Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-06-11

1OOl aS 10 think you could ever keeT n
straw Tor me but can't help ,elliR' how
true and honest love you. I'd die hap
py Tor you, Miss Mary, even If knowed
you never :hink o me again. | never
meant to tell you this and I'll never
say another word about it. But, my
God when ] think OF how love you, and
how there's Fifty thousand Atlantic oceans
between us, get wild. I've thought of
it some nights, Miss, till couldn't bear
it any longer, and I've jest jumped for
ard, and gone to lickin' the sailors to
keep from goin' crazy, and"
Gay, ay, sir .. he answered, and went
to meet his sober. but by no means sane
commander "Why hlin't you got the
to'gallant'ls set, sir? Didn't tell you TO
give her all she'd carry?'
"The fOre-to'-gallant-yard's n little
sprung, sir, and was not sure of its bear
in the sail" answered Mr.. Jones.
"l'll do the thinking for the ship, Mr..
jones, if you've no objection" returned
the captain. "Sct the fore and mizzen-
to'gallantls, and don't start sheet until
| give you the word"
The top-galiant sails were sheeted
home, and the yards hoisted. The wind,
had been blowing stiff gale from the
eastward. She ship staggered and
plunged under her press OF canvas. The
captain walked the decks with quick,
nervous step. He was intensely irritable
from the effects Of his prolonged dcbaucb,
and, though quite sober, was goaded by
his unstrung nerves into reckless i'm
patience that found relief only in the ex-
citement of driving his ship to the utter
most of her capabilities. / listened with
uneasiness to the howling of the wind
through the rigging, and debated the
question, whether to &c to sleep, and so
forget the danger we were in, or to 90
on deck and make myself uncomfortable,
by watching for the disaster which / APP
pretended. My decision was quickened
by a sudden order from the captain.
"Mr. Jones, set the main-royal."
"Set the main-royal?'' repeated the
astonished second mate, in q doubtful
tone.
"Set the main-royal, sir! Do you
hear 2" roared the captain. "Loose all
three OF them, and set them instantly.
If YOU don't know how to sail ship
with fair wind, I'll show YOU"
Mr.. Jones hestitated no longer. In
few minutes the royals were spread to
the gale, but before the yards were trim
med | was on deck.
Miss Ellis had disappeared, and the
second mate was evidently averse to con-
versation. | noticed that man fingered
near the mizzen rigging after the rest or
the watch had gone forward. So, too,
the captain, who walked abruptly up to
the sailor, and demanded to know what
he was waiting for.
"Alr Jones ordered me to stand by
the halyards, SIR" answered the man.
$50 forward ~ yelled the captain.
"Alr. Jones, l want you to understand
that when Pun on deck | can sail this
ship without any of your interference.
Let me see any more of it, and I'll put
you in irons for for mutiny /; by"
Poor Mr.. Jones gave no answer.
Himself the most intolerent and cruel of
discipliLarians, he did not resent the
rating of bis commander. When the
amiable officer turned away his suborli-
nate passed over to the other side of the
deck, and leaned quietly against the
bulwarks.
An hour passed away. 1t was a star
less night, and to the danger OF running
ashore was added the other danger of a
possible collision with some passing YES
sci. l thought of this {; and was just
about to pick my way for ward, to salts
fy myself that the lookout was not
asleep. when the second mate suddenly
placed his hand to his ear, and bent tor
ward, as though listening intently. In
another moment a sharp, piercing cry
rang from the Breakers
ahead :"
"Let go yer royal and to'gallant hal
yards, fore and aft ~ roared the second
mate. ''Stand by yer top sail halyard.
Man the port braces, some of us and
stand by to slack the starboard braces.
Call all hands. Bout ship :"
But, while the light sails were yet
futtering in the caps, and before the
yards could be swung, so as TO change
the vessels course, she struck heavily,
bows on the main and fore top-gallant
masts going over the side, and dragging
mizzen topmast with them. At the
same moment. an enormous green sea
boarded us on the quarter, sweeping
away the wretchcd captain, several Of
the crew, and the first mate, who was on
deck a few seconds after she struck.
Luckily, was too far forward to receive
the full force of tie wave, and, as soon
as the deck was clear of water, Mr.. Jones
made his way to my side, and said, SEQ
below and bring the gal torrard to the
fo'castle. Steady, now /; and don't
get yourself overheard"
BY narrowly watching our opportu-
nifty, Dick, Miss Ellis, her father, and
myself managed to gain the forecastle
Mr.. Jones, bareheaded, and with his
coat of, was busilY experimenting the
cutting away of the masts and the clear
ing of the wreck, which was humping
against the side with dangerous violence
Relieved from the weight Of her top
hamper the ship rose somewhat and
drove further in upon the sand. The
seas boarded MS less frequently; but the
ship polnded on the beach with vio-
lence which placed her IN imminent dan-
ger of breaking up.
When he had dond what he could for
ovr momentary safety, Mr. Jones called
the crew, and said "lf any of You
want to try the boat, You can do it. l