The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-04-22

!
Ten minutes later, when the sloor
showed clear, and was swept out Of the
creek by long oars, she was on board
amid the crew, and no one knew that she
was there. Even when they hoisted tht
reefod sails off the point Of the bank which
forms the harbor, she tugged at the halli
ards with the rest, and they knew not one
more than usual was at the ropes. Hal
father stood at the helm, little dreaming
how near she was. And now for change
Of scene.
Night drew on, and with its darkness
rose both waves and windl And what true
sailor fears that, if sound planks are be.
meath him and no lee shore at hand to
dread! He will sing:
| "The land is no longer in view,
The clouds are beginning to frown;
| But with a stout vessel aud crew,
| Well say let the storm come down."
But we have another picture to draw.
AS night, black-wnged and frowning,
settled on the blue bosom Of the Gulf, a
vessel, noble ship, the Sampson, OF
New York, might have been seen'*
struggling under close-reefed canvas up
;he Gulf Stream, on her way to New Or
leans, for on the date to which we refer,
that route was more used than now
Her position was not fer from Key Tav-
ernier--or some ten miles eastward of
Indian Key--and from the shore which
Captain Krauth had kept in with, to avoid
the strength of the current, she was dis
tant not more than eight or ten miles, il
so much.
! The ship was well manned and officer.
ed, and laden with rich and valuable
cargo. She had but one passenger, and
he was man of some twenty-five or
thirty years of age apparently, who at
this crisis stood by the Captains side,
conyersing in a manner which showed
that this was not his first trip. In fact,
though passenger, his dress was halt
nautical, adapted to his station and to the
comforts and discomforts thereof
Upon Captain Krauth's face there was
look Of anxiety, but not of fear, as he
paced the deck at one time, looking to
windward, again looking shoreward with
his glass, for, close hauled with the wind
from the southwark and westward, he
was standing in toward the most dpnger-
Gus shore on the coast of America.
4 know not, Mr.. Bristol, whether am
right even with my knowledge of the
coast, to stand in, and Ty to find an an.
chorage,' said the captain 10 his passen-
ger, but one thing is sure, SO deeply
loaded as we are, it will be hard for us to
weather such gale in the Gulf. Dis
masting would be our last evil for if dis.
masted and all command of the vessel was
lost, she'd founder, as sure as fatel-
What is your opinion in the matter?'
with one so old and experienced as
you are, Captain, advice from me is su
perhuous; but 1t we're even better to lay
the ship ashore, and save her cargo, it
seems TO me, than to risk her laundering
at sea, where the chances run that way!
You say there are plenty of anChorages
inside the reef!' inquired Bristol.
Yes, and lift were only daylight, |
could find them easily enough--now all |
have to depend on is the catching sight of
the lights ofsome of the wreCkerS at an
Choir inside, and either getting a pilot or
running in by the lights When / last
sighted land, we were off the upper end
of Key Largo. By our distance run,
judge that we are off upper Matacumba,
and my present course would lay me for
Indian Key, where they are. almost al
ways wreckers at anchor. Should | see
their lights, then | am safe, for there is a
deep and broad channel over the reef to
the west of the Alligator Shoal, and |
can make anchorage under good lee
without difficulty
Light, hol,' shouted the man at the
masthead.
'Where away3' cried the captain.
Broad on the lee bow, sir--two or
three of them, siF!'
The captain sprung alOft with his night
glass in his hand. After careful sur
vey of the lights he descended, and said
to Bristol;
Il believe those are the lights of wreck
ers at anchor inside of Alligator. l shall
risk it, at any rate. In ten minutes more,
or fifteen at most, / shall have head-reach-
ed on them enough to up helm and run
inp
: Then taking up his speaking trumpet
he shouted See all clear forward for
coming to anchor All ready for round
iug in the ,leather,braces, rising tacks
aud flowing Sheets. KeePa good look
oai
I 4 II ieigallant ship for quar-
q gsti and then oaugF'es