In Sight of Home.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 176, 30 October 1886, Page 5 (Supplement)

In Sight of Home.

One of the most striking pro* servations " ever recorded took place on the familiar coast between Dartmouth and Torbay, and it did not happen to a "bold smuggler, "as it ought to have done, but quite the contrary/ that ia to say, a coastguardBtnan. He was first lieutenant of the Dart, the revenue cruiser on that station, and on news being brought him one evening of a projected "run," aa the smuggling traffic was called, it was tlae second, lieutenant's duty to go with an armed galley to prevent it. "Ab my brother officer, however, was going ashore that night," he says, " 1 took me place." Tue lieutenant started with six sailors and a marine. Their oars were muffled, and they soon lost sight of the Dart. "The lights oi the neAr and overhanging houses shone for a minute or two between her masts and yards ; then the lofty black land and the glittering lights of the elevated town, never to be beheld again by most ot us." It was on the let of March ; the night was cold and showery, and as they pulled toward Berry Head a heavy ground-swell seemed to foretell a gale. In rouuding the Mead, they shipped several seas, which made them chill and cheerless enough. At half-past one, on reaching the entrance of the aouud that separates the Mewstone from the mainland, the lieutenant determined to pass through it, ordering the bow man " to keep a very careful look out, and be very careful myself.*' In thia manner they had half threaded the dangerous passage, the "Ay, ay, sir," of the man at tho bow repeatedly replying to the lieutenant's direc - tions to " look out," when, to their great surprise, the boat struck on something forward. " There's a rock under the bow, sir. Back off all— all." Before the men could do so, however, the retiring swell left the galley suspended, and being of that class justly called " Deaths," she almost instantly tell on her broadside. While the words " Throw the ballast bags overboard !" were passing* the lieutenant's lips she sank under him. For a second or two the men forward appeared high .and dry out of water ; then she wiipped off the rock, disappeared, and not a splinter of her was ever seen again." The lieutenant could swim better than most men, and had great confidence in his powers, but benumbed as he was with cold, on an iron-bound coast, and with such a sea it appeared little short of a miracle that could save me. As to saving others, all such thoughts were quite out of the question. His first object, indeed, was to escape the grasp of his drowning crew, more particularly of the poor marine close behind him, whom 1 had seen comfortably eettled, and apparently faat asleep, a few seconds ago. He accordingly seized the spokesman's oar, as it floated past him, and giving myself what little impetus my sinking footing would admit of, he struck out in the opposite direction to the rock, which he foresaw the rest would make for. After a few strokes he looked behind, and this is what he saw— and heard : — The galley was gone ! Bat as I rode on the crest of the wave, the sparkling of the sea beneath me and the wild shrieks that rose from the watery hollow, too plainly pointed out the fatal apot where the poor fellows were sinking in each other's embrace. For after some seconds a sea arose and hid the place from my view ; and on again getting a glimpse of it the sparkliug of the water was scarcely discernible, and a faint murmur only crept along the surface of the waves. Another sea followed. As it rose between me and heaven I 8a w on ita black outline a hand clutching at the clouds above it. A faint gurgle followed, the sea rolled sullenly by, and all was dark and silent around me. A sight, as our lieutenant truly observes, which many must have witnessed, but few have lived to describe. As for himself, his case seemed desperate enough, for if he should reach the shore the surf would dash him to pieces, and even if he should land, the cliffs were so steep thai it would only be to die a more lingering death. The lieutenant, however, was one of those men who " never say die," and clutch hope by its last skirt. He had a suit of heavy " Flushings " over his jacket and trousers, and a large boat cloak, which, however comfortable for sitting in, were much too clumsy to swim in. By help of his supporting oar he got rid of hid cloak and hiu two jackets, but he did not dare attempt to rid himself of the two pair of trousers, lost they Bhould cling round his ankles and hamper his movements ; nor did he cast off his shoes, since he reflected they would save his feet from being cut against the rocks. The coolness and common sense of this gentleman, considering the circumstances ! in which he found himself, were Buch, in short, as it would be difficult to surpass. Thus lightened, and with the oar heldfore-aod-aft-wise under my left arm, I struck out boldly for the shore, and having been, Heaven only knows how long in the water — to me it seemed an age— I got into the wash of the breakers, and after receiving several blows I eecured a footing, and scrambled up above the break of the waves Here one would think his story ought to have ended, but as a matter of fact the poor lieutenant was now as badly off as ever. , As I lay panting, breathless, and nearly insensible, the words " Save me, save me ; I am sinking," appeared to rise with the spray that flew over me. At first he thought it was fancy, but on hearing the cry repeated he roused himself, and beheld a man struggling to . reach the shore. "Never shall I forget the sensation of that moment; I could not stir a finger to save him. At this crisis the oar that had saved my own life floated within reach of his hand." He saw it, grasped it, lost it, was swept away, and eventually clung te the shore. Presently he 'rose, scrambled up slowly to hie commander's side, embraced him, and murmured, " They are all drowned, sir." It must have been a most pathetic meeting. — From " In Peril and Privation," by James Payn. \