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waterfall； and down the gullies where the land drains off into the
ocean； the scattered quarrymen and fishermen inhabiting that part
of Wales had come running to the dismal sight … their clergyman
among them。 And as they stood in the leaden morning； stricken with
pity； leaning hard against the wind； their breath and vision often
failing as the sleet and spray rushed at them from the ever forming
and dissolving mountains of sea； and as the wool which was a part
of the vessel's cargo blew in with the salt foam and remained upon
the land when the foam melted； they saw the ship's life…boat put
off from one of the heaps of wreck； and first； there were three men
in her； and in a moment she capsized； and there were but two； and
again； she was struck by a vast mass of water； and there was but
one； and again； she was thrown bottom upward； and that one； with
his arm struck through the broken planks and waving as if for the
help that could never reach him； went down into the deep。
It was the clergyman himself from whom I heard this； while I stood
on the shore； looking in his kind wholesome face as it turned to
the spot where the boat had been。 The divers were down then； and
busy。 They were 'lifting' to…day the gold found yesterday … some
five…and…twenty thousand pounds。 Of three hundred and fifty
thousand pounds' worth of gold； three hundred thousand pounds'
worth； in round numbers； was at that time recovered。 The great
bulk of the remainder was surely and steadily coming up。 Some loss
of sovereigns there would be； of course； indeed； at first
sovereigns had drifted in with the sand； and been scattered far and
wide over the beach； like sea…shells； but most other golden
treasure would be found。 As it was brought up； it went aboard the
Tug…steamer； where good account was taken of it。 So tremendous had
the force of the sea been when it broke the ship； that it had
beaten one great ingot of gold； deep into a strong and heavy piece
of her solid iron…work： in which； also； several loose sovereigns
that the ingot had swept in before it； had been found； as firmly
embedded as though the iron had been liquid when they were forced
there。 It had been remarked of such bodies come ashore； too； as
had been seen by scientific men； that they had been stunned to
death； and not suffocated。 Observation； both of the internal
change that had been wrought in them； and of their external
expression； showed death to have been thus merciful and easy。 The
report was brought； while I was holding such discourse on the
beach； that no more bodies had come ashore since last night。 It
began to be very doubtful whether many more would be thrown up；
until the north…east winds of the early spring set in。 Moreover； a
great number of the passengers； and particularly the second…class
women…passengers； were known to have been in the middle of the ship
when she parted； and thus the collapsing wreck would have fallen
upon them after yawning open； and would keep them down。 A diver
made known； even then； that he had come upon the body of a man； and
had sought to release it from a great superincumbent weight； but
that； finding he could not do so without mutilating the remains； he
had left it where it was。
It was the kind and wholesome face I have made mention of as being
then beside me； that I had purposed to myself to see； when I left
home for Wales。 I had heard of that clergyman； as having buried
many scores of the shipwrecked people； of his having opened his
house and heart to their agonised friends； of his having used a
most sweet and patient diligence for weeks and weeks； in the
performance of the forlornest offices that Man can render to his
kind； of his having most tenderly and thoroughly devoted himself to
the dead； and to those who were sorrowing for the dead。 I had said
to myself； 'In the Christmas season of the year； I should like to
see that man！' And he had swung the gate of his little garden in
coming out to meet me； not half an hour ago。
So cheerful of spirit and guiltless of affectation； as true
practical Christianity ever is！ I read more of the New Testament
in the fresh frank face going up the village beside me； in five
minutes； than I have read in anathematising discourses （albeit put
to press with enormous flourishing of trumpets）； in all my life。 I
heard more of the Sacred Book in the cordial voice that had nothing
to say about its owner； than in all the would…be celestial pairs of
bellows that have ever blown conceit at me。
We climbed towards the little church； at a cheery pace； among the
loose stones； the deep mud； the wet coarse grass； the outlying
water； and other obstructions from which frost and snow had lately
thawed。 It was a mistake （my friend was glad to tell me； on the
way） to suppose that the peasantry had shown any superstitious
avoidance of the drowned； on the whole； they had done very well；
and had assisted readily。 Ten shillings had been paid for the
bringing of each body up to the church； but the way was steep； and
a horse and cart （in which it was wrapped in a sheet） were
necessary； and three or four men； and； all things considered； it
was not a great price。 The people were none the richer for the
wreck； for it was the season of the herring…shoal … and who could
cast nets for fish； and find dead men and women in the draught？
He had the church keys in his hand； and opened the churchyard gate；
and opened the church door； and we went in。
It is a little church of great antiquity； there is reason to
believe that some church has occupied the spot； these thousand
years or more。 The pulpit was gone； and other things usually
belonging to the church were gone； owing to its living congregation
having deserted it for the neighbouring school…room； and yielded it
up to the dead。 The very Commandments had been shouldered out of
their places； in the bringing in of the dead； the black wooden
tables on which they were painted； were askew； and on the stone
pavement below them； and on the stone pavement all over the church；
were the marks and stains where the drowned had been laid down。
The eye； with little or no aid from the imagination； could yet see
how the bodies had been turned； and where the head had been and
where the feet。 Some faded traces of the wreck of the Australian
ship may be discernible on the stone pavement of this little
church； hundreds of years hence； when the digging for gold in
Australia shall have long and long ceased out of the land。
Forty…four shipwrecked men and women lay here at one time； awaiting
burial。 Here； with weeping and wailing in every room of his house；
my companion worked alone for hours； solemnly surrounded by eyes
that could not see him； and by lips that could not speak to him；
patiently examining the tattered clothing； cutting off buttons；
hair； marks from linen； anything that might lead to subsequent
identification； studying faces； looking for a scar； a bent