Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-06-09
Second Mates Twister.
A STORY FOR TIE BOYS.

A STORY FOR THE BOYS.
One night during the winter we were having
| O gale of wind from the northeast with snow
| 1 was seated before the fire in my room listen
ing to the wind as it went bowling around the
corner of the house, and thinking
, aOf the hearts chile. through va h watching,
The eyes that YEARLY blink
Throush the binding gale and snowdrift,
For the Lights of Neversnk"
when my three rephews, home from school
for the Christmas holidays, came clattering
through the hall, and bursting into my room
broke odt with,
"Ain't you glad you're not at sea tonight,
uncle? Just hear il blow. It's bully night for
a story; tell us one, won't you?"
you youngsters think am as full of yarns
as an old foietopman. What can tell you
about? I'VE spun you all my yarns
sOh no you haven't; tell us about any thing
you think Of; fire, or wrecks, or islands, or any
thing about ships
| I've sknocked Off going 10 sea (since l LETT
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 seated themselves on the rug
before the fire, lighted segar and spun them
| this stwister:'
"Some years ago was second male Of hand
some little clipper ship, called the White Swal.
| low, then loading general cargo In New York,
bound for San Francisco.
1t was in the days before the Pacific Rail-
| road, when most of the freight for California
went around the Horn,' and there were always
magnificent 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 new ship, having
made but one voyage to China and home, dur
ing which she wasn't noted for any unusual
speed.
The captain and chief mate had been on her
first voyage, and they said OH the passage out
that she was badly loaded, aud they couldn't
carry sail on her they wished lomeward
bound there was no opportunity Us the passage,
consuming one hundred aud tweuly days, was
| a succession Of light winds and calms. For
this passage, Capt. Adams anu mate looked out
for the stowage Of the cargo, and when we
sailed the ship was in fine trim, with the excep-
ti0n Of being II little too deep, perhaps. We
made the run TO San Francisco in one hundred
and one days, beating the other ships ten and
| thirteen days.
was quite young than not yet twenty, but
had been at sea since | was twelve, and
thought had seen sail carried, about as long
las canvas ami splrs would stand but, by
the big boot that hangs in Chatham street. the
dimity was hung TO that ship till her iee-rail
would be stranger to us for day IS Oh stretch;
and we never thought Of coming Oh deck with
out our oil ska coats, Tor she threw spray III
showers her cntiie length.
| When the watch on deck were not making
or t,k.n, in sail, or bracng yards, every man
who could use palm and needle was mendine
} sails, for about every watch we split some OF
, ovr canvass. Notwithstanding the way We
i carried sail, we lost but two spars during The
| passage,-l mainroyal yard and topmast sim
sail boom.
Af.er our arrival at San Francisco, crowds o.
people, mostly merchants and other shippers
:, came down on Vallago street wlarfio see thu
: ship that made the fastest passage OF the year
and before our cargo was entirely discharged
the ship was chart red to load hides, talow, o''
: iron and rags, for Liverpool.
! Now, Oh the berth for the same port was al
Aberdeen elippar---
~ hat kind Of clipper is that, uncle?'
sIlppels built at Aberdeen in Scotland; the
are noted for fast sailing, ours built az Mysi
!, in Connecticut, and Newburyport in Massa
: | chusetts, are
srhe Scotch ship was about 200 tons bul
den built of iron, and as handsome as yach
She was called the Sea Horse, and made som
e. fine passages from China to London. She wa
loading wheat, and about half her cargo wa
on board when we commenced taking in ou
old iron, hides, tallow and rags
'One evening was seated in the reading
10 room ofthe What-Cheer House, and near III
nj sat sailor-lke looking man of forty or mol
years. ENJOYING q cigar, when u Gentiema
Y came up to him and saidt"Good evening Cap
y DAILY; how does the loading so on at u
cy wharf?'
,n 'oh, $3.50; We will get oil in a fortnight
!" hope.'
" well, we intend 10 have the White Swallo
full in two weeks
10 Il hope you may | hope to beat that ship
Liverpool, and Will, too, ii she don't have mo
@ than three days start OF me-
% Il made up my mind to tell Capt. Adam
what had accidentally heard, and then, II
/ wanted u race here was is chance
'Our captain was n quiet, rather reserve
man. troubling his officers but little with Al
- conversation beside that which related - Il
" u sailing Of the ship. He was young not iuo
In than thirty, rather fine looking, and a saiio
al man, every inch of him.
on 'rhe morning after overlearing what the ca
mi tain oithe Sea Horse had sad / remarked
IT. our skipper, while at the breakfast table, [
Sea Horse will be ready for sea about the tin
we are SIR
Yes hope so.'
CHATS what her captain hopes; he says If '
don't get more than three days start OF him
will let our consignecs in Liverpool know
= are coming
2 How did you learn that
ID Il heard him tell gentleman so last night
no. the lVhat- Cheer House,
the sConfound the fellows impudence!
cry Two or three days after clerk in our c.
,,v sgneesoilice told me, our captain and the C,
'' tain of the Sea Horse had met, and after CHI
avy ing one another in a friendly manner, had fin
a, ore ly each deposited five hundred dollars with
.Sm consignees, the captain of the ship first in
. dock at Liverpool to d aw OH them at sil
for the whole amount, which will be one tho
and dollars
The report of an intended race from S
q, Francisco to Liverpool between an Amerit
- and Scotch clipper soon spread about the {
and the amount Of money staked Oh the
suit must have had a thousand added 10 it a
s:on became fabulous as regards tie dollars
Both ships were finally ready for sea, ;
hauled ont from the wharves to be taken
tow by the tugs. A great many people asst
bcd to see us oil, and when we were fairly
our way out of the harbor, both ships W
greeted by cheers and steam Whistles
~ srhe tugs cast us off when we were of /
allones, and under a cloud OF canvas with
VIII VIII wind, We started on our long race. We pal
varv a,1 ,mpany the first night, and you may be
ii ere wasn't much rest for the officers or
on board either ship, at all events there Wa
nd. OH the White Swallow.
3D. E'Capt. A, Ans carried sail very hard II
and day, and spent most OF his time on lie
boat not at he was afraid the maze or myselfw,
-. shorten sail before it was necessary; for if
p,n, rass were not so much interested IN beating
Sea Horse us he was, we wanted to do 1t
A.. .l.n eN,t and faa.