Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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The Augiista Seminary Annual. 17 like !i toy, while iiiinlitv waves swept lier deck. No one flared attempt to leave liis berth. As t ' ai- as the eve eouhl I ' eacli iiothiiii;- eoiild be seen l)nt inonn- tain waves, Hke 2;iants in battle arrav, ai ' isiiiii; in the ocean and lashini;- each other in their madness, while the liowlin wind seemed to nrge them on towards tlie siiip, that trembled as if in- stinct with life and understanding its peril. All day Monday the scene was terrible to behold, and one that we shall never forget. The ship seemed to be but a mite in the hands of the elements to be dashed about at their mercy. At one moment she would be riding ni)on the crest of great waves, like a proud conqueror, and the next would be plunged headlong and helpless into their trough We were carried out hundreds of miles from our course and each mighty wave drove us further and further to sea. Late in the afternoon the storm began to abate and the ship was headed towards home. Tuesday morning we were awakened by a cry from our chaperon, and, running to the window, we l)eheld our first wreck. It was a schooner, water-logged, with the sea breaking over it, and seven men clinging to it. Our captain sent a life-boat to their rescue and they were brought on board. We learned that they had been clinging there since early Monday morning. All that day pieces of every description pertaining to vessels and cargo were seen in all directions. Some vessels without masts and others bottom up told us the fate of those M ' ho had lived upon them a few hours before. Tuesday afternoon, about six o ' clock, a wreck was sighted, but from the distance we were we could not tell whether it was a ship or a sailing-vessel, as the smoke-stack was gone, the hull under water, and the waves sweeping over the deck. Captain Berg steered the Birmingham as near as possible to the wreck and burned a signal light, which was answered by a light of the same line of steamers. A boat was immediately lowered and sent to the wreck, and about eleven o ' clock returned, bringing the news that the city of Savannah was in the breakers three miles from shore, going to pieces rapidly, with the passengers and crew lashed to the rigging. It was then so late and the sea so rough that an at- tempt to aid them before daylight was impossible. The Birming- ham was anchored for the night, and everything put in readiness

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16 The Aiogusta Seminary Annual. voul(l not iiiid lier at all, for she would run up on the roof of the house and hide behind the chimneys. That was always her refuge, for no one could go up the ladder as fast as she could, and once there, she was safe. At last all was ready, and the train which bore Polly away from home steamed out of the station. The bright, wondering eyes were bright no longer as Polly thought of the long years in a foreign country that lay before her. She seemed to know she was leaving her careless, happy childhood behind. As she lost sight of the broad streets, green trees and lovely parks of Wash- ington she remembered a scene of her childhood days. In the east room of the White House, standing by one of the windows that look toward the Potomac, were three persons — an elderly woman, quietly dressed, and with a very sad face ; a dis- tinguished looking, white-haired man and a little child. The lady ' s hand lay on the child ' s head, and the gentleman said, Polly, I want you to know your kinswoman, Mrs. Fremont, Her father was the great statesman, Thomas H. Benton, and she was his little companion as you are mine. INIrs. Fremont said, My dear, I love to look at you ; you remind me of myself. I am poor and old and sad now, but I, too, was once young and gay. May you always be as happv as vou are now. ' M. B. Through Raging Seas. AFTER a most delightful tri]) to the World ' s Fair, Xiagara and Xew York, our party started Saturday, August 26th, on the steamer City of Birmingham for Savannah, Georgia. Our voyage, as far as Cape Hatteras, was most pleasant and un- eventful, but while rounding the Cape the wind and sea became fearful. Though a little frightened, we for a time regarded it as the usual roughness at that point ; but the storm continued to in- crease in fury until, at daylight on Monday, a grand and most fearful sight met our eyes, as for a few moments we raised our heads and looked from the windows. The vessel was tossed about

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18 The Augusta Seminary Annual. for the rescue. At four o ' clock tlie next morning two boats, with an officer and four sailors in each, left for the wreck, and by eleven o ' clock they had brought from the Savannah the passengers and crew, who had been hanging about her for thirty-six hours, without food and water, threatened with death, and from whose breasts all hope had departed. They were all welcomed on board and everything possible was done for them by our captain and crew. One of the most pitiful sights we ever beheld was that of one of the passengers who was rescued from the Savannah. He was an old white-haired man — a minister — and the excitement and ex- posure to which he had been subjected had deranged his mind so completely that he did not know his name. By twelve o ' clock we were again headed towards home, and though we sighted several more vessels with sails and other por- tions of the rigging gone, they were apparently not in need of help. At two o ' clock we reached Tybee Island, where we re- mained until the tide enabled us to enter the river. The Birmingham was expected in Savannah, and the moment it came in sight was greeted with a cheer that could be heard in the center of the city. Along the five miles of wharves people were crowded, and as we neared our wharf the cheers grew louder and longer, and were responded to by whistles, from the gong and cheers from all on board the Birmingham. Long before the ves- sel had been docked, fathers, brothers and friends were there, wait- ing eagerly to welcome us back. As soon as the gang-plank was swung up there was a rush for it, and the crowd had to be pulled back and held by force until we landed, and then such greetings as there were ! Kemper Peacock.