New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-22
e THE CAPTAIN'S~sTORY.
by j. H. TOONE.

|
1t was early in the summer of eightee
: hundred and fifty 1.-TWO that l took passaq
l on board the ship Resolution, then lying
anchor in the Mersey, and bound for Ne
York.
had been travelling on the continent
: Europe during the winter, and being som,
what anxious to return to the United State
l had, on my arrival at Liverpool, engage
my room ar once on the first vessel Tia
vas to sail for home. As the sequel wi
show, u might have travelled farther an
Jared worse
The ship. as they say IN the bills of ladinc
was tight, stanch aud strong. and her con
mander was every inch sailor. He wa
at times. it is true, somewhat rough in hi
manners, when giving his orders to the Off
GERS and crew, but when addressing Iii
passengers his language and deportmen
were invariably kind aud courteous.
On the morning after my arrival at Liv
erpool, the ship being ready for sea, Lavin,
hanied out Of the dock the day previous,
embarked on board, and we were soon al
clear OF the Mersey. The wind blowing
fresh from the southwark, we ran up tn.
irish channel, rounded the northern coas
OF Ireland, and stood away to the westward
on our course over the wild and stormy
Atlantic.
|
Old travellers, with the exception Of a few
OF the ladies, appeared disposed to enioy
themselves, and no orc seemed to be more
dellghted at the prospect OF a speedy pas.
sage than our vig1aIt and warm hearted
captain.
1t was somewhere about the first Of july
I'VE were but ten days OUT, that the captain
informed us that we were approaching the
| grand banks Of Newfoundland So far, our
| va hah lol y,
winds and, with the exception Of an occa-
sIcnal squall, nothing had TRANSFERRED to
mar the general harmony that prevailed on
board. But now "a change seemed to come
over the spirit Of our dreams The SKY
had assumed a dead. lead colored hue. The
wind, which had been slowly backing round
| from the southwest. had finally settled
down at east, and though still blowing mod
erately, could occasionally be heard v;brat-
ing through the rigging with low moan
ing sound The sailors TOO, could be seen
eonverslns together IN groups. and betting
fabulous amounts OF tobacco that the "old
hooker would he under close reeteG topsails
before the middle watch.
AS night approached. light, misty rain
set IN. without. however. any increase in
the breeze; and TO my astonishmen, the
captain ordered all hands ON deck, and
commenced taking in sail. All the upper
feefed, the courses reeied- and then hauled
snug up" One watch was then allowed
to 90 below. but with strict orders to lie
ready to Jump on deck" in an instant.
As had good appetite at dinner, and
did not annoy the captain BY frivolous
Guestions-two Of the greatest g;tts which a
passenger, in the estimation of captain.
can possess-I had become quite favorite
with him, and we had walked the quarter
how oil r,1,<
leaving port. Eight bells had been struck,
and was standing near the mizzen rig
glng. as supposed, alone. The other pas
sengers were all below. out of the damp.
drlzzly weather amusing themselves
according to their fancy. The captain had
offered NE tarpaullu hat and oil cloth
overcoat, of which ! avaled myself. as
was anxious 20 see what could have induced
him TO take in nearly all the sail As
turned round to avoid the fine rain that
was beating against my face. encountered
the steady gaze OF the captain, who was
standing near the heimsman
Come. Mr.. t. said he. in his clear,
many voice. 'shall l tell you what YOU
have been thinking abou.!"
My dear sir" said /.
Come, come he replied. mo apologies
You are gentleman. and. what is of more
consequence now, you are more than half
a sailor. You never bother me with use
less questions, and l Will tell you why
We are now jogging along under short
canvas. with a fair wind. when we might
carry Ill the light kites aloft. If am cor
sect in my judgment. violent storm. per
haps hurricane. las either passed along
here. or is about TO commence. If it is one
OF those circular storms, which We call
hurricane. 1t has passed to the southwark,
and We may yet have its opposite side |
down upon us with Irresistible fury from
the westward. 1t is true that gales Of this |
description seldom prevail SO early as this, |
but should we ge. caught in one with all |
sail on, no human power could save us. and |
in all matters relating to my profession l |
have acted, since boy. ON the principle |
that an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound Of cure. 1t is dull music, "he con-
tinued, waiting here for change that may
not. after all our precaution, take place
But first let me see that every man on deck
is at his station. and that the braces are
laid down on deck. the running rigging all
clear, and then l will tell you a short story
that will show you why l believe, re-
igiOusly, in my tavorite MAXIM.
Having issued his orders. and again
walked all round the ship to see. for him
self, that everything was all right" as he
it, he took up lis station near the
compass. and commenced as follows:
You recollect, many years ago. hearing
IF the loss OF the packet ship Albion on the
irish coast. don't yOu!"
Certainly" l replied. land the shock il
,ave the community has never been e0ualed
~ any OF the more recent marine disasters"
well, he continued, the loss Of that
hip. together with over four hundred souls.
vas caused by neglecting the use of few
mall seiznSs, not larger than piece of
Whip cord. will tell vou how il happened
While in cock. at Liverpool. the fore rigging
lad been set up taught, and. SO far, all was
1ght-but owing to the hurry of getting
ut IN the Mercy, as the tide was IN, the
AWARDS we're not seized off. and were only
temporarily secured The next morning the
hip was got under way, and during the
lay the mates were busy in berthing the
passengers this. together with the noise
nd confusion which necessarily attends
hurried departure, caused them to overlook
he temporary racks on the rigging, or if
hey were seen it was supposed that they
we're quite sufficient, as the ship was still
u the channel. That night, however, ut
anne on tC blow great guns from the south
vest and it was necessary to carry a taut
az on the ship in order to clear the Irish
cast.
About three bells in the middle watch a
Oung lad the son Of the captain, was sent
loft, on the tore-topsail yard to look ont
or light 1t was fearful night. Vivid |
ashes of lightning would now and then
ght up the heavens, and then again the
arkness would be SO intense that it &C.
ually seemed as though it could be felt.
he ship was struggling along under close
eefed topsails, and occasionally heavy
oiling sea, which the eddying currents
rove all in q heap, would break over the
hip, deluging her decks with water. Still.
everything held on there was no danger,
t length. as the ship raised her head, after