Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-06-22
OLD SERIES,

t~++tt~ - - - AAAAA ~ NOAaAAAE ~ ne
ship; bat the mates did not require hrs as
sistance in any way. nor did they trosble
him a. all. beyond OccasionAlly consulting
hin. for forms sake tbsy we're both first
rate seamen. and Mr.. Gilbert. ss became
has position a. Erst officer. vas good nav
igator. almost a. good. it was Considered.
A. the captain himself Bot 6rst male in
1iioerts sltuziion. with an iaespabie CON-
Eander. - deciaeslly ia false position be
hss ali the responsibility on bis sboolders
without beng legally IN charge Of the ship.
- far. ho-escr. all bad gone on very
vel. and ~ hoped that &c we're going TO
make smart passage. and Be the first ship
Of the season. notwithstanding osr unhappy
delay Bat oar good fortune was coming
70 close When ne we're somewhere
about 30 deg north latitude it came on 20
blow very heavily from the vest, and the
weather sas thick. with good deal Of rain.
know that tins made Mr. Gilbert very IN
easy. for 90 were getting close upon the
Western lslands. and had heard ham talk
ing 10 Mr.. MOnsen about sigbting them.
and taking fresh departure - Bot in
the thick ~eather and stroug westerly gales
there was nothing ior it. he considered. bot
giyiug them a vide berth. aad Intended 70
keep veil 70 windward Of Flores. And
this. presume. be- considered be had sue
ceeded m dong. Tor Tie night after heard
has conversation with Mouseu. they both
came down belo~ together. to look Al tie
chart.
They had not much Opportunity Tor tax
ing observations. bat / suppose Gilbert vas
satisfied :hAt we had weaiherel the island.
for alter prieking of the ship on the chart.
be- decided on altering her course tao points
or 90. rounding IN the weAther braces. and
shaking a reef out ofthe topsais This a.
teration IN our course made almost a fair
Wind Tor us. and a. We had been hammer
ing away for the last two or three days close
hauled under short canvas in dirty weather.
Il vas good news 10 all on board. But &c
were rather premature in our rcioicing.
That very night. jur; A. the fret mate va
turning IN (for De- had not been in Lis berth
during the iast two nights. and now that
his mind va a. ease he resolved % have
four hours' sleeP.) the lockout on the FORE
castle shouted " Breakers aheadr~
Mr.. Gilbert vas on deck m an is.tant.
and gave his orders promptly AMI coolly.
" Down ~ith the helm. raise tacks ard
sheets Bot ii vas too late the only dif-
ference vas. that the ship vent crashing
broaisidc on o. the ref instead of bows
on. 4 caoice oi two evils With vengeance.
As sle struck. the ioremasi vent over the
side AZ once. dragging With ii the main-top
mast. AM there hy the bonuy q" Dryad. -
almost on her beam ends. smashing and
tearing herself % pieces on a reef CT the
shore ofthe island which poor Gilbert had
dauered himself De- bad wcatbered 80 clev-
crly. TIE slip continued beaiinr very
heavily, and the sea broke clean over her
waist bot though there was not much shell
tee anyuhcrc, tbc qaar'er-d deek vas com
paratively secure. and fberc-wc aI. officers
AID mon. bciook ourselves. A she lay
18th Der deck towards che shore. she made
a lee ior us on that side and that. 90 far.
vas a iortunaic circumstances.
To oar surprise. ibs captain seemed 70
bavc completely recovered his senses be
uas perfectly cool and collected. lie bian-
"a himself and no one else. for ihe los Of
thc ship. and consulted sith the mates a.
% whether The cutter. could swim ia the
sea ihat uas running. and whether they
voul De- suil-ient O. bold an the people.
DO vas extremely doubtisl whether tLey
sogIl Do onc thing Or fbc other but BE- or
dcrcd them o. lc sscn clear. al rcady for
io-criug. ani then said " Ny laIs. fbs
saip uil no doubt slick Together until dat-
break d ~e can manage 90 hod on az
then. uc shall have a better chance of get.
ting Ashore by that fimc. COO. the wcather
may have moderated. o. would Le more
dangerous % attempt % and no~ than Be- D.
t1 stay by tls ship lie then ordered ne
OBJ 60 dosu sifl fhe males into tse cabin.
to fry to Jay our hands spou tbe biue-hghts
also cone cartridges f9r two small suiveis.
which ue bad ou ihe tafraI Moreover.
he directed mc t1 bring up s8me sine or
spirits. to serse oct to The crew lhis
Damaged t1 eleci 9TH some diGicuity aad
very ss,fs. the allowance was io tbs uot
aal shitering men. We lcsrneI after.
wards that our b.ue-lights ard gems ccrfaia-
ly gave notice 90 tbc people on the island
Of our whercabouis. boz proiacei 90 other
effect nor. INDEED. did ve iook f5r mach
assistance from, shore
dreary night ve rsssed. nor vhcn the
day broke "a ne prospect n1ch more in-
snifiiing but thai or rommanssrss sa.i-e