Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-09-13


us on IA footing with pirates" And,
turning abruptly, walked aft, having
expressed my indignation in voice
tremulous with anger.
Bless my soul, Mr. Watkins, | would
not leave any one to perish. was
only calculating the chances in a com
mercia point of view You can hoist
the longboat out If rou like and take
four of the boys for Il crew TO pull you
to her. she will burn down % the wa
ter'S edge If you wait for us to get there.
1t is growing calmer all the time,
AMI to tell the truth, Mr.. Watkins, |
would advise you to bear "A hand and
get back as soon as possible. for ]
don't ike the looks Of the weather
The air is hot AMI oppresSive-lil"."
In ten minutes | hal the longboat
over the side, and a tout, weathcrly
craft she was too. : bag of biscuits,
with a bcaker of water. was slowed
away in the stern SHEETS. and, bidding
the lads to give way with Il will, we
showed off from the sides of the Old
brig. | saw the tall, bent form of Cap
tain Thompson peering down upon me
for moment. but the next instant the
boat rose on the bosom of swell. and
that was the last | ever saw of my old
skipper.
The brig quickly faded from sight,
hid by thin mist of haze which had
suddenly arisen, and, in fact, | was
conscious of strange change in the
appearance of the weather The stars
had entirely disappeared from the
armament, hid behind the gauZy veil
which had so mystcriou>ly arisen. and
low down on the HORIZON | noted a dark
bank of clouds The heat was intense,
the stout seamcn wipiug the perSpira-
ton from their streaming hrowS rs
they toiled ut their oars. Not a breath
of air disturbed the CLASSY waves. Al
nature appeared to be hushed into a
terrible calm.
must confess | felt rather appre-
henSive as | glanced about the horizon
and looked back in the direction where
l knew the old brig must he, rolling
and pitching idly on the long swell,
which every moment was increasing
But my fears and apprehensions We're
soon chased from my head by matters
of more exciting interest
AS we neared the burning craft |
tiers of gold on the huge stern. 'Ehe
light east by the burning spars and rig.
ging aloft afforded ample power for me
to form my conclusions.
The ship was a Spanilrd The empty
dnvts ana dangling fails told thv1
own story plain enough TO u seaman S
eye.
The burning wreck had been de.
serted
Shooting under the broad. heavy
counter, we caught at the iron works
Of the miZ2eu channels, and, directing
two men to remain in the boat, clam.
bered on deck, followed by the other
two seamen.
The ship had evidently been on fire
some time, the flames having full CON.
troll Of the forward portion. The fore
mast had gone by the board. The tap.
gallant forecastle was sea of fire
| The manmaSt was already lettering
and | knew there was no time t. lose
Tie smoke was dense and stiNinH. but
as yet Gid not affect the extreme after
portion OF TIE vessel The decks were
strewn with remnants of provisions
half open cases and articles of cloth
could lie seen.
Diving down into the main cabin
which was half filled with black twist
Ing smoke, | took hasty glance
about. The rich hangings. @ponnt
ments and characterization surprised nae
showing chat the unfortunate ship had
been designed to carry passengers, The
sharp, shooting CLEANS of writing
flames from aloft penetrated tIrougll
the broad skylght, tingc.ng every oh,
ject with a rudIv glaze.
From staterOom to StateroNm | bur
riei, but found them all esanty until
/ came to the after one There | CX.
perienced some difficulty in opening the
door the smoke every moment beCurl-
ing more dense and respiration moro
| difficult. EXertinG my strength, the
woodwork gave way, revealing con
fused mass of white drapery lying OF
| the Stateroom floor The verH Sight
made my heart beat quick with ap.
| prehension, and, STOPPING, | soon ascer.
tained that 1t was a woman
Placing my hand over her heart. |
felt it throb, and without further de.
lay | rushed on deck with her in NV
arms. Through the compan,onway |
, staggered, with STRANGE dizziness in
| my head, gasping for breath. bat still
retaining my grasp on hor had saved
| The fresh air revived me. and the
pain left my head, 50 that | was en-.
abled to pay proper attention to the
woman who lay helpless in my arms.
Then, for the first time ] looked mt
the face of my burden, and by the
bright lwht of the wreck ! discovered
she was both young ana handsome. At
that moment The mainmast went crash
Ing over the side, sinking with a hiss
In the black water. 4 shower of Gin.
ders and sparks, column OF roaring
flames, shot on HIGH followed by the
! excited shouts of the men, who had