Sketcher.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2079, 10 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Sketcher.

A Han Overboard

George and I crossed over to the lee side of the deck to see what was the matter, and on looking up we perceived Hunter gradually making his way out to the lee yardarm; his head alone was visible to us as we were standing forward, the sail hiding the rest of his body from us. What was he doing 1 “He is sitting on tho foot rope, and working his way out to leeward to get hold of that gasket you see flying away to the leeward," said George. “He has managed to let it .go somehow." -‘Gome in," again roared Mr. Rhodes. “ Come in ;do you hear ?” But the lad took no notice of the order, still working out his way to recover tbe gasket . Finally we saw him seize hold of the third line and begin to work his way back with it. Presuming that he was now all right, George and I crossed back to the weather side to resume our walk ; but we were scarcely there when a cry from Sir. Rhodes quickly brought us back to our post of observation, “ Hold on, for heaven’s sake !" ho said. “ Here, jump aloft two hands, or. the royal yard and get hold of the boy. Bo quick, for heaven’s sake.” To our intense horror, upon looking up again we beheld the unfortunate lad hanging to the bare end of the thin gasket, hanging in mid air about the height of ninety feet above the deck. Two smart able seamen sprang aloft as fast as they possibly could, one man carrying a stout line with him ; but time was precious, every instant of it; the boy could not possibly hold on to that thin line for long. Up at that giddy height, swinging far out to leeward as the ship lurched over, the spectacle that poor Hunter presented was enough to turn one’s blood cold. “ Get the gig ready for lowering and haul up the mainsail,” said Mr. Shaw, who, hearing tho excitement, had now come up on deck ; “it is.quite impossible'for the lad to hold on much longer and those men will not be able to render him any assistance aloft." The two men and Hamilton, who had run up afterwards were now on the topgallant yard and quickly making for the unfortunate boy. The excitement was intense. The captain and all hands were upon deck, some frantically hauling up tho big mainsail and others clearing away the gig. I foresaw plainly what would happen—the lad would let go and fall into the water and the boat would be lowered the moment that the ship was brought to the wind and her headway stopped. But then it might be too late ; the lad would, after falling into the water, probably rise stunned and unable to help himself from the force with which his body would strike, falling from such a terrible height; moreover, no was but an indifferent swimmer at any time. My mind was made up on the instant. I resolved to enter the water after him, and disencumbering myself of my shoes and coat, I awaited the catastrophe. I had not long to wait, for just as tho man with the line had secured one end of it round the topgallant yard and had passed the other round the gasket upon which Hunter was hanging (for the royal yard had been braced up again to enable them to reach it), forming a running bowline to Blip over the lad’s shoulders, the ship gave a heavy lurch to windward and hia body was seen to fall swiftly through the air on ita way to the sea. “ Down helm!” shouted the captain. I waited to hear no more, but catching up a life buoy which was hanging on the poop rail, I leapt overboard with it in my hand, and was in the water almost as soon as Hunter’s body had reached it.

Born and reared up in a watering place I had eery naturally acquired a strong taste for aquatics and freely indulged in boating, fishing and swimming whenever an opportunity was afforded mo of doing so. My knowledge now stood mein good stead. The body of Hunter had fallen a considerable distance to leeward of the ship, and I made direct for the spot with the lifebuoy, intending to place it over him as soon as he appeared upon tho surface. Some few seconds elapsed before he did so, and when he rose a glance was sufficient to tell me that he was insensible. Without a moment's hesitation, I seised him by one of his arms before be again sank and slipped tho lifebuoy over his shoulders, treading water at the same time, and then waited patiently for the arrival of the boat. The ship was a considerable distance off, with her after-yards thrown aback, but the boat was approaching rapidly. The water was beautifully clear and I could see down into it for several fathoms. What was my horror when, after congratulating myself that all was well, I chanced to cast my eyes down and beheld that most dreaded of all fish, the shark, slowly swimming upward toward me. Great heavens ! what was Ito do? I never experienced such a fright before or since as I did when I beheld that hideous monster approaching me. In the water a man is, comparatively speaking helpless; it is nearly as much as ho can do to sustain himself without being obliged to contend with a fish in its natural element. The shark seems to know this as if by instinct, and will attack fiercely if hungry. lat once threw myself upon my back and kicked about in tho water frantically, making as much splashing as I could, hoping in this way io frighten the hoiriblc creature away. It did not however, seem to be much intimidated by all my splashing, but would swim away for a few yards and then return. I felt almost sick with fear, and prayed that tho boat soon would come. She was approaching us rapidly, and if I could only hold out for another two or three minutes all would be well, but tho exertion of kicking about in tho water was beginning to tell upon me. I began to feel very weary and faint. Tho boat was being propelled rapidly through the water by four powerful oarsmen: but 1 thought it would never reach us—every second seemed an hour. The horrible fish had apparently grown emboldened at seeing that all my kicking ended in nothing, and was swimming slowly round and round us, getting nearer each time. Oh ! those horrible moments of suspense that I endured while waiting for tho boat to relievo me. “ Help ! help !” I shouted, in as loud a voice as I could command; “quick! oh! come quick—a shark, a shark !” I saw the men in tho boat ply their oars with renewed vigor—they had heard me, and Mr. Rhodes was urging them along. A feeling of faintness and dizziness came over me; I could no longer hold out. 1 felt myself sinking down, down, and remembered no more, until upon recovering I found myself in one of the saloon cabins with Mr. Shaw and Hamilton standing over mo. The shark was driven away through ono of the boat’s crew thrusting tho blade of an oar down its throat, which the fish bit right through and decamped.