The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1915-11-05
Taking to
The Boats
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright 1915. by tho Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

.'oou hOpe, ana having fLy-e1gng
souls aboard, burned to the waters
edge and sank, leaving Us $50 miles
of the African coast
There was some confusion, of course.
when we took TO the boats, but we got
away from the brig In good shape, with
no one lost or hurt and with water and
provisions enough to do US for week.
We were In charge Of the boatswain.
ana, but for terrible accident, know
we should have pulled through without
mishap or suffering. He was an oldish
man, q good sailor, and he had author
ity over all In the boat Besides the
crew, there were three young men and
a woman and girl. The woman was
the girls aunt
II had come O'Clock or later, and
some OF the men were asleep, when
the boatswain went forward and stood
on the thwart with his arm around the
mast to steady himself. think he was
looking about TO see II he could find
anything Of the other boats. Just
how It happened no one could tell.
though three OF US had our eyes ON
him when he suddenly pitched over
board. We were still pitching brtskly
about and perhaps It was sharp drive
OF the boat which sent him to his
death. II he rose to the surface he
did not call out. He simply went right
out Of sight and never even called out.
Little or nothing was said that night
as to who should command the boat,
but morning had hardly dawned when
there was row about 1t. Being a lad
not yet out Of my apprenticeship,
was OF course out of the question, but
each Of the other three sailors was
determined to act as captain. From
words they came to blows, and anoth.
er horror fell upon US. The three
young men were driven into the quan.
rel, and the six had savage fight
with such weapons as could be laid
hold Of. 1t was dead calm, with the
sea quieted down, and couple Of
sharks were lying off our port quar-
ter. No one had seen them, nor did
any one see them until two of the
young men were knocked overheard.
seized and drawn under. This horrid
climax to the row cooled the men of
at once. .. D."
One OF the sailors had been stabbed
in the back, another badly hurt about
the head, and the third young English
man had his right arm broken.
The sailor who had been stabbed
took command OF the boat, and when
things We're settled down breakfast was
served out We had not to exceed two
gallons Of water and dozen biscuits,
and the day was hot and not breath
Of air stirring.
The aunt, as l now heard called Mrs.
Morton, took very sick, and we were
terrified at our helplessness. She was
soon in high fever and ravtng.
About 8 o'clock the aunt sank into q
stupor from which she never awaken
ed and all Of us slept for some time.
We were finally awakened by a wound
ed sailor getting up and calling for
water. In his torment he caught sight
of the man in the bow, and he rushed
forward and seized him. ran to pun
him Off, but before could reach him
both had gone overheard. The two
other sailors sat up, asked me what
happened and then fell back and sium-
cred as soundly as before.
1t was sunrise when the sailors
awoke. With leader these men
would have suffered and endured for
week and made no complaint They
no sooner saw that the calm still con-
tinued than they began cursing and
and they looked at the
girl 30 that she covered In terror.
Presently they went forward and sat
close together and talked In whispers,
and the girl crept over to me and said:
4 know what they are planning:
they intend to kill mer'
gave her one of the knives and told
her l would protect her to the last.
The men talked for an hour or 30 and
then lay down and went to sleep again.
was half mad with hunger and
thirst by that time, and knew tho
poor girl was, If anything, worse OF.
We talked In low tones Of the good
.hings we had eaten and the springs
We had drunk from, and we kept our
heads constantly wet with the salt wa
er to alleviate our thirst as far as II
,ould. At 4 o'clock or soon after tho
men awoke and called to me. They
wanted to kill the girl l reasoned
with them and told two or three DELHI
,rate falsehoods and finally prevailed
Upon them to wait another day. felt
hey would do 30 and slept soundly
hat night The sun came up next
morning the same ball OF flre, and any
Iailor could have told that the calm
would last another day. What hap
,ened along toward noon can never
distinctly remember. for I had little
'eason left. There must have been a
light, but remember none of the de-
ails. 1t is like trying to recall
lream OF years ago. What can re-
member back to was waking up in tho
'abin of the German steamer Bergen.
'ery Ill and very weak. She had pick
ID up our boat the day before. In Il
we're two living skeletons-the girl and
!. We were alone, and there were
.wo blood stained lSniy, in the bottom