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

of the ship. lie was young, not more
than thirty, rather fne-looking, and n
sailor man, every inch of him. The
morning after overhearing what the
captain of the Sea Horse had said, | re-
marked to our skipper, while at the
breakfast-tobe:
"'T The Sea Horse will be ready for
sea about the time we are, sir.
80 Yes, Ihope So.
"' That's what her captain hopes he
says if we don't get more than three
days start of him he will let our con-
signees in Liverpool know we are COM
ing
90 How did You learn that ?"
90 heard him tell gentleman so
| last night in the What Cheer House.
'Confound the fellows impudenceH
"Two or three days after clerk in
our consgnees' office told me our cap
tain and the captain of the Sea Horse
| had met, and after chatting one another
in friendly manner, had finally each
| deposited five hundred dollars with our
consignees, the captain OF the ship first
in dock at Liverpool to draw on them at
sight for the whole amount-a thousand
| dollars.
"The report OF an intended race from
San l francisco to Liverpool between an
American and Scotch clipper soon got
spread about the city, an9 the amount
Of money staked on the result must
have had thousand added to it by
every person who repeated tNe report,
| for It soon became fabulous IA. regards
the dollars.
Both ships were finally ready for
sea, and hauled ont from the wharves
to be taken in tow by the tugs. A great
many people assembled to see us off,
and when we were fairly on our way ont
of the harbor, both ships were greeted
by cheers and steam whistles. The
,ugs cast us off when off the Farallones,
and under cloud Of canvas. with fair
wind, we started on our long race. We
parted company the first night out, and
YOU may be sure there wasn't much rest
for officers or men on board either ship
at all events there wasn't on board the
White Swallow. Capt. Adams carried
sail very hard, night and day, and spent
most of his time on deck not that he
was afraid the mate or myself would
shorten sail before it was necessary for
if we were not so much interested IN
beating the Sea Horse as he was, we
wanted to do it for the honor OF the ship
and flag.
q used to stand on deck and watch
the little ship dive into the seas, and
hold my breath as the drenching show
ers of spray came flying over the
weather-rail; then, rs soon as the salt
water was out of my eyes, cast an
anxious look aloft to see if anything had
started. 1t was fun to hear the crockery
90 tumblng about the stewards pan
try. and Captain Adams CHEEKY
There goes another hole in my five
hundred dollars, as some grand smash
occurred.
1--WE went tearing along with strong
breezes and fair, never needing such
small accidents as split sail ora sprung
ward or two, only as they delayed us in
replacing them. l never saw crew in
better spirits than eurs 10 amount of
work in their watch on leck or below
made them growl, and at the first call to
make or reduce sail they would come
tumbling out of the 70 castle laughing
and making such remarks as, The Sea
Horse NAV be a goer, but she can't fly,
like the White Swallow.
Zone morning, when we were in lati-
tude about twenty degrees south, L had
the morning watch. The night had
been fine, with q strong breeze, and we
we're going free under a main royal and
topmast stun sail but after | had been
on deck about half an hour l noticed
the wind got puffy, and each succeed
ing puff stronger. | had hand by the
main royal- -halyards, and made up my
r | I fol hat
her, it would take itself of. Along came
another puff, and | sung out, Let go
the main royal -halyards, and started
for the weather-brace just as the captain
came on deck.
"' Good morning, Mr.. Blue Jacket ;
getting puffy, is it 2
Eyes, sir ; going to have more than
we want, | reckon. Shall ] furl that
royal, sir?'
"'Yes, think you'd better.
/ " Jump up there, two of you boys,
, and furl that main-royal.
Away aloft went the two apprentice
boys belonging to my watch, and l
noticed that after getting on the yard,
one looked to the windward and then
, seemed to say something to the other,
then they grabbed up the sail, passed
the yard-arm gaskets, and while one was
making fast the bunt gasket the other
chap stood up on the yard, with one
arm around the mast, looking to wind
ward and presently he sung out, Sail
: ho!
"Where away?"
| "On the weather quarter, sir.
"Can you make her out?'
"Just then Captain Adams called out,
t "Point to it, my lad.
"The moment the boy reported sail,
t the captain, thinking it the Sea Horse,
had gone below to his room for his glass.
After the boy had pointed in the direc-
) ton of the stranger, he swung himself
on to the main-royal backstay, and
came on deck by the run, rushed up to
) me with a frightened look, and IN a
: hoarse whisper said It's a wreck, sir,
, with signal of distress flying.
5 "I turned to report what the boy
said to the captain, and found HIM
3 steadying his glass against the mlzzen
? top-mast backstay without taking his
!. eye from the glass, he said, Call all
hands, Mr.. Blue Jacket in n'-sail,
| mizzen- gallant-sail, and fying-iib,
{ and single reef the top sails we'll beat
, up to those poor fellows
Out tumbled the watch below, and as
soon as they heard there was wreck
= to windward think each man did three
mems work. When it was first discov-
: cred we were going eleven knots, and
must have run two or three miles before
. we got sail off the ship and hauled our
wind. / went aloft with a glass, and
, when got on the main-topsail yard l
COW to windward. about eight miles dis