Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-09
5uteresting Storp.
CAP'N BEN's WIFE:
OR, A
M0ilnioiibh Wrecker's Yarn.

- Olef a
Moilnlouth Wrecker's Yarn.
It is easy to describe Captain Ben Con.
over. OF powerful frame without being
tall, quick in motion and speech, with a
IsdHats Honest face, where many years of
rough sertice have not left line, with
certain sHiack OF the sea which we always
End in those wh0 . f6llow the water" be-
hold & Cap'n Ben" as he is universally
called. the oldest and most experienced
wrecker On the Jersey coast.
Meeting hirs TIC 0fhef' day on board
the HighiahH Light. Swas surprised to
hear, him predict northeaster." I.
Yot don't appreheud storm so soon.
do yohY We've had three days fog
and that ought to bring 6ne weather &C
cording to the signs"
s. Pity the clark O. the weather don't
kGisw all the signs, so he could make It
to slit. Now my Signs says we'll have a
northeaster before to morrow morning.
and I'm thinking there'll be work for me
'longshore."
Captain Ben is The only really weather
Wise person | ever knew. He seems to
know from instinct what others can only
guess at; for, spite of the almanac and
other equally credible authority. I main.
tain that with our present knowledge,
We can foretell nothing of the Weather
from observation.
That three days fox notion seems to
hang on like" says the observing wreck.
Ur. 49,.
Fast il, Tapn Ben. never did see a
storm come out Of along fog"
Well, Saxon. / have"-Saxon being
long shore nickname Of mine. 1.-The
big blow of '3S came on in that Way
You were young I'm then; bat you may
remember the North s4merica drove
ashore on the Hook, and filled up the old
Shrewsbury Inlet. / was anchor sweep
ing with Jake Thompson that year, and
lost my sloop the same night, With old
Sam on board.
That must have been heavy loss to
you. Cap'n Ben. You we're young man
tlen?
Yes. the Juliet was my Grst sloop.
and thought at the time twas pretty
hard pdll; but if IL hadn't been for old
Sam ! should GoHit that, storm pretty
much clear gain after ALL"
This ambigh6hs phrase, and the Wreck
er's peculiar smile, give me to understand
there was story Forthcoming, so secu,
ring c6hple of st6ols near the red little
stove. and being Seated, EXPRESSED my
readiness to listen.
You know" continued the old man,
there was no wrcckihg statiUhs In them
days, only two or three of Us kept boats
at bad places 'long.shere. had one just
below Deal, and after got together q
crew for her and set a watch On the
beach. made leg for Long Branch, Where
Uncle Jerry had big old barge. She
had been good sea boat, but her tim.
bers were so worm eaten you could punch
a piece out with your finger. Uncle
Jerry was laid up with rhumatiz, and
knew his boys would go off in her if need
come, SO thought I'd better be with
them. for in heavy sea she'd want nice
Handling to keep her from bein' knocked
to chips. :. ).
Il ieft the juliet Tuesday morning and
got to Uncle Jerry's about high Water
Wednesday. and foHud young ferry
that was then--un watch Under lee of the
barge, at place called South Cove,
where the shore bends In pretty sharp
for mile or SO. ard then takes short
turn back. making bay shaped like a
fish hook, with the blight to southland
Across the mouth of this bay is long
bar that runs dry at low water, and
worse place, in q northeaster, / don't
want to see.
Jerry told me the North Anfsricd was
wrecked in the inlet and said the boys
had g5he up there at daylight. M
~ Then you've stood watch all the
morning alonej says I.
- Yes be says, | came down at low
water aud been here ever since.
- Well, Jerry, guess six hours out
IN such storm is enough fer one man.
You go the house and get on dry, and
don't hurry back either. Some Of the
boys will be down from the Hook before
dinner time
| overhauled the boat and found they
had got her 10 pretty good order, and
then took tramp q little further up
shore. b
"The tide was full up. and the storm
about at worst. The surf on the bar
was really awful. | have seen many
storm there since. but never when the sea
seemed TO get up as it did that day. II
would roll up on to the fat, three great
swefis together, and then chop up into a
thousand smaller seas. combing and
treating all ways at once. As / stood
booking at the Bar, thinking what poor
chance Would be for anything THAT
might 60 on there. old Tommy Wayman
Came along, and was going past, up to
the house, without seeing me, the cape Of
| his cloak blowing all over his face. L