Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-02-19
..-EAIrII II.I.lIsTRATRp.

ec1S anu tuCAi SICNS- vi budl COdSl. L ue
wind had blown strongly from the north
east for day or two; and as it increased
to gale, fears were entertained for the
safety of a fine ship, WHICH had been from
the commencement of the north-easter ~
ing off in the bay, apparently without any
decision on the part of her officers which
way TO direct her course, and who had
once or twice refused the offer of a pilot.
On the morning of the Sabbath, many
an old weather beaten tar was seen stand
ing on the highest point of land in the
place, looking anxiously at her through his
glass; and the mothers listened with trem-
bling to his remarks on the apparently
doomed vessel. Shewas completely land
locked, as the sailors say, THAT is surroun-
ded by land, , except in the direction from
which thewind blew; as between her and
the shore extensive sand banks intervened
her destruction was inevitable, unless she
could make the harbor.a - .sa.
{ At length a number of resolute men,
perfectly acquainted with the intricate nav
igation of the bay and harbor, put off in a
small schooner, determined, if possible, to
bring herinto port. A tremendous sea
was rolling in the bay, and as the little yes
sci made her way out Of the harbor the
scene became of deep and exciting inter
est Now lifted up on the top of dark
wave, seemed trembling on the verge of
destruction; then plunging into the trough
of the sea, was lost from our view, not
even the tops of her masts being visible,
though probably twenty feet high; lands
man would have exclaimed. "She has
gone to the bottom Thus alternately ris-
ing and sinking, she at length reached the
ship, hailed, and rendered pilot, which
was again refused. Irritated by the refu-
sal the skipper put his little vessel about,
and stood in for the harbor, when gun
was discharged from the laboring vessel,
and the signal for pilot run up to her
masthead. faaa
The schooner was laid to the wind, and
as the ship came up he was directed to
the lighthouse, when another sea would
allow them to run alongside and put pi-
lot on board. In few minutes the YES
sells came side 20 side; passing each other
the pilot springing into the ships chains,
was soon upon her deck.
The mysterious movements of the vessel
were explained. She had taken pilot
some days before, who was ignorant of his
duty, and the crew, aware of his incompe-
tency, were almost in state of mutiny.-
When first hailed from the schooner, the
captain was below, but hearing the false
pilot return the hail, went on deck, and,
deposing him of his trust at once reversed
his answer by firing the signal gun.
The new pilot having made the necessa-
ry inquiries about working the ship, re-
quested the captain and his trustiest man
to take the wheel; gave orders for the sta
tons of the men; and charged the cap
tain on peril of his ship, not to change her
course hand-breadth but by his ORDER
His port and bearing were thoseof man
confident IN his knowledge and ability to
save the vessel; and as the sailors winked
at each other and said, "That is none of
your land sharks, it was evident that con-
fdence and hope were reyiving within
them.
All the canvass she could bear was now
spread to the gale, and while the silence
of death reigned on board, she took her
way on the larboard tack, directly toward
the foaming breakers On, on she flew,
until it seemed from the proximity to
those breakers, that her destruction was
inevitable, "Shall put her about!" shou-
ted the captain, in tones indicative of In
tense excitement. Steady" was the
calm reply of the pilot, when the sea was
boiling like cauldron under her bows
In another moment the same calm, hold
voice pronounced the order a ht;out ship.''
and she turned her hee5,, from the break
ers, and stood boldly off on the other
tack,
hHe knows what he is about said the
captain to the man at his side. "He is an
old salt, sailor every yarn of him, was
the language of the seamen one to another,
and the trembling passengers began to
hope. The ship now neared two sunken
rocks, the places of which were marked
by the angry breaking and boiling of the
sea; as she seemed driving directly on
them, " Full and steady" was pronounced
IN tones of calm authority by the pilot,
who stood with folded arms in the ships
bows, the water drenching him complete
ly as it broke over the bulwarks, She
passed safely between them; the order for
turning on the other tack was given, and
again she stood towards the fearful break
ers Nearer and nearer she came and
still no order from the pilot, who stood
Ike statue, calm and unmoved amidst
the raging elements. The vessel labored
hard, as the broken foaming waves roared
around her, and seemed Just on the verge
Of striking, when "About ship" in
voice like thunder, rose above the fury of
the tempest. Again she stood upon the
starboard tack, and soon entered the har-
Dor and cast anchor IN safety. One hour
later she could not have been rescued, for
by the time she reached her anchorage,
no vessel could have carried rag of sail
in the open bay. Ship, crew, and passen-
gers, more than one hundred in all, must
have perished. When the order was CIV
en- to "back the fore topsail, and let 90
the anchor" a scene ensued which battles
the description of the painter or poet
The captain sprung from the wheel and
caught the pilot in his arms; the sailors
and passengers gathered round. Some
hung upon his neck, others embraced his
knees, and tears streamed down the faces
of old seamen, who had weathered many
a storm, and braved untold dangers. All
were pressing forward, if only to grasp the
hand of their deliverer in token of graft
tude.
And now for the application-Thes ships
creso had faith d, their pilot He came out
of the very harbor into which they sought
entrance. Of course he kqeW the Way
Tier faith amounted to confidence. They
gave up the ship to his direction-H vds
an obedient confidence. They did not say
g He viii save us" and sit down indolently
and neglect his orders The helm was
the sails were trimmed, and every