The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-07-09

into the ocean and either to ven
ture or not to venture. / looked
on the rapid currents which ran
constantly on both sides of the
island at a distance, and which
were very terrible to me, from the
remembrance of the hazard l had
been In before, and my heart be-
gan to fail me; for l foresaw that
If | was driven into either Of those
currents, l should be carried a
great way out to sea, and perhaps
out OF my reach or sight of the
island again; and that then, as my
boat was but small. IL any little
gale of wind should rise, I should
be inevitably lost.
These thoughts so oppressed my
mind that began to give over my
enterprise; and having hauled my
boat into a, little creek on the
shore, stepped out, and sat down
upon rising bit of ground, very
pessive and anxious, between fear
and desire about my voyage; when,
as l was .musing, I could perceive
that the tide was turned, and the
flood came on; upon which my
going was impracticable for SO
many hours. Upon this, presently
IT occurred to me that l should go
up to the highest piece of ground.
I could find, and observe. IL I
could, how the sets of the tide or
currents lay, when the flood came
in, that I might judge whether IL
| was driven one way out, I might
not expect to be driven another
way home, with the same rapidity
of the currents.
This thought was no sooner in
my head than I cast my eye upon
a little hill, which sufficiently
overlooked the sea both ways, and
whence | had a clear view OF the
currents, or sets of the tide, and
which way | was to guide myself
in my return. Here | found that
as the current of the ebb set out
close by the south point OF the
island, so the current of the flood
set in close by the shore of the
north side; and that | had nothing
to do but to keep to the north %
the island in my return, and l
should do we'll enough.
Encouraged with this observa-
ton. l resolved the next morning
to set out with the first of the tide;
and reposing myself for the night
In my canoe. under the great
watch-coat | mentioned. I launched
out. ! first made a little out to
sea, full north, till | began to feel
the benefit of the current, which
set eastward. and which carried
me at a great rate. and yet did not
SO hurry me as the current on the
south side had done before, so as
to take from me all government of
the boat; but having a strong
steerage with my paddle, I went,
at a great rate, directly for the
wreck, and in less than two hours
| came upon It.
It was a dismal sight to look at;
the ship. which, by it's building,
was Spanish. stuck fast, jammed
in between two rocks; all the stern
and quarter of her we're beaten to
pieces by the sea; and as her fore
castle, which stuck In the rocks,
had run on with great violence, her
mainmast and foremost were
brought by the board-that is to
say, broken short off; but her bow
spirit was sound. and the head and
bow now appeared firm.
When | came close to her a dog
appeared upon her. who, seeing me
coming. yelped and cried; and as
soon as I called him, jumped into
the sea to come to me. | took him
into the boat, but found him al
most dead with hunger and thirst.
I gave him a cake of my bread,
and he devoured II like a ravenous
wolf that had been starving a fort
night In the snow; then gave the
poor creature some fresh water,
with which, IL I would have let
him, he would have burst himself.
After this I went on board; but
the first sight / met with was two
men drowned in the cook room,
or forecastle, of the ship, with