National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-06-13
TIE SECOND MATES TwISTER.


One night during the winter we were
having a gale of wind from the north
cast with snow. | was seated before
the fire in my room, listening to the
wind as it went howling around the
corner of the house, aud thinking:
"Of the hearts chilled through With watching,
The eyes that YEARLY blink
Through the binding gnle and snovdrift
For the Lights OF Neversink."
when my three nephews, home from
school for the Christmas holidays, came
Gathering through the hail, and burst
ing into my room broke out with
Amt you glad you're not at sea to-
night, uncle ? Just hear it blow. It's
bully night for a story tell us one,
won't you?'
You Youngsters think I'm as full Of
yarns as an old foretopman. What can
l tell you about I've spun a.. my
yarns"
"Oh, no, you haven't; tell us about
anything you think of fire, or wrecks,
or islands, or anything about ships"
I've knocked off" going to sea
(since | left one of my legs down in
Mobile bay) and haven't much to do
nut 10 thluk over my voyages and SPIN
yarns about them 50, as the lads seat
ed themselves on the rug before the
hre, lighted a cigar and spun them
tins = twIster"
Some years ago | was second mate
OF handsome little clipper ship, called
the White Swallow. then loading gen
erai cargo in New York, bound for San
francisco. 1t was IN the days before
the Pacific railroad, when most of the
freight for California went around the
Horn, and there were always magnif-
cent ships on the berth for Frisco to be
found along South street, New York, SO
it was not an unusual thing that when
we sailed we did so in company with
two ships of rival lines. The White
Swallow was a new ship, having made
but one voyage to China and home,
during which she wasn't noted for any
unusual speed. The captain and chiei
mate had been in her on her first
voyage, and they said on the passage
ont that she was badly loaded, aud they
couldn't carry sail on her as they wish
ed ; homeward bound there was no OPP
portunity, as the passage, consuming
one hundred and twenty days, was a
succession of light winds and calms.
For this passage, Capt Adams and
mate looked ont for the stowage of the
cargo, and when we sailed the ship was
IN fine trim, with the exception of being
q, little too deep, perhaps. We made
the run to San Francisco in one han
dred and one days, beating the other
ships ten and thirteen days. / was
quite young then, not yet twenty, but
mad been at sea since / was twelve, and
thought | had seen sail carried about
as long as canvas and spars would
stand but, by the big boot that hangs
IN Chatham street! the dimity was hung
TO that ship till her ee-rail would be q
stranger to us for days on stretch
and we never thought of coming on
deck without our oil skin coats, for she
tnrew spray in perfect showers her en-
tire length
When the watch on deck were not
making or taking in sail, or bracine
yards, every man who could use palm
ana needle was mending sails, for about
every watch we split some of our can
vas. notwithstanding the way we car
RED sail, we lost but two spars during
the passage-a main-royal yard and 9
After our arrival at San Francisco
crowds of people, mostly merchants ano
other shippers, came down on Vallegc
street wharf to see the ship that had
made the fastest passage of the year
ana before our cargo was entirely dis
charged, the ship was chartered to loaC
IIlaes, tallow, old iron, and rags fol
Liverpool.
Now, on the berth for the same por
was an Aberdeen clipper"
What kind of clipper is thai
Clippers built at Aberdeen in Scot
lahd they are noted for fast sailing, a:
ours built at Mystic in Connecticut, an6
MMewburyport in Massachusetts, are
Inc Scotch ship was about ], 200 tons
burden, built of iron, and as handsome
as yacht. She was called the Sei
Horse, and had made some fine passages
from China to London. She was load
ing wheat, and about half her cargo wa'
on board when we commenced taking
IN our old iron, hides, tallow, and rags
one evening was seated in the read
lng-room of the What Cheer House, ano
near ME sat sailor-like looking man o
lofty or more years, enjoying a cigar
wnen gentleman came up to him ano
said
Good evening, Capt. DAILY how
goes on the loading p
Oh, $3.50 we'll get off in fort
night, hope
Well, We intend to have the White
swallow full in two weeks.
hope you may. 1 should like e
peat that ship to Liverpool, and will
700, II she don't have more than three
days start of me-
made up my mind to tell Capt
Auams what l had accidentally heard
ana then, it he wanted a race, here Wa