Year: 1877

the Wreck.


There were half q dozen men seated,
IN the oarroom Of little tavern in a
small coast town In Massachusetts,.
None OF the men were young, by any
means. and all were hearty ami mus scu.
lar looking. as If they were not unused
TO hardships, toll and exposure.


One OF the group was a man appar-
sntly seventy years of age, clad in rough
sailor garments. although one glance at
HE thin. furrowed cheeks and white
locks would convince any one that he
could no longer do duty as seaman


The night was dark, and the wind
was blowing furiously. The roar of
the surf upon the rocky shore was heard
above the noise of the gale. and the
men involustsriIy shuddsred and drew
their coats closer about them.


ITS a bad night. Uncle Ben" said
one of the men. addressing the old
sailor.


AYE, aye" answered the old man,
as lie raised his glass of rum punch and
drained it hurriedly.


Hard chance for any vessel that hap
pens tn be off this coast" continued the
first speaker.


You're right there, shipmate," re-
turned the old man. This is Just such
a night as the one in which the gallant
bark Beauty was lost off this very coast
some thirty years ago. and every soul
of the crew except myself went to Davy
Jones locker"


Tell us about il Uncle Ben" they
all exclaimed, and the old man, stow
ing huge tobacco quid in his cheek,
closed his eyes for minute as if to re-
call the terrible scene he had mention
ed, and then began his story


We were bound to Boston from Hall
fax, Nova Scotia, and had on board an
assorted cargo. The Beauty was as
snug and staunch bark rs ever
SKINNED the water, and Captain Mar
riner was a man who knew how to han
die vessel as it she were plaything


The crew were noble set of fellows,
brave and willing, and if it had been
possible to save the bark she would not
have gone down rs she did


We had head winds all the way, but
we would have made Boston in decent
time if the gale had not come on us
with such fury. Night came on and we
found ourselves nearing the coast in
spite of ourselves. The captain ordered
US to shorten sail, but the bark was
pitching and plunging. and the wind
l,l sp l. A hnrrscano that ~ Al
most impossible to haul in rag


Suddenly. before We were aware that
we were SO near the shore. the bark
struck and the waves broke over her
stern. "Save yourselves, boys. if you
can" shouted the captain. "the bark is
gone. God help MS" Poor fellow.
those were the last words ever
heard him speak.


We had Oh board several horses, and
quick as possible l cut two of them
clear. One was beautiful animal
black as night. large and muscular.
with an eye like a pinnacle light. l
stood beside HIM after cut his halter.
and l could feel him trembling with
excitement and fear l put my arm
around his neck and the knowing
critter actually rubbed his nose against
my cheek.


Just then n monstrous wave swept
over u.s. l clung to the horse and
both of us we're swept into the sea.
managed to cling to the animal and
at last te Chamber upon his back, and
he struck out for the shore, swimming
with his might. When we came near
the shore ! saw there Was no chance
for safety. for a perpendiculaT ledge
of rocks loomed up before us against
which the waves beat, throwing the
surf fifty feet into air.


That critter saw it, too, and he
turned and swan with all all his
might back toward the ship. couldn't
control him. aud somehow felt as if
it was best to let him have his own
way. though for the life of me l
couldn't see any use in his wasting
his strength in trying to save himself
and me


1t wasn't long before I found out
what the horse WAS doing. He actually
swan past the vessel and made the
shore at another point. where there
was u sandy beach.


Never shall l forget how that noble
beast fought with the waves If You
want to fight, just tell me a horse
amt human"


What became of the horse Z" inquir-
od the eager listeners.


What became of himy Why. just
kept him till he died of old age, and
that WAS only about three years ago.
tell ye, shipmntes. II any body mourns
for me when ! go into port yonder,
as sincerely as mourned for that
horse. you may be assured that some
body is terribly afflicted"


Without another wsrd the old man
arose. silly brushed tear from his eye.
buttoned his jacket close and started