Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-11


her downstroke, and then vault in over the
rail 10 the top ot the cylinder cover, before
she came up again. Taking the spanner
to screw down the glade Angovc awaited
the proper moment, and vaulted over the
rail :; but at that instant the ship took a
heavier roll than ordinary, his foot slip.
ped on the greasy, sloping surface of the
false cover. AMI he had the narrowest es-
cape possible from being precipitated head
long among the working parts of the ma
cliinery. lie saved himself just in time by
catching hold of the cylinder cioss head
but this cross head worked up to within,
half an inch of one of the dcckbcams, and
before he could withdraw his hand the two
were nearly close together the smalIes,
conceivable space of time longer, and his
hand would have been crushed between
them such close work was it indeed, tina.
he actually felt the squeeze, and the skin
was red with the pressure.
know was terribly frightened. ana
started up pale and horror struck but An
grove finished his work coolly, yaultcd ou
again over the rail, and seated himself a,
my side. IA little pale, but perfectly calm
and self f-possesscd, and smoked away his
lSfS"i uS ~ hothiuS uui HlppcuCu.
My dear fellow. | cried, what narrow
escape! thought it w;s all over with YOU
Yes indeed, he said, it was close work.
But, thank God, it is all right. A very
small fraction of a second longer Hooking
at his hand--and my power of using ham
mer and chiscl wouldn't have been of
much account.
We sat for some minutes without spca k
lug both, no doubt, meditating ON wha
had occurred and then full of the snljcct
| said.
1T must be very dangerous work, going
about the engines in really bad weather!
Yes. it is, he said, especially in some
engine-rooms nearly as bad, think as
it is for the sailors to go alo(t. But have
always been very fortunate.
Did YOU never meet with an accident!
asked
NO he replied but was very neal
ono oncc.--a worse one perhaps than even
this would have been, and yet it Vas mol
exactly an accident either.
w hat was it thenr asked.
We'll he said it is subject on Which
have never told the whole story to any
one; but think sufficiently long tim,
has elapsed, and may as we'll give it te
You since You are pleased to say You like
hearing my little adventures.
1T was many years ago, when the Cali
fornian gold digsings We're attrac ting ev
cry hody's attention. that | went out ar
third engineer of a steamer from Panam;
to san Francisco. liked the captain very
much, ana | had known him by sight be
fore though he did not know me for 8;
short tlmc previously, he had several tlmc'
come OF board ship I" which then be
longcd at New ork. to see the Captain
who was friend of his.
Once or ihice. nc had brought of his wilt
and iItuc daughter with hiin'-Snch ;
sweet. iadv-i!kc Young Woinaii' anu such
dear little grill rccoiicct taking then
down once and showing the cnSlnrs,-ant
he lady appeared so fond oi her husband
| wondered how he could leave them IL
come ON this station. III that lawless timt
u! go!d-seekins. Onr Chief engineer, too
"as good sort OF man, and one who knew
his work well the second was not la,
fellow either, though too iond OF his glass;
hnt the rest OF the officers and crew were
not pleasant sllp-matcs. The ship wa'
not comfortable one t. ne Ill any reSpcc
and soon determined that my first voyage
i'll her should be my last though we hat
first rate wages to induce us to stick by
the >hip at San Francisco, and not 90 ava!
10 The sold-digslnSs.
1--WE arrived out safely, without any ad
venture; but we had to waitea long tn'
there before We could sail ON our home
ward voyage. Notwithstanding. all pre-