The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-10

1t was night of pitchy darkness. AT four
bells in the first watch not a breath Of air
was stirring, and the drenched sails, wet by
the afternoon and evening rains, hung heav-
ly from the yards or tapped against the
masts and rigging, as the shipped rolled
lazily on the long laden swells of the Pacific
Ocean. A number of days had passed with
out an observation Of the sun or stars, and
they had to run by dead reckoning and
were not, therefore, sure of their latitude or
longitude. They might be nearer danger
than they thought. The captain had gone
below at eight, but feeling troubled about
the portentous appearance of the weather,
was unable to sheep, and was on deck again,
walking nervously fore and aft, now looking
on this side and then on the other side of the
quarter deck, looking anxiously out into the
darkness, then aft, then at the compass, and
then at the barometer which hung in the
cabin gangway. Round and round went the
ship, needless Of her helm, and the mercury
told the same tale it had told for hours be-
fore. In vain did the eyes of anxious men
peer into the darkness only inky 5Iackness
met their strainng gaze everywhere. Thus
matters stood till six bells, when the mercu-
ry began to fall rapidly. The quick, jerking
voice of the captain was then heard.
Mr.. Smalley, you may take in the light
sails
'Ay, ay, sir and stepping to the main
mast he called out 'For'ard, there : and was
immediately answered, 'For'ard sir Stand
by the top gallant and the fying-sib hal
yards
In moment he heard the report, ready,
sir.
Let go the halyards and clew down let
go the sheets and clew up; thatll do; belay
all; now jump up and furl them; be lively,
lads
While this was going on the captain took
another look at the barometer, and found the
mercury still going down fast. Thoroughly
aroused now, he caught his speaking trum-
pet from the brackets and sung ont, Hold
on, there; down from aloft, every man Of
you, call all hands, Down came the men
again. 'All hands ahoy,' was called with
great strength of voice at both the cabin and
fore-castle gangways, and then followed one
of those scenes which deies such descrip-
tion as would make it ineligible to lands
man, but which any sailor readily under
stands. The top sails were close reefed, a
reef taken in the mainsail, the glib, and fly-
ing Glib, and all the light sails were furled,
and the ship made ready for the expected
gale. But yet no breath of air had been felt
moving, while an unnatural stiffness and
heaviness of the atmosphere was observed
by all. Several of the seamen saw dim
purple streak suddenly appear right ahead
of the ship, and called out, Here it comes,
SIR
sWhereT said the captain.
Right ahead, SIR .....-
Hard port your helm
Hard a port it is, SIR
Brace round the yards
'Ay, ay, SIR
The yards were braced around and the ship
was got ready to receive the expected blast
on the larboard tack. That dreadful streak
of cloud grew almost crimson; and there
was heard what they thought was the heavy
roar of the coming gale, and every man seem
ed to hold his breath awaiting the coming
shock. Good men and courageous sailors
were on that ships deck, and they shrunk
from the terrible onslaught like frightened
children. When God speaks in those storms
His voice is awful to the ear, and many
strong man has quailed before it. And the
storm itself is scarcely more trying to ones
nerves than the moment before it strikes,
while men wait in dreadful suspense
Thus those men waited till the minutes
heightened into hours, and the only change
perceptible was in the deepening color of that
lowering cloud Of crimson light. At length
eight bells told that four o'clock had arrived
and daylight was looked for as those men i'm
the ship with Paul looked for it when they
wished for day But the struggling light
of the day seemed only to reveal the thick
ness of the darkness to the wandering vision.
just at daylight their ears were stunned with
successive, quick reports, louder than whole
broadsides from hundred guns, the whole
heavens were lighted up with fiery red
| light. the ocean was stirred from her nro
found depths; great waves. without any Wis
ible cause ran in the most awful commotion,
now striking together and throwing the white
foam and spray high in the air and parting
to meet sgain in fearful embraces; school
Of sperm whales ran at the ships bows, ma
king every exertion to escape from the
strangely troubled water; within few cable
lengths Of the ship an immense column OF
water was thrown mast head high, and fell
back again with roar like Niagara; a deep
mornful noise, like the echo of thunder
among mountain caverns, was constantly
heard, and none could tell whence il came
the noble ship was tossed and shaken like a
olaything. Great God, have mercy upon
us 7 cried officers and men, What is this
What is coming next? 1t is the day ofjudg
ment! The royal Psalmist described them
accurately. They reel to and fro, and stag
ger like a drunken man, and are at theil
wits end Soon the mystery was solved
when right before their eyes, about one leagu,