Half an hour elapsed before he approached near
enough to make out the condition of the shattered steamer. Another
steamer lay as near to her as the flames, which had apparently been
partly subdued, would permit. Men were busily engaged in throwing on
water, and their efforts promised to be crowned with success, for the
volume of flame was rapidly decreasing. A line was passed from the bow
of the Chalmetta to the Flatfoot, No. 3 (for these were the steamers),
which enabled the latter to control the drift of the former. Dr.
Vaudelier was too far off, however, to form a very correct idea of the
casualty.
Portions of the wreck were floating by him, and occasionally his boat
struck against a timber or cask. While anxiously straining his vision,
to ascertain further particulars of the disaster, he heard a faint cry
close ahead of him. By the light of his lantern, which he had hung up by
the foremast, to attract the eye of any sufferer who might need aid, he
saw a man clinging to a barrel floating by him. Hastily letting go the
halyards, the fore and main sails came down, the boat was put about, and
Dr.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232