The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 55

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J. C. Copper's Journal and Book of Memoranda for 1828. 55
small point-by this time it is dark twilight-drive up close to an
island of water flags. Lindsay and myself with the cable in hand
jump in to the boat make to the flags-thinking to leap on dry
ground I spring out am up to the middle in water a deep mud
bottom thick set with rushes-am followed by Lindsay-drag our
boat but find no diminution of depth-have some apprehensions
of alligators-seen here from 10 to 12 ft in length-run a pole
into the mud and make fast-get on board again-beds and uten-
sils in the meanwhile put into the yawl by the balance of the
crew-here we lay tossing all night in continual expectation of
our raft going to pieces-toward midnight the whole heavens are
wrapt in darkness-never did I witness so awful a scene-the
thunder rolled and the forked lightnings glaring through the gloom
made "night hideous"-thick "darkness visible"-the cloud burst
over us-but already drenched we scarce heeded the descending
torrents-about break of day the wind veered round to the N.
west-then the billows struck us if aught more furiously-we
knew this would soon blow out the tide and unless we escape soon
our labours would be all lost to work we went with poles our
raft which drew about 4z ft water dragging over the mud lifted
and dropper alternately by the waves--almost despairing to get
her out we redoubled our exertions Capn. Lindsay falls over-
board-the sudden immersion into the cold water angrily dashing
around him nearly proved fatal to him I reach him my pole and
he gets aboard and to work again we get round the point in a shat-
tered condition and reach the San Jacinto-wind and tide fair we
construct a sail and pass on without breakfast or change of rai-
ment. I should have mentioned that after being cast away and
making the harbour above-we felt nearly exhausted and wanted
our suppers-from which we had been so unfortunately driven
about 1 mile. I agreed for one to venture the winds darkness
and the tide after it-poor Patrick who was nearly spent and
sick with fatigue-agreed to go as steersman-leaving Lindsay and
Edwd. to watch I and Frank manned the oars-after turning
the point and meeting the full force of wind and tide-we pulled
our utmost for 10 minutes or more without any apparent gain--
but persevering we got under the opposite shore and reached the
goal of our wishes-taking a hearty glass and full rations we
loaded and embarked again taking our faithful dog along who had

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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910, periodical, 1910; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101051/m1/63/ocr/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

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