A pathetic story is told by the Savannah _News_ of a tragedy
caused by the terrible storm which swept the Southern coast. Captain
Matheson, of the schooner _Nellie Floyd_, is the hero. The story
runs thus:
When the _Floyd_ foundered and it was certain that she must
leave her bones in that marine graveyard off the North Carolina
coast, a life-raft of hatches was constructed, and the crew,
including the captain, piled on it. As they were about to push
off, trusting to fortune to be picked up by a passing ship,
Captain Matheson looked back upon his beloved schooner, then in
its death-throes. His heart smote him. He felt like a deserter.
The suffering but inanimate bulk called to him, and he could not
resist the call. “I am going back, boys,” he said; “good-by, and
good luck to you.” Then he scrambled back to the decks, by that
time awash and fast settling. And in sight of the crew the ship
and her captain went down to their fate.
(1096)