The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-06-01

Anne n 7 / answered inyoluntarily.
Silence now ensuod, though mono 0
US changed our positions. For myself,
was occupied thinking of the female pass
engers, soon perhaps, to be the prey o
the wild waters. At last, after half al
hour of suspense, heard the surf break.
ing with noise like thunder, OF the iron
bound coast at the eastward. Again and
again | listened, and each time the awful
sound became more distinct. | did not
mentic my fears, however, for | still
through l might be mistaken. Sudden
ly the captain looked up
'Harkr he said. He stood with his
finger raised, in the attitude Of one listen
ing intently, his eyes were fixed steadily
on the face of the old sailor.
1t is the sound of breakers said the
old seamen.
| Breakers on the lee quarter cried the
| iOOhOuJ at tuiS IuSedtit, Lis HcdfSC NOiCO
sounding ominously across the night.
'breakers on the lee beam 7 answer an
other.
Breakers on the lee bowl echoed q
third.
All eyes peered Immediately into the
darkness. A long line Of foam was
plainly visible, skirting quite around the
horizon to leoward.
God have mercy on our soulsP |
involuntarily calculated.
The captain sprapg to the wheel his
eye flashing, his whole frame dilated !;
for he had taken sudden and desperate
resolution. He saw that, if no effort
was made, we should be among the
breakers in twenty minutes; but if the
mainsail could be set and made to hold
for half an hour we might escape. There
were nine chances to one that the sail
would split the instant it was spread, and
in less terrible emergency he would have
slIrunk from the experiment, but II was
now our only hope.
Keep her to it, he shouted, keep her
well up. All hands set tho main course
Fortunately we were strong handed, SO
that it would not be necessary to carry
the tack to the windlass, Notwithstanding
the gale A portion Of the crew sprung
to man this important rope: the remain
der hurried up the rigging disappearing
in the gloom overhead. In lees than a
minute the huge sail fell FROM the yard
like gigantic puff of white smoke blown
from the top. 1t struggled and whipped
terribly, but the good ropes held fast.
Brace up the yard--haul out the bow
liner shouted the captain.
'Ay, ay,' and it was done.
Haul aft
The men ran off with the line aud the
immense sheet came to its place. This
was the critical moment. | expected
nothing less than to see the heavy duck
blown from the yard like a gossamer
the strong fabric held fast, though strain
ing awfuly.
She comes up don't she?' asked the
captain of the man at the helm.
CAV, ny, sir--she does
How much {!
Two points, SIR
Of she holds for half an hour we may
yet be SAFE
/ On rushed the ship, seeming to know
how much depended on her. She mel
the pillows, she rose abovs them, she
struggled perseyeringly forward. But
hope had been given only to delude US
Suddenly l heard a crack sharper thar
explosion of thunder, and simultaneously
the course parted and sailed away to tht
leeward Ike white cloud driven dowr
the gale.
A cry of horror rose from all 1T j
over cried and | looked around for !
plank intending to lash myself to 1T, Il
anticipation of the moment for striking
When the course went overheard, tn
head of the ship went off Immediately
and now the wild breakers tumbled am
roared closer at hand each moment.
Suddenly the captain seized my arm
for we were holding on almost side b
side. "Han hecried, rs not the dari
water yonderP and he pointed across on
lee bow.
looked in the direction to which b
referred. Unless my eyes deceived me
the long line of the breakers came to a
abrupt termination there. as If the shoi
curved inwards at that point '1ou al
right; there is . deep bay ahead ! cr'e'
ioyfully. Look You can see the su
whitening around the cape
The whole crew simultaneously detec'