The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-06-29

D ought to be up with the island between
1 and o'clock"
} Very good, sir" repeated "I'll keep
a good lookout" And [ returned to my
game of chess 1t did not last long, and
I soon turned in.
/ At midnight, when I relieved the
second mate, the night was fine and toll
erabiy clear Clear enough over head.
But on the water there was sort of light
mist, and the rays of the moon, which
was now about two hours high, were
dazzling. The breeze had freshened,
and we had quite enough of it for the
small stuns'ils. [ took my usual turn
round the decks, cautioned the lookout
man, and returned to the poop.
About halfpast one I reckoned up,
mentally, that we must have about run
the exact distance. Davis" I said to
the third mate, Gust go forward and see
II the lookout is nodding; if SO, give him
trlfle to remember you by. Stop on
the forecastle yourself till I call you off,
and keep sharp lookout"
Away went Davis I had my night
glasses with me; and, knowing that if
we saw the land at all we should be very
close to it, walked from side to side of
the poop, looking anxiously around.
suddenly couple of gulls shrieked
overhead. "By heavens!" thought |,
:-nat's warning, and I'll accept it." I
hurried forward determining to remain
on the lookout myself AS I assembled
the foreCastle ladder Davis was in the
act of coming down, and met me.
els that you sir? There's something
ahead [ can't quite make out. I was
coming aft to tell you. 1t looks like a
sort of cloud"
Pushing past him, took one look.
For a second of time my heart seemed to
turn quite cold and stand still. I felt
half sick. The next moment [ was all
right; the shock had been too heavy
We were right bang on the top of the
island There it was, scarcely mile off
l could see the surf distinctly with the
glasses, and the ship was tearing along
straight for it about ten knots an hour.
; We ought to have seen it sooner, but the
glare of the moon rendered the horizon
: all round quite black looking while at
the same time its rays on the water made
: the surf impossible to be distinguished
at distance
For moment I thought nothing
could save the ship. Fortunately, l have
always been very cool; quite self pos
] sessed in sudden emergencies, as in
moments of the greatest peril. It is my
nature to be so; and [ wish all sailors
} could say the same. There was but one
thing that could save US, and [ tried it,
Hard up hard up!" I shouted to the
helmsman. Call all hands to save the
ship. Let go the royal halyards and
- stuns'il tack fore and aft, Brace the
G crossjack yards round" By this time ]
e bad got down off the forecastle and
hurried aft. "Let go the lee main braces
, one Of you; main tack and sheet, too
e somebody" All this had occupied less
than half minute; and l met the third
! mate with his startled and anxious face.
Davis call the captain. Tell him we
, are right on the top of it."
s Two minutes more, and we were in a
: pretty pickle. The helm had been put
. hard up, and the ship spun round on her
i heel like top. She was now flat aback
G by the ice, and going stern first toward
the island. The men had been too slow
y in their movements, and before the yards
n could be braced round they had taken
;. aback. The state of confusion was
frlghtful | got up on the poop All
!, the crew were on the deck, some pulling
on one rope, some on another, and all oil
/ them talking, many frightened and be
wildered. This would never answer
F? SILENCE, fore and aft what the deuce
are you all doing? Attend to the WORD
S of command Mr.. Green, bring youl
: watch into the poop and turn this main
: yard round. Do you hear there, star
!, board watch on the poop. Port watch
i haul in the port crossjack braces"
The captain rushed on deck in his
/ shlrttails. Most of the men passengers
:, were so rushing also. The wind blew
e freshly and the tails futtered. 1t was 6
: good thing [ retained my presence O.
t mind, for the captain three-parts lost his
"Good heavens, W, what's the
$ matter?" he cried. "Where is it?
}. can't see thing, that COMPOUNDED moon
a light blinds me quite. I can't do any
, thing just now. You had better go on
i wi it you know the position of things
"There's the land, sir" I said, "that
black streak; and there's the broken
a water"
e And uncommonly close it was to us
t The captain looked bewildered
e "Shift the helm, my lad," I said to the
! man at the wheel. "Now, sir" I con.
tinued, "you see how she is. If you will
$ take charge, TIL go down on the main
e deck and get the head yards to rights
8 the boatswain is making regular mess
7 Of it. And with all the lee stunsls set
and the swinging boom out, it's an awk.
ward job"
Cali right, W" he replied; give
got my eyesight now; I'll look after
her"
The scene in the cuddy, as I afterward
11ooruo1 wao tcrrihlo o,,1 Whav, Al