Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-01-26
storm Off Cape Horn.

storm Off Cape Horn.
The breeze had been fresh all-day. Our
gallant ship, with every sail set, rushed
through the water at the rate of ten knots
an hour, on her course to San Francisco. -
As night closed in, however, dark masses Of
clouds began to gather to N.Idward, and
soon rolled heavily, gloomiy, over the
whole sky, threatening Us with a storm.
The wind had not yet increased, and we all
hoped it would not as for the last few weeks
the weather had been very rough, and all
hands were nearly worn out. Nevertheless
our captain seemed anxious Coming on
deck frequently with his pea.jacket on and
sou -wester tied under his chin, he paced
the deck rapidly, talking in low tones to the
mate, with his eyes to windward. The
night grew dark, darker, until it was almost
impossible to see. Everything was quiet
on deck. The men, gathered together, lis
tened to the dull moaning of the waves and
the sound of the wind as it swept through
the cordage.
Eight bells struck: our watch was reliev
ed for the next four hours As we hasten
ed below, | heard an old tar grumble: No
ed, L wish we were in HI, or out Of this.
Sleep had scarcely closed our eyes before
the cry of ''lAll hands on deck aroused US
roughly from our slumbers, and many
dream of home.
Fastening on deck we found the snow
falling fast, and the wind blowing gale
The sky above was black, but to windward
blacker, gloomier. One dark mass of i'm
penetrable night spread itself like pail
over us. The order was given to furl the
mizzen royal. l sprang alott-scarcely
reaching the end Of my journey upwards
before the storm burst upon us with terrible
fury 1t was impossible for me alone to
furl the sail, so let it flap. Seating my
self on the yard as comfortably as circum
stances would permit to wait for assistance,
began to enjoy the scene at an elevation Of
an hundred and fifty feet above the raging
waves. On deck there seemed to reign the
utmost confusion Lantern lights were
glancing here and there Ever and anon
could family be heard the hoarse tones of
command, and the wild cry of the men as
they strained at the ropes. Snow and sleet
fell in binding torrents. The wind shrek,
ed wildly. The waves rolled at an awfu
height, dashing themselves against our shiI
as if anxious for our total destruction. -
Rolling and pitching, our brave ship strug
gled and tossed about like chip, one min
and seeming for few seconds to be suspen
did in mid air, then pitching forward, tn,
bows would be buried deep in the black wa
ters. Rolling from one side to the other
the waves dashed over our bulwarks whilst
the timbers groaned and creaked, and every
mast, rope, and beam was strained to the
utmost. A sailor soon came to my he'll and
the sail was furled.
Returning to the deck, we found the men
toiling at the pump. Our ship was leak
ing. Long we worked, with difficulty keep
ing our feet, for the rolling of the vessel
No one raised a song as the wheel of the
pump went round and round, but wet,
cold, hungry, gloomy, weary, we grasped
the tail rope, "a rope fastened to the pump
breake, by which the pumps are worked, }
and still toiled on. Now heavy booming
sound startled us. Rushing forward, we
found one Of the sails torn loose, and flap
ping madly in the wind. Before it could be
taken in there was nothing left but tatters.
Still the wind blew fercer, and the waves
rolled higher. Day dawned almost like
night-dark, gloomy, cheerless
With crash the main sail split; all hands
were ordered alott to furl it. The rigging
was covered with men and the sail stiff
with ice. For four hours we labored, until
Jul lCCU utu Iu scusC vi lilC III
them, and we struck them against each 9TH
er to bring back the warm blood. Once the
sail blew over our heads all held fast for
their lives; one poor fellow was dashed over
board, and found grave in the blue, briny
ocean he loved so well. No effort was made
to save him. We left him to struggle
alone, knowing it might be our fate the next
minute.
At last, with great effort, we succeeded
! in furling the mainsail and returned to the
deck again Throughout that whole day
the storm ragged the waves frequently
dashing over the vessel in mass five and
ten feet deep, and carrying everything be-
fore them Often completely buried in
salt water we were forced to cling fast to
the ropes and rigging to prevent ourselves
from being swept into destruction. To
wards night the gale began to abate and
when morning again broke we found our
selves becamcd not breath of air was
stirring, although the sea still ran very
high.
Many more storms like the one | have
described, were We forced to encounter be-
fore we succeeded in doubling the dreaded
Cape /; but at last fine weather. Every
stitch of canvass was once more spread, and
joyfully We steered our course for Frisco
Bay