. heaving wave.
or sank into the dark vale OF water
between two-resting thus. we gazed
in silence ard with aching hearts at
the destruction OF our home upon the
| sea.
We could feel the heat OF the con-
fagration even 30 windward. In a quar-
ter of an hour she was enveloped from
stem to stern In n sheet of fire that
rose skyward in the form of n pyra-
md. By this time every vestige of
her spars. sails and rigging had dis
appeared.
The entire deck had been consumed; !;
the bulwarks and nodded plank-sheer
rapidly followed. and through the
flames that roared fiercely from the
hollow of her hull we could see the
black timberheads standing upward
like n row of fangs.
Rents appeared next in her sides as
the flames burst through the inner and
outer sheathing. and with n kissing
sound as they met the waves of the
briny sea. Then salt steam rose,
and its strange odor. with that OF
the burning wood, was waited at times
, toward us.
At last she gave sudden heel to
starboard, and with sound unlike
anything ever heard before-a deluge
Of water extinguishing a mighty fire
the waves rushed tumultuously in on
all sides. She vanished from our sight
in mist and obscurity. and n heavy
darkness suddenly replaced the glare
that for a time had lit up the heaving
sea, dazzling our eyes and sickening
our hearts.
ITO be continued)