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Durham Chronicle (1867), 18 Aug 1898, p. 10

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Casting away of Mrs Leeks Aleshine But when I turned around. and peer- ed over the dark waters, it was quite plain to me that it was not want of oil. but increased distance, which made those lights so dim. 1 could now per- oeive but three of them. and as the sur- face was agitated only by a gentle swell. I could not suppose that any of them were hidden from our View by waves. We were being left behind. that “as certain. and all [could do was to row on as long and as well as 1 could in the direction which the other boats had taken. I had been used to rowing. and thought I pulled a good oar. and [certainly did not expect to be left behind in this way. “I, don't believe this boat has been emptied out since the last rain," said Mrs. Aleshine, “for my feet are wet, though ldidn’t notice. it before." At this I shipped my oars. and began to examine the boat. The bottom was co'xered with a movable floor of slats, and as Iput my hand down lcould feel the water welling up between the slats. The flooring was in sections, and lifting the one l.eneath me. I felt un- der it. and put my hand into six or eight inches of water. 'l'he exact. state of the case was now as plain to me. asif it had been posted upon a bulletin board. This boat had been found to be unseaworthy, and its use. had been forbidden. all the people having been crowded into the others. 'lhis had caused confusion at the last 1 let the section [all back into its place and looked aft. By the starlight I could are that my two companions had each fixed upon me a steadfast gaze. They evidently felt that some- thing was the. matter, and wanted to know what it. was. I did not hesitate for a momvnt to inform thvm. 'l‘hey flppt‘fl-‘l‘ell to 1118 to be. women whom it “nuld be neither advisable nor possi- ble- to (leveive in a. case like this. "This boat. has a leak in it," I said. “Than; is a lot. of water in her already, uni that is the. reason “0 have got, Hung so slowly." “.-\nd that, is why," said Mrs. Ale- shine, “it was left empty. We ought. [u have. known better than to expect to hav«- a whole bout just for three of us. It, would have been much more Iensible. ltbink, if we haul tried to squeeze into one of the others." 'IKn'y't'iiimefife"vmatter with the floor '! ' asked kit‘s. Leeks. “Now. Burb’ry Aleshine,“ said Mrs. Let-ks. ”don’t you begin findin' fault with good fortune, when it comes to ion. Hare “e’ve got a comfortable out, with room enuugh to set easy and Bln-tch nut if we want to. If the wa- ter is comin' in, what. we've got to do is to get it out, again Just as fast as we “We m‘ust bail her out, and lose no time about it." said I. “If 1 can find {hr leak 1 any be able to stop i_t." I now lUUkt'd about. for sothhirtg to mail with. and [110 two women aided actively in the search. I tound one. leather scoop in the bow, but as it was well that. we should all go to work. I took two tin cans that had been put to by 801118 0118 “ho haul begun to pro- vision the boat. and proceeded to cut the tops from them with my jack- knife. l busily passed the cans to Mrs. Leeks, and I saw her empty the con- tents of one into the sea. and those of the other on u nnwspztper which she took from 1191' pocket and placed in 1hr stern. "Don’t lose “ lmt's in ’em.‘ said Mrs. Leeks; "that is. if it's anythin’ we’d be likely to “am to eat. If it's toma- toes. pour it mm the sea, [or nobody ought to em tomatoes put up in tins.” Mr. Craig 3 ' l pullml Up the movable flour and threw it. overboard. and then began to bail. "Non, Barb’ry Aloshine,” said Mrs. Leeks, "just gmhvr )uurself up on one of lhc-Iu seals. and go to work. The less tulkin‘ we do and the more scoop- in'. thr better it'll be for us.“ “I thought." said Mrs. Aleshine, “that they aways haul pumps for leaks.” I soon perceived that it would have been difficult to find two more valu- able assistants in the boiling of alioat. than Mrs. kas and Mrs. Aleshiue. They were evidently used to work. and were able to zu'comuiodate themselves to the unusual circumst'ances in which they \\ ere placed. We threw out the “'ittt'l‘ very rapidly, and every little while I stopped bailing and felt about to see if I could discover where it came in. As these attempts met with no success, [gave them up after atime, and set alout bailing with new vigor. believing that’ if we could get the boat nearly dry. I should surely be able to find the leak. But. after “orking half an hour more. lfound that the job would he a long one; and, if we all worked at once. we would all he tired out. at. once, and that might be disastrous. There- forr. [proposed that. we should take turns in resting. and Mrs. Ale:hine was ordered to Stop work for a time. After this Mrs. Leeks took a test. and when she went to work I stopped hailing and began again to search for the leak. For about two hours we worked in this way. and then I concluded it was useless to continue any longer this vain exertion. With three of us hail- ing we were able to keep the water at the level we first found it; but with only twn at work it slightly gained up- on us. so that now there was more wa- ter in the boat than when we first dis- covered it. The boat was an iron one, and the leak in it I could neither find nor remedy. It had probably been caused by the warping off the metal an- dot the hot sun; tan waccident. \vhivh: ‘1 am told frequently occurs to iron boats. Thenl‘ittzle cr3ft_. w_hic_h wot)” bane been a life-boat had its air-bores- re- mined intact. was now probably \\ hul's [fit' Desâ€"t way to do that, Mrs. Locks and Mrs. Aleshine. were each curled up out of reach of the wa- ter, the. first in the stern. and the other on the aft thwart. The day was now beginning to break. and we could see about us very distinctly. Before reaching out. her hands to receive her beans. Mrs. Aleshine. washed them in the. water in the trait, remarking at the same. time, that she might as well make use of it, since. it was there. Hav- ing then wiped her hands on some part of her apparel. they were filled with beans from the newspaper held by Mrs. Leeks, and these were passed over to 1119. l was very hungry. and when 1 had finished my beans lagreed with my companions that. although they would have. been a. great deal better if heated up with butter, pepper, and salt, they were \ery comforting as they were. One of the empty cans was now passed to me. and after having been asked by Mrs. Leeks to rinse it out. very t'arefully, we all satisfied our taste from the water in the keg. ”Cold baked beans and lukewarm water ain’t. exactly company viltle’s." said Mrs. Aleshine, "but there's many a poor wretch would be glad to get I could not imagine any poor wretch who would he glad of the food, togethâ€" er with the attending circumstances; but I did not. say so. ”The. water is Just one finger from the. ‘Lottom of the seat," said Mrs. Lei-ks, who had been stooping over to measure, "and '1th time to put on the life-preservers.” Each of us now buckled on a life-pre- server, and as I did so I stood up upon a thwart and looked about. me. It was quite light. now, and 1 could see for a long distance over the surface of the ocean, which Was gently rolling in u ide, smooth swells. As We rose Upon the summit of one of these 1 saw a dark spot. upon the water, just on the edge of our near horizon. “ls that the steamer?" I thought; ”and has she not yet sunk I" At this there came to me a glim- mering of euurzigenus hope. If the steamer had remained afloat so long. it was probable that on account of wa- ter-tight compartments, or for same other reason, her sinking had reached its limit. and that if we could get back to her we might be saved. But, alas, how were we to get lacâ€"k to her? This boat would sink long, long, before 'I could row that. distance. “Very good,” said Mrs. Aleshine; ‘hand me mine." However, I soon prucmimed the news to my cumpanmns, whereupon Mrs.Ale- shine prepared to stand upon a thmn‘t and see for herself. But. Mrs. Leeks restrained her. “Dent make things worse, Baxbry Aleshine,’ said she, b“y tumblin' mel- board. If We ve got to gu inm the “at- er, let us do it] decently and in 0rd- er. If that’s the ship, Mr. Craig. don‘t you suppose we can float ourselves to it in some way?" I replied that by the help of ulife- preserver aperson who could swim miggt. read; the ship. “But neither of us can swim." said Mrs. Leeks, "for we’ve lived where the water was never more’n a foot. deep, except in time of freshers, when there’s nu swimmin‘ for man or beast. But if we see you swim perhaps we can fol- low, after a fashion. At any rate, we must do the best we can. and that’s all there is to be done.” "The water now," remarked Mrs. Aleshine, “is 30 near to the bogtom of my seat that I’ve got. to stand up, tumble overboard or no.” “All right.” remarked Mrs. Leeks: "we’d better all stand up, and let the boat sink under us. That will save our jumpin’ overboard, or rollin’ out any way, which might be awkward." ”Goodness gracious me!" exclaimed Mrs. Aleshino. "You set. the oysters (-reepin' over me again! First you talk of the ship sinkin’ under us, and now it’s the boat guin' to the bottom und- er our feet. Before any ainkin’s to be doge. I’d rather get out." \‘ “Now. Barb’ryw Aleshino," said Mrs. to stgrnj vâ€"‘v- As for me I would have much pre- ferred to jump overboard at] once, in- stead of waiting in this cold-blooded manner; but as my companions had so far preserved their presence of mind. I did noL wish to do anything which might throw them into upanie. I te- lieved there would he no danger from the suction caused by the sinking of IIV' nuuv tum “Very well,” said Mrs. Aleshine. “It may be best to get used. to it by de-~ agrees, but [must say Iwish I was home.” ' a. small boat. like this, and if we took care not to entangle ourselves with it in any way, we might as well follow Mrs. Leeks’ atlxice or not. So we all stood up, Mrs. Looks in the stern, Iin the how, and Mrs. 'Aleshine on a thwart between us. The last. did not appear to have quite room enough for a steady footing, but, as she remarked it «lid not matter very much, as the footing, broad or narrow, would not be there very long. Leaks, "stand up straight, and don’t talk so much. It’ll be a great. deal better to be. let down gradual than to “Op into the water all of abunch.” Y; it was very trying to my nerves to stand up this way and wait for a boat to sink beneath me. How the two wo- men were affected I do not know. They said nothing, but their faces in- dieated that, something disagreeable was about to happenhnd that theless that was said about it the letter. The boat. had. not. sunk so much that the water w‘as around Mrs. Aleshine’s feet, her standing-place being rather lower than ours. I made myself eer- tain that there were no ropes nor any other means of entanglement near my companions or myself, and then I waited. There seemed to be a good deal of buoyancy in the bow and stern of the boat, and it was a {rightfully long time in sinking. The suspense be- came so utterly unendurable I was tempted to put one foot on the edge of the boat, and, by tipping it, put gm end to this nerve-rack; but I refrained, for Iprolialily would throw the wo- men off their balance, when they might fall against some part of the boat, and do themselves a hurt. I had just relinquished this intention, when two little waves seemed to rise one on each side of Mrs. Aleshine, and gently flowing over the side of the boat», they flooded her feet with water. I am 11de to sGimming, and have never hesfiated to take a plunge mto river or ocean. but. I must admit that, "Hold your breaths!” Ishouted. And now [experienced a sensation which must have been very like that. which comes to awndemned criminal at; the first indication of the pulling of the drop. Then there was ahm'rihle sink- ing. a gurgle, and a swash, and the ocean, over which I had been gazing, appea red [.0 rise up and envelop me. In amoment, however, my head was out of the water. and, looking hastily about me, I saw, close by, the heads and shoulders of Mrs. Leeks and Mrs. Aleshine. The latter was vigorously winking her eves and blowing from her mouth some sea water that had got into it; but as soon as her eves fell upon me, she exclaimed: "That was ever so much more suddint than I thought it. was goin’ to be !" "Are you both all right 7” “I suppose I am,” said Mrs. Ale- shine. “but I never thought that. a. person with a life-preserver on would go clean under the water." I had a hope, which was not quite strong enough to be a. belief. that, sup- ported by their life-preeervere. the two women might paddle themselves along; mad that. by Giving them in turn a. “But. since you’ve come up again, you ought to be satisfied." said Mrs. Leeks. “And now.” she added, turn- ing her face toward me "which way ought we to try .to swim? and havdTWe go: everythtn' we want to take with us ’9 Cats-t'i‘gg away of Mn Leeks Aleahino “Wh'atwe haven't got we can't get.” remarked Mrs. Aleshine; “and as for swimmin'. I expect I'm goin’ to make a poor hand at it.” COL. E. 'I‘. BUTTON, General Officer Commanding the Canadian “:litia. don’t helping hand. I might eventually get deal them to the steamer. There was a in to strong probability that I would not 'h,” succeed, but I did not care to think of 2. ”It that. y de» I now swam in front of my com- was panions. and endeavored to instruct them in the best method of propelling pre- themselves with their arms and their a, in- hands. If they succeeded in this, I mded thought I would give them some fur- ud so ther lessons in striking out with their mind, feet. After watching me attentively. .vhich ; Mrs. Leeks did manage to move herself 1 le- islowly through the smooth water. hut i Looking about me, I soon discovered [another floating oar, and brought, in to Mrs. Leeks. who, after holding it ' in various positions, so as to get. "the hang of it," as she said, soon began ato use it with as much skill as that; ' shown by her friend. If either of them had been obliged to use on our in the ordinary way. I fear they would have had a bad time of it; but, considering - the implement in the light of a broom. its use immediately became familiar to ;them. and they got on remarkably "If there was anythin' to take hold of." she. mid to me, “I might get along. but. I can't get any grip on the water. though you seem to do it well enough. Look there!" she added in a higher voice. "Isn’t that an oar floatin' over there? If you can get that; for me. I believe I can row myself much better than Ican swim." IQLJF'AI‘EQTAOIéshine could do nothing but. splash. This see-med an odd idea. but I swam over to the floating oar, and brought it her. I was about to Show her how she could best use it, but she deâ€" clined my advice. “If I do it at all." she said. “I must do it in my own way." And, taking the our in her strong hands, she began to ply it on the water, very much in the way in which she would handle a. broom. At first she dipped the blade too deeply, but correcting this error. she soon began to paddle herself along at. a. slow but steady rate. “Capital!" Icried. “You do that admirably l" ”Anybody who's swept as many rooms as I have." she said, “ought to be able to handle unythin’ that can be! used like a broom." “Isn't there another oar I” cried Mrs. Leeks, who had now been left as little distance behind us. "If there is. I want one.’ well. A most curious use is being! made of the common silky-beard mussel down in aDevonshire, (Eng) toxni. This is at Biddeford, where a bridge crossing the River Torridge is kept in repair entirely by these mussels, says the Rambler. The stream is so rapid that it washes away mortar, so the owner employs boats to bring up mussels to fill the interstices. These mussels attix themselves to the masonry by agluti- nous thread! which they exude. and so strong is this that it is an effective substitute for mortar in the holding together of the bridge. mu~.~ LONGES'T YEAR. The year 47 B.C. was the longest year on record. By order of Julius Caesar it contained 445 days. The additional daysmere put into make this season conform as near as possible With the solar sear. REPAI RED BY SH ELLFISH (To Be Continued.) a has a! to make. a spfu'iul stud~ N 'I‘ he thangex talked pauonizing way, and \ mg an intelligent. acco on which he was ezmzm There was a dinner party “‘5 country house in the evening, “4 same gentleman was introduced m. eminent geologist, aim at once to laugh. "l have the half crown." he said once, “and I shall nut give it up. is the first. tip I ever received, m shall show it, m my friends nun phy of guperinr intelligemw." Lord James (JUN? had a similu. perience. He was strolling {km the Temple Gardens in London when party of tourists encountered him. “Md to be direvlrd L0 sowed“ most interesting places. He VOlunit‘t‘l'Oti it) show them 3'. and ttmk thviu {inst tu iilt‘it‘it Churt'h. and Goldsmiths grave, i finally lulilPâ€"fznu tug mmmhan.» Of the )iidtiie 'iwlupit‘. iii~ Hpi tions were iilt'ili :lnti interesting when he parted from his new zit‘qu" ances one (If iilt‘lll gave him a shilii and remarked that few guide” equally intelligvut. 'lhe null» took the shilling tiemuwly. with ed the. strung”. lie is said mi kept it to thi~ ti‘l}'. and to hunt quently itiiti tilt‘ hlury of his ex enoe with the. iiiizucvnt tuui'istsii' Temple Gardens. Another story is related Uiiiil‘ lish duke “110 mes. standing at tilt of his holist- “hell :1 "(Ll'littgt‘ rolled A nearâ€"sightel gar-Airman :iltgh' asked if it new Lilt‘ duke's Mid and on Pet-citing it. ivstwctiuinodi the supposed N‘l“.'.'1[1i give 11mm < ing. ‘ The duke. pm'twiiiug thutilt been mistaken in? :i intrtlllziti. kip: Shilling. raised his hand to ill:'* head and made Mr thuui salute ‘ near-sighted gt‘lliit‘lil'til \wnt mitt house. and in «in» time “at P" to the duke. .‘lliti newt had -" ‘u’: that he had timwd one Ui 1h” '- "' _ . .A ”'0‘" mpmhm's «if the initlsh ttllbi‘N‘“. prior cor is usually the best . tnin. It goes without. sayingt night osleeper is absolutely me be lower berth is regarded as . “though the upper is the itfiu tinted. with much less dust. and ”for. really more comfortanle ° iiy in hot weather. These advt . ere considered quite overhaul tithe difficulty of getting into a of it. It you can afford a qw-v‘it is still better unless the tram) meted that you can plead liillei‘ the berth mode up. provided _\'t a section, with both mutilt‘ad umy of the four pillows as yt for. The hand should always : 't engine, and unless the porter i your preference he will U‘Uéii it up that woy. Unveiling always pack yo: Moi. Into this, if there iseve ' ' Mbflity that you may i. M from YOUI‘ trunk overnight- *' donot olwuya go on the bum The duke, perceixing that“ been mistaken for u {uotmau W1 shilling. raised his hand to hisi head and made. My usual salute. - near-sighted gt-mlemtm went 1010 house. and in (11.1". Mme wasp . to the duke, :md neum‘ had a fill. that he had timwd one. of them umhers of the British aristm‘flf.‘ his own door. The duke mum hardly havedia a more striking proof Um he“ m‘ntlemttn by instinct as wally! bith than by pocketing the-W tiona'l affront tn his dignity. fit}! the owner, e$pecialiyw “'11:! 1|!th tnvel. as M; the preser d be nut everything .st ’IIVLII'R‘I.‘ ‘.'I III‘ l'l.‘.b.- his uwn (inur. The duke ('uuiti kindly huveufi a [nurp striking pHmf iii‘li he}? grenllmntm 'hy instinct as W“? birth than by purkeiing the um tional affront. In 1.» dignity. “. ‘â€"-_-â€"*â€"-¢’ a clan shirt wui . . st. B v ‘ i 0 annual fashion of Shir: Paonc‘rmc CANADIAN M 5." haunt the dress suit (.35 . ,, Iww.‘ ° V0? for women uh.» The issue of ihv Adm“ _V n . Australia) Ath‘HiH'I’ {OT Mi; Mug,“ ‘l‘e to Sleep on ii! just received, givw the partlvume “ht a trial which pruvvs Iii-U 9W0” \k‘i‘t‘t far away C““¥“"-" thy 1'“. defer“. . “’9 an [or fear of ~ Medicine CU. ls :n :u‘lzyf‘ ”l‘he pH ‘on the 15780? n I be;- [(3 a: (A its rights ant rruwmg mu m“ out» garment ”‘W m'5 ”f ”uh“ i0! "3- “36 my against 1h? swim .‘ is h?" , ° ‘ .' . 'x‘ :1H 1 ° ' . and countexfuu I. Was an the satchel, home in Canada. In the im‘ m' t' ‘ {Hid \\ iiiidm were slumn i.) i' H‘ “W“ 9 "I E 1 ° ' . lbh ‘ .a . offenng asuhg n’uu‘ fui' [tile which 25" “0111101; :1 Pink Pills,cl:1iliil!1£1h{““lw . “h“ (m- hfil‘selt for EU 11..” “'38 th? same 11> '11:” Just} t“ mt .0 ° i 13 1‘1le . '(‘eii medicine. Hut h mun ““9 PM! ,' of (Hi6 ' on :1 Piling" er «IrreSt “went? and money under inlstfil in.” "UM. furious and ‘ Toronto Giulw man of light “my“. Lord and can drive a P3 must 00w: iana I [3' WM“ the household prayfiro 1‘ humes and road u chip“? He must. (301 wiiling. a?! .N in the morning. :mi 0 ° ' -.H 13W“ ‘ lmil'. SIN! ir In thl ning at} There are “'7‘" library of the 8‘ mou' than film-V ENORMOVS 1,759.00" pmtectiflfi 11911193 0‘ ers 35 it l ,, In the W" in IQ" and WIN!“ nmmofl 9d,. woman of the J u“ timo tower mistakel ”4 ct [earth “10 experu ”I“ in neither nervous nor ad ha all her belongings i m traveling ”close ri > M9 Li soon “ I with“! on which you are to u. (0 ”care good accommodation mot ”scary to pay for the ”473.099 sad if mything happe moat your leaving. you «an 64 in it up on short notice. ‘ Fondly tripasut in the parlol “able. and this (if you wish: It” My side) as your plans “1.4, While the ordinary day .1 ‘nimoomfortable for ashort joun luybltothot day” swornan ”a [01” will find that it; “pays‘ kg the parlor ctr. since she thus msmt tobarsolf and the serv the poer when required. M‘ at the Clul Of p00ple who (rave; gprlor cor is usually the best, atnin. It goes without. sayingt night asleeper is almlmely rm “9‘13““ ll~prefexabiewtuo'h‘ :S‘ML ._ uhich is raw!) . Few women like 1 m (or fear of avci 3‘80? number remov gtrmonts. The uh “gown is the room 18 moreua may Lo 1. 0‘ this case. Omnding clear the

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