The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-09

had been thinking about, while he
had been pacing the deck so silently
during the last two or three hours;
and |, for one, didn't envy him in his
reflections. rg f.
What he could ha e done a few
hours before, very easily, he was go
ing to do now; when it would not only
be difficult, but would cause great loss
of time into the bargain. Ay, and
what was worse, it would probably be
too late. For when we first sighted
the vessel In distress there was no
more than a fresh breeze, and very
little sea; now there was a considera-
BILE sea running, and the wind had
freshened, so that, as we worked to
windward, it was like half gale: and
under the canvas we were carving.
our good ship heeled over to it hand
somely, and took the seas over her in
great style.
Nevertheless we did not make much
way, or at least that was our cantain's
opinion, for when we wore ship at six
bells, he said to the first mate, We
will get the mainsail on her, Mr.. Gill
BERT @
Upon my word, sir, she has got as
much as she can stagger under, and [
don't think she can bear it, replied
the mate; the first time, [ think, that
[ ever heard him offer a remonstrance.
= She must bear it, sir " was the re-
ply. 8 Send the people aft to the
mainsheet, and let some good hand
tend the buntilines."
q Well, when she had got the sheet
aft and the tack down, / hoped he was
satisfied. The ship certainly went
faster through the water, and held
better wind, but she careened over so
that our lee chains were under water,
and she trembled all over as the sea
struck and deluged her deck, fore and
aft Thus we kept carrying on all
night, wearing ship about every two
hours or so. and mostly with all hands
on deck
The night was tolerable bright ex-
cept when the heavy clouds drove
across the face of the moon; but no
ship did we see. At seven bells in
the morning watch, the wind had
risen so much that Captain Harris
very unWillingly gave orders to hand
top gallant-sails, double reef the top
sails, and haul up the main sail. I'm
der this shortened canvas we still kept
beating to windward, and | knew. by
the constant, anxious look-o kept
by the mates, that they calculated we
were somewhere near the spot where
the distressed ship was last seen; but
no, the day dawned, the sun rose, but
the clear expanse all around us was
unbrOken. The ship t0oS go,aei With
out orders, Mr.. Monsell took his tele-
scope up into the main top mast cross
trees, and there he stayed for a quar-
ter of an hour or more When he
came down, Captain Harrison asked
him no questions. There was no
need; the grave look Of his face told
its own story.
All that fore noon we kept stretch
ing to windward, though every on
board, not excepting the Captain,
must have known that it was too late;
but about midday Captain Harrison
said to the first mate land his voice
was hoarse and strange), "You can
put the helm up, Mr. Gilbert, square
the yards, shake out the reefs, and
keep her away on her course" With
that he came down below, and went,
without speaking, into the after cabin.
At first [ did not venture to disturb
him, but after waiting about quarter
of an hour | fancied that heard him
groan; so, by way of an excuse for
intruding upon him, | got him wine,
and taking it into the cabin, asked
him to take some, saying that | knew
he must feel in want of some refresh |
ment. He was sitting with his elbows
resting upon the table. and his face
hidden between his hands
When / spoke to him he looked up
and stared at me as if he did not right
fully understand what said, and then
dropped his head between his hands
again-so / laid the wine in the swing |
ing tray and left the cabin. Upon my
life | pitied him. A man may make |
mistake and rectify it-but Captain |
Harrison's case was a terrible one.
He had left undone what he ought to |
have done; and in beating his ship to
windward under a dangerous press of |
sail, we had all witnessed his desper-
ate endeavors to set right what he had |
left wrong-but who can describe the |
depth of his sorrow, and the bitter |
ness of his self-reproach, when he
found that those efforts were made in |
vain? Too late!-Ah, it is a bitter
word to say.
TCONCLIIDED IN oITR NExT