Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-14
ADescent Into the MaelstrOm.
By EDGAR ALLAN POE.

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE. 81
We had now been about ten minutes upon
the top of Helseggen, to which we ascend
ed from the interior of Lofoden,
so that we had caught no glimpse
Of the sea until it had burst upon
us from the summit. i became, aware of a
loud and gradually increasing sound, like
the moaning of vast herd of buffaloes
upon an American prairie; and at the
same moment perceive that what seamen
term the chOpping character of the ocean
beneath us, was rapidly changing into a
current, which set TO the eastward. ia
blSuddeniy this whirling movement assum-
ed distinct and definite existence, iii acir-
Gle of more than a mile in diameter. The
edge of the whirl was represented by a
broad belt of cleaning spray; but no par
ticle of this slipped into the mouth of the
terrific fuRnel whose interior, as far as the
eye could fathom tt, was q smooth, shining
and iet-black wall of water, inclined to the
horizon at an angle of some forty-five de-
grees, speeding dizzily round and round
with aswaying and sweltering motion, and
sending forth to the winds an appalling
Voice-half shrek, half roar-such as not
even the mighty cataract OF Niagars ever
lifts up in its agony to heaven.
"You have had agood look at the whirl
new, W,ntsaid the old man; land if you will
creep round this crag, so as to get in its lee,L
and deaden the roar, of the water, will tell
you story thatiwill convince you ought
90 know something of the Moskoe- -strom.n
II placed myself as desired, and he pro-
ceeded:
Myself and my two brothers once own
ed a schooner-rigged smack, of about sew
enty tons burden, with which we were in
the habit'of fishing among the islands be-
yoad Moskoe, nearly to Vurrgh. In all
violent eddies at sea, there is good fishing
at proper Opportunities, if one has only the
hat H.
whole of the LofOden coastmen, we three
were the only ones who made regular
business of going out to the islands, as 1
tell you.
~it is now within few days of three
years since what 1 aIn going to tell you oc-
CURED. 1t was on the 10th of July, 1S-. a
day which people of this part of the
world will never forget for it was one in
which blew the most terrible hurricane that
ever came out of the heavens. And yet all
the morning, and, indeed, until late in the
noon, there was a gentle and steady breeze
from the southwest, while the sun shone
brightly, so that the oldest seamen among
as could not have foreseen what was to fol-
low.
"The three of us-my- two brothers and
myself-had crossed over to the Islands
about two o'clock p. NJ, and had soonnear-
" loaded the smack with fine fish, which,
We all remarked, were more plentiful that
just seven by my watch when we weighed
and started for home. so as to make the
worst of the Strom at slack water, which
we knew would be at eight.
$sSucha hurricane as then blew tits folly
to attempt describing. The Oldest seaman
in waynever experienced any thing like
it. We had let our sails go by the run be-
fore it clearly took us; but, at the first puff.
both our masts went by the board as If they
had been sawn off-the main mast taking
with it, my younger brother, who had
lashed himself to it for safety.
'Our boat was the hghtest feather of
thing that ever sat upon water. It had
complete flush deck, with only a small
hatch near the bow; and this hatch it had
always been our custom to batten down
when about to cross the Strom, by way OF
precautiOn against the chopping seas. But
for this circumstances we should have
foundered at once, for we lay entirely bur
fed for some moments. How my elder
brother escaped destruction I cannot say
For my part, as soon as 4 had let the fore
sail,run, threw myself flat an the deck,
with my feet against the narrow gunwale
Of the bow, and with my hands gEasping a.
fing-bolt near the foot of the foremast. It
was mere Instinct that prompted me to do
Shis-=which was undoubtedly the very best
thing could have done-foE was too
much furried to think.
bgsF'or some moments we were completely
deluged, as say, and all the time held
nv breath, and clung to the bolt. When f
could stand it no longer, raised myself
unOn nv knees, still keeping hold with
my hands, and thus got my head clear!
Presently our little boat gave herself
shake. lust as dog does in coming out of
the water, and thus rid herself, in some
measure. of the seas. l was now trying to
get better Of the stupor that had come over
me. and to collect my senses so as to see
what was to be done, when felt somebody
grasp my arm. It was my elder brother,
and my.heart leaped for joy, had made
sure that he was overheard; but the next
moment all this Joy was turned to horror.
for he nut his mouth close to my ear and
screamed out the word tMoskOe-strOm.'
mo one ever will know what my feel
iugsrvere at shat cmomentss shook from
hesxl5to foot as II 1 had had the most violent
If Of the agne. knew what he meant py5
that one word well ehOng h-I knew What
he wished to make me understand. with
the wind that now drove US on we were
bound for the whirl OF the StroIn, and
nothing could save US. Y ,1 e .osgk
81 nv. this time the first fury of the tenn
nest had spent itself, or perhaps, we did not
feel 81 30 much as we scudded before 1t
hrt. at all events, the seas, which at first had
5een KENT down by the wind, and lay fiat
and frothing, now got up into absolute
mouutafns.f A. singular change, too, had
oauae over the heayenss around, IN every
direction. It was still as black as pitch, Dut1