Year: 1866

Up to that time they had not seen each
other since the vessel went over. They
went to sleep in tho darkness, as they think
about two or three o'clock, threo or four
hours after the schooner capsized, aud they
slept till after daylight; for soon after wax
ing the wreck was struck again in such
away as to throw hor upon her side. aud
FOR an instant they thought she would come
over and right herself again.


In this they were doomed TO disappoint-
ment, though, had she como over, they
would doubtless have been crushed TO
death with the lumber, as il would have
fallen back into its place. As it was, the
incident gave them momentary CLEAN of
hope, the only Que which had cheered them
for au instant during those hours OF terrible
imprisonment, aud they would have gladly
risked the consequences could the sea
have lifted the vessel little further, and
brought her right side up again. But
though this was not done something desira-
bic was accomplished by that mountain
wave, and thus new hope was inspired.


Thrown upon her side the deck load of
lumber slid out from under her. the masts
went away, and one of the matches came of.
and the light of the sun shining down
through the water outside was reflected
dimly through the opening thus made. so
that for the first time, they saw each other
The captain, barefooted, with nothing on
but his shirt and pants, and bleeding from
the cuts and bruises he had received within
the cabin, was sight most pitable to
behold Small, with his terrible wound
was in a shocking condition, and they
looked on each other with feelings no words
could express. 1t was tho most trying
moment they had experienced; for they not
only felt the fearfulness of their condition
but they saw it in all its hopelossness and
horror.


As the light came into the hatchway, the
water came III also and they believed the
schooner was sinking, but presently their
fear was removed, for the air in the hold,
which could not escape except in ons place
and there very slowly, sustained the weight
of vessel and cargo, aud they soon found
that they had more than four feet of air,
between the bottom of the schooner then
over their heads, and the water in which
they stood. There was o promise of life
for some hours, perhaps for some days
more. They could hear the waves as they
tRtruck the wreck over their heads, and
they knew by the peculiar sound that
the bottom of the vessel was above water,
They were confident, also, that the winds
had subsided and the thought came to
them of the possibility of cutting out
through the bottom, when, in case of sue.
cess, some passing vessel might discover
and take them off. They had taken the
hatchet with them into the hold. They
had struck upon nails and bolts in cutting
through the bulkhead, still it could be used
to some advantage, and they resolved to
make the attempt. This was on Tuesday,
the oath, somo time in the afternoon, and
they set to work at once. The inside
planks were of hard wood, three inches in
thickness, and the outside plauking four
inches They had now to strike up over.
head, and there was much the same difficult
ty in standing as when working in the cabin;
but, with their blunted and broken hatchct
they began the unpromising and almost
desperate task. The captain, Cyrus Morse
and Anderson had tho work TO do, as the
wound received by Small was found to be
even, worse than at first supposed. Each
worked in his turn, until exhausted, then
orc of the others relieved him and so the
inside planks were slowly hacked, or
rather worn away. To reach and cut
the other was q more difficult and tedious
work, and the men gave over, saying it
was of no use they should never accom-
plish such task aud had rather die as
they were than labor on thus hopclessy,
and then perish as they were sure to do.
But the captain repeated the old adage,
" while there is life there is hope" and
kept at his task. His example gave cour-
age and inspiration to the others, and they
joined him to cut out place about two and
one-half feet square.


All the afternoon and all the night they
worked; and on Wednesday, could see the
light through some parts of the plank
where they were bruising away the wood.
Their hatchot had become so badly blunted
that it would no longer cut and their
progress was slow. But they were hopeful
as they saw how much had been accom-
plished, and, with redoubled force the
hatchet was piled again.


Alas their zeal came we'll nigh running
them. They struck through the plank in
one place, and so great was the pressure OF
the vessel Oh the air in the hold that II
escaped through the aperture with some
thing like the noise of the steam whistle.


The schooner began to settle again, when
the captain tore off portien of his shirt
and with his hatchet drove it int5 the hole
and stopped the rapid escape of the air,
He then charged the others to work away
in other places until the light could be seen
through the thin wood left all around the
planks they were intending to remove
This was soon after accomplished and they
then prepared to make their escape to the
outside. Two important matters were ther
to be considered. First, how to break OuI
the planks. Second, how to secure them
selves from being swept off from the bot
tom when they should emerge and subject
themselves to the waves, still at times
breaking over them. They had one coil OF
small rope, the only one which did not &c
out when the hatch came of, and as Provi.
dence directed, the only one that could
have answered the purpose for which il
was used.


This, they secured, and cutting of o
piece, Of sufficient length, they lashed to
gether several joists, and made of them q
small battering ram, Then they fastened
lines to something permanent in the hold
and the other ends of the same to their
own bodies SO as to hold by them when the
seas should go over the bottom. They also
} prepared to take out with them one end OF
the remaining coil, to use for any purpose
found needful.


The pressure of the atmosphere aided
them aud the blow was successful. The
planks went out, and the Captain, who
stood directly under them, was carried
, through the opening, and landed on the fiat
: bottom of the schooner, without an effort
on his part This was done by rush Of
the compressed air,which shot him out like
an arrow.


Instantly he helped the others 10 egcape