Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-01-18
The Drunken Pilot.

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A spirited letter-writer in the N. Y
Tribune gives description of voyage he
and few friends made on the coast Of
Maine, in which they encountered the dan.
gers of shipwreck and loss of life at the
hands of topper. Read shipmates, and
take warning:
1t was now nigh high tide, and the skip
per, who had been on shore seeking for a
pilot, came on board with one of the Deer
Islanders, singularly queer looking fell
low, who had offered for half dollar to
navigate the sloop through the channel
We hoisted sail Immediately, and with a
boisterous wind, were soon scudding over
the places on which | had walked dry
shod but few hours before. 1t was a
sufficiently perilous passage There was
little enough water anywhere, and the
channel was diversified by huge patches of
rocks, some sunken and others rising to the
surface. Our new pilot, instead of at
tending to his duty, gave himself wholly
up to the contemplation Of a heap Of sea
cucumbers, the fruits of the Professor S
dredging, which lay on deck. He was
very voluble when he first came on board.
But the moment his eyes lig GIFTED on these
strange animals he was struck dumb with
astonishment. He fell on his hands and
knees before the heap, which he scrutin-
lied in every possible way, by handling,
smelling, and touching with his tongue
Meantime we were running at furious
rate amid rocks and shoals, which the old
pilot at the helm was avoiding as best he
could, until the anxious Skipper, forget
ting in alarm for our safety his habitual
politeness, touched the new conner with
his foot, and told him to get up and mind
his business.
He rose reluctantly to his feet, his eyes
still fixed on the sea-cucumbers, excaim-
ing, Lor-a-mighty gosh ninety, what are
ye going to do with them"
Cook EN-" said the Assyrian, who had
been eyeing the fellow with intense dis
gust, and if we get on the rocks we'll
cook you; 50 you had better look out
sharp"
The hint was taken, and the Islander
Withdrawing his gaze from the sea-cucum-
bers glanced at the surrounding waters,
and presently gave to our old Pilot some
directions how to steer. Here new diff.
Guilty arose. The old man did not COM
prehend the terms used by the new conner,
and for awhile great confusion and uproar
ragged on the sloop, which seemed likely
to terminate only in her going to pieces
on the rocks The two pilots grew angry
and excited, and hurled their mutual
wrath at each other from the adverse ends
of the vessel, till the Skipper interposed
and took upon himself the part of inter-
prefer. .
For little while everything went we'll
enough, till the irresistible sea-cucumbers
again attracted the Islanders attention.
Quitting his post at the bow, he ran to the
heap and fell again on his knees to exam
inc them, asking at the same time vol
ley of incohercnt questions, The rrltated
Skipper, seizing him by the arm, led him
back to the bow, where he talked to him
earnestly for minute or two, and then
came aft to the cockpit, where we were all
gathered. The fellows as drunk as u
loon" he whispered to US through his set
teeth. Il didn't find it out till just now.
Twill be wonder if we ever get safe III
to the Reach with such fellow as that. y
Here was pleasant prospect, trul y
The wind was Glowing almost gale; and
as we knew by our own examination while
the tide was out, the channel through
which we were passing abounded with
reefs and shoals, The sobcrest Pallnurus
would have found it hard enough, appar-
entity, to guide vessel through; and we
were trusting to the skill Of drunken
loafcr, whose wits at the best were evil
IDENTIFY none Of the brig htest or stcadiest,
70 do the fellow justice, however, he did
know the channel perfectly, and we got at
last safely into Elgemoggln Reach, 4
broad sound running for several miles be-
tween Deer Island and the mainland,-
+ With this sound our scamen were well ac-
ouainted, and besides, we had good chart
Of it, so that We nee led no further pilot
age.
There was something in the aspect OF
the Deer Islander which strongly excited
the ire Of the Assyrian, who stepped up
to him as he was about to get into the
dory to be rowed ashore by the Skipper
and, taking him gently by the throat, sol
cmnly admonished him never to undertake.
while drunk, to act as pilot, assuring hun
that he had run very close chance of be-
ing flung overheard, and might not, on a
second like occasion, escape so easily
lie gave him a few shakes to settle this
advice in his memory, and then politely
assisted him into the dory, which the skip
per was holding alongside,
The fellow appeared to be somewhat
abashod by the Assyrian's parting injunct
ion, and hung his head in silence.
Tho Herald correspondent says tha
South Carolina in taking Corciblc possession
,,r,pnrtv and in seIZInr thu