The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-16
TME SECOND MArE,s rMIsrER.

1hh ohGVNu MAib's IMloIEh.
One night during the winter we were
having gale of wind from the north.
east with snow. I was seated before
the fire in my room, listening to the
wind ms it went howling around the
corner of the house, aud thinking:
"ofthc hearts chilled through with watching,
Tho eyes that wcarily blink
Through tho binding gallo and snowdri,
For the Lights of NOvCrsinkl"
when my three nephews, home from
school for the Christmas holidays, came
clattering through the hall, and burst.
ing into my room broke out with
Amt you glad you're not at sea to.
night, uncle2 Just hear it blow. It's
bully night for story; tell us one,
won't you2"
You youngsters think I'm rs full Of
yarns MS an old foretopman. What can
l tell you about2 I've spun all 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
but to think over my voyages and spin
yarns about them ; so, as the lads seat
cd themselves on the rug before the
fire, | lighted cigar and spur them
this " twister:"
Some years ago I was second mate
OF a handsome little clipper shin. called
the White Swallow, then loading n oen.
eral cargo in New York. bound for San
Francisco: It WIS in the days before
the pacltic r'..lroad, when most of the
freight ior California went around the
hotn' and there were always magnif-
cent ships on the berth for Frisco to be
.ound along South street, New York, SO
1t was not an unusual thing that when
We sailed we did so in company with
two ships Of rival lines. The White
Swallow was new ship, having made
but one voyage to China and home,
during which she wasn't noted for any
unusual speed. The captain and chief
mate had been in her on her first
voyage, and they said on tho passage
out that she was badly loaded, and they
couldn't carry sail on her as they wish.
ed; homeward bound there was no Op.
poftunity, as the passage, consuming
ono 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
n little too deep, perhaps. We made
the run to San Francisco in one hun
dred and one days, beating tho other
ships ten and thirteen days. I was
quite young then, not yet twenty, but
had been at sen since 1 was twelve, and
1 Thought I had seen sail carried about
rs long rs canvas and spars would
stand; but, by the big boot TINT hangs
in Chatham street, the dimity was hung
to that ship till her lee.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
threw spray in perfect showers her en-.
tire length.
"Whon tho watch on deck were moi
making or taking in sail, or brncing
yards, every man who could use palm
and needle was mending sails, for about
every watch we split some OF our can.
vas. Notwithstanding the way we car
.ried sail, we lost but two spars during
the passage-a main-royal yard and 4
topmast stun'-sail boom.
"After our arrival at San Francisco
crowds Of people, mostly merchants and
other shippers, came down on Yallegc
street wharf to see the ship that had
made the fastest passage OF the year
and before our cargo was entirely dis,
charged, the ship was chartered to load
hides, tallow, old iron, and rags fol
Liverpool.
"Now, on the berthfor tho same pori
was IN Aberdeen clipper"
What kind of a clipper is that
uncle ?"
"olippers built at Aberdeen in Scot.
land they are noted for fast smiling, aI
ours built at Mystic in Connecticut, and
Newburyport in Massachusetts are,
The Scotch ship was about ], 200 ton.
burden, built OF iron, and as handsome
as n yacht She was called the Sea
Horse, and had made some fine passages
from China TO London. She was load
ing wheat, and about half her cargo was
on board when We commenced taking
IN our old iron, hides, tallow, and rags,
One evening 1 was seated In the read
ing-room Of the What Cheer House, and
near me sat q sailor.liko looking man ol
iorty or more years, enjoying cigar
when a gentleman came up to him ant
goes on tho loading2'
"'oh, so-so well get OF in o fort
night, hope.'
m' Well, we intend to have tho Whit,
Swallow full in two weeks.
"'I hope you may. I should like Il
beat that ship TO Liverpool, and will
too, II she don't have more than tire,
days start OF me-
II made up my mind 10 tell Can't
Adams what / had accidentally heard
and then, II he wanted o race, here wa