Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-17
NO. l1s.
@iseeltanepus.
the SMlrWkICK.


'Boom!'
'Harkn
'BoOmv -
"A gun! Yes, gun! A signal OF distressl
Some vessel Is IN peril out there
Such were the words ] addressed to my
companion, Vincent Bur9h. az we cIung
surging waters below. The wild Atlantic
was lashed into fury, and its giant waves
rs they raved and roared, theatened de.
struction to all before them. For several
days the storm had been brewing. Four
days ago, all was quiet. The sun shcue
with an October splendor, sheeninR with
Iloveliness, heaven and earth. A dreau0
haze might be seen IN the west, as II .
shadowy veil were unfolding there; and
at sunset the few clouds which wero be.
ginning to gather, and which stretched
out on the distant horizon. were gorgeous
in blazonry OF purple and gold. How
lovely the scene as it lay before me! Above
were the calm and tranquil heavens; be-
meath, the sea, the mighty sea, murmurin9
with melody as its ripping waves gently
washed the glistening shore,-a musical
sound most soothing, most sweet.
We had gone to the sea shore for pleas
ure and health. We were stopping at D
small house pleasantly situated in close
proximity TO the shelving beach, and but
short distance from the beetling clii9.
1t could scarcely be called an attractive
dwelling. Its exterior was rude, It's inte.
rior plain. Its apartments were few and
scantily furnished. 1t was one Of those
houses, low and spreading, which you
may see anywhere in the neighborhood of
the ocean-Old, unpainted and weather.
worn. Yet it affordeda shelter, which was
all we cared for. Our host was kind and
attentive to our wants. She had seen much
trouble. and was now widow Her hus-
band had been dead for several years.
He was lost at sea. Her eldest daugh-
ter was married and settled in an adjoin-
ing town. Her youngest, Hebe. with
laughing eyes and pouting lips, assisted
her at home. Two sons were away at sea.
A third. fisher. piled his vocation in the
| waters around. He was manly fellow,
firmly knit, with clear open brow, and .
heart full of sympathy for suffering and
sorrow. never met one in circumstan-
ces like his more thoroughly imbued with
the spirit Of humanity.
During the night OF the day first named,
the wind arose, and on the following day
it blew 4 gale. 1t was what sailors call
a "stiff nOr'wester." one of those winds
which come in gusts, and beat you about
as if you were "a feather. 1t was difficult
for any one 10 Withstand its onsets. 1t
was bent on mischief, and meant to do
harm. The sky was full Of angry clouds,
loose locks of the approaching storm.
mostly leader .hued, a few white and flee.
cy, others quite black. They were massing
together, AID becoming more dense
There was something majestic in the state
Illness Of their movements, as II there
were reserved force, kept back, sup
pressed.
AS the day advanced, the wind veered
to the northeast, and as night closed in
the gale was furious. Neither moon nor
stars were visible in the darkness, which
hung like pail over land and sea. The
waves of the Atlantic came tumbling in.
white-crested churning. foaming with
spray. How deafening the roar as they
dashed on the rocks, and, overtopping
some inferior ledge, swept away inland,
uprooting fences and submerging fields.
On the third day it began to rain. It
was not at frs, heavy rain, but thick.
piercing mist, salted with brine from the
spray OF the ocean, and cutting the face
as it swept sharply by. Its cold was Bit
ing. 1t penetrated to the bone. Our usual
clothing was useless for protection. 1t
was permeable alike by water and wind.
| Even our overcoats were not much better.
The wind rddled them as if they were a
sieve. We were forced, therefore, to
borrow garments more suitable to the
weather; and in our oil cloth t-owsers.
pea jacket and tarpaulin hats might have
been taken for >hipwrecked mariners or
stroling mendicants. But they were snug
nd ,f,,t Ill hat
outward appearance
We were not afraid to breast the storm.
There was something inspiring and invig-
Grating in its blasts. This warning Of the
elements stimulates the imagination and
quickens the pulse. You may catch your
breath in the fury Of the gale. You may
cling tor protection to a buttressed rock.
But there is an inward strength which
bares the muscles and nerves the arm. and
the gage Of defiance is hurled at the storm.
The dcnizens OF the city, ignorant OF its
perls, feels differently in the raging tenn
pest from residents Of the sea-shore, more
familiar with its work Of destruction. He
sees it chiefly an element of power. 1t 10
grand, majestic. Little he knows of the
sutferings it brings. He has not learned
to dread its fury. The voice of God is in
the raging waters. He holds the winds in
his fists. Aud does He send destruction
and misery, ruin and desolationa l can.
not say that we felt alarmed We were
rather excited. Our hostess, we saw, was
restless. nervous; frequently uttering a
deep-drawn sigh. Her son had looked to
The safety of his boat, and now gazed with
anxious eyes upon the troubled deep. He
knew its wrath; knew how Unsuitable 1t
was in its fury.
AS the day wore on, the storm increased.
The gates OF heaven suddenly opened,
aud the rain poured in torrents form the
sky. More and more violent were the
bowlipys of the wind. Even the rocks
were visibly shaken. and huge masses
water With a numbering crash. Scarcely
form could be seen on the cliff; and we.
who had ventured there. We're obliged to
lie aat 1t was utterly impossible to keep
| ~ A. ~