Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24


out for bar just below us, We stood down the
bay At p. m. There was a good breeze blow
Ing, but after the first half mile it WAS dead
aoesd. The prospect of beating six or seven
miles to sind~srd down a narrow bay was not
encouraging. but after we b 4d made half
dezen tacks fortune favored us. the wind hsv-
ing slanted so that we could lay our cours5. So
we oowled along merrily, stacking sheets now
having to jump overheard TO put the ''Biue
BIRD" off from bar that got in our way. Near
the mouth Of the bay the wind shifted again
and became light and battling, but when ont on
the Potomac we were able 70 head for Piney
Point The river was rougher than we had
ever seen 1t, nasty, lunpy sea running that
the day. Though tossed about q good deal, the
"Blue Bird" shipped bat little water, and at
seven o'clock p. m, with Piney Point light in
per q cigar that We would be home at O'Clock.
The skipper, however, had taken note OF the
angry looking clouds drifting about, and felt
however, from what direction 1t would come,
and II might have swept down river, carrying
the "Blue Bird" on Its wings to her destined
harbor.
SOMETHING OF A GALE.
Unfortunately it came from the opposite
quarter, and with such force as to necessitate
shortening sail in hurry. AT 8p. m. the "Biu
Bird" wa headed for the Mary land shere, stag
seriDg under her foressil, and shipping water
from stem TO stern. The gale continued to in
Ben ard Jack were compelled to relieve each
other at bailing 10 keep oar craft from swamp
log, fate which we several times narrowly es-
capped. Fer an hour or more we battled With
the Wird and waves. At frs: we had hopes OF
reaching our destination that night, after all;
but finally we only thought of finding harbor.
All hands being worn out, and no shelter in
sight, it was decided to land on the beach, upon
which the waves were dashing furiOusly. This
was risky undertaking, so far as our craft was
concerned, for If allowed to beat upon the shore
in
sail she was brought in before the wind. bow on,
snd as soon az she touched the sand Jack and
the skipper jumped overheard, and taking hoid
Of the stern carried IL around high on the shore,
leaving the how 70 beat the storm. Then every
thing movable was taken ont, and all hands
pulling together hauled the little "Blue
Bird" beyond the fury of the waves.
ON THE BEACH, But NOT AT LONG BRANCH.
We had landed ON sandy and graYe!iy
beach, above which rose a high and steep bank
of yellow earth. Here we were destined to
spend the night. Our "little brown iugr had
been replished at LeOnardtOwn, but provisions
we had none, save two little pieces OF corn
bread {ellcs OF our dinner in the negro cabin,
which had been slowed away in sport and for
gotten until now. These wers divi ded and
made our supper. Then we had pull at the
jug. lighted our pipes, and so prepared to face
the night. Ben went TO work gathering dry
sea weed on the shore, and making himself a
BED on the shelving bank, turned in, and was
soon asleep. Jack arranged the sails SO as to
=
their folds. The skipper remained on watch.
for the tide was stll flood, and he wished 20 have
an eye to the safety ofhis craft.
AN UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT.
About midnight, sll being safe, and his com
rades asleep, he climbed the bank to reconoitre.
The gale was still raging, the waves dashing
with a sullen roar upon the shore and throwing
masses OF white spray far before them. The
sky was Of tnky blackness, not star WAS visible,
but up river Blackistone's island light shone out
FaAN In .s.1l
previous night in painful contrast with present
surroundings. Piney Point light, though ONLY
five or six miles distant, was not visible, because
of an intervening headiand. There was nothing
encouraging in the outlook, aud skipper throw
ing himself on the bare ground was soon lost in
sleep. An hour or more later the pattering OF
rain drops aWoke him 70 consciousness or having
been attacked by chill, Which caused his teeth
10 rattle like castanets, and his limbs to tremb'e
as with palsy. He aroused his comrades to find
Jack like sufferer, and as the rain was then
falling heavily all hands sought refuge IN a con-
venient out-buildiDg, which the lightning re-
vealed near at hand, and after partakIng OF
forty drops" INDUCED in ftful snstches of
sleep until daylight, which revealed q dwelling
close by, but apparently unlnhabited.
AN EHOsPITABLE BRUTE.
We determined to visit it, at all events, but
before reaching the door saw a man hoeing
potatoes in neighboring field, and to him made
known our condition and need of food.
more cburly inhospitable beast il had never
DSeD our ll-IOrtuHe TO encounter. He refused
to give us even drink of milk or mouthful of
food, though we offered to pay him literally;
but be was willing to help US launch our canoe
and only too glad TO leave SO fOrbidding place
we prepared for departure. In justice to the
people OF lower Maryland, and to the memory
OF generous inequalities SO freely extended TO
the writer in other sections of the state, be il
satd that this man (whOse name unfortu-
nately cannot Dow be recailed) was a new
conner, and not native to the manner born
Some olher section OF the country is therefore
Ma nrf H4G VNr
neaness and churliness. But let Us be Oft. We
have fingered too long in this inhespitable
place.
DRIFTING AND DRIPPING.
We found the "Blue Bird" embedded in sand
and it Was no easy task 10 raise her, but this
having been accomplished and some fence rails
placed under her keel, she was launched. The
water being very shoal we had, after placing
the sails, etc, on board to wade alongside and
drag her INTO deep water. Making fast to a
stake We then set SAIL work OF some time, as
every thing was wet and in confusion. 1t was q
Grizzly morning, with occasional heavy show
ers and but little wind stirring, and we drifted
rather than sailed along the shore. Breakfast
less-1e had not had a"square meal" since one
p. IN. the preceding day-wet, and out OF whis-
Ky, our situation was not the most delightful in
the world. So we drifted, drifted, drifted, while
1t rsined, rsned, rained, now in pitiIess pelting
showers, then in drizZle and mist, and yet not
gIowl was heard, not pitifQl note from the
"Blue Birds" crew. Our shoes and stockings
lay soaking in the bottom Of the canoe, while
our bare feet splashed in the soft rain water
that dripped from the sails and from our gar
ments. When eramped by long sitting in wet
clotheswe would stand up and ply the paddle a
while, or use 1t as setting pole, and at the end
of five hours We had accomplished five miles
and were close upon Piney Point light. Here
We got a breeze, and Jack and the skipper a
return of their chills; but we were near home
now, and soon the "Blue Bird" was moOred to
the wharf from which we had started. Leaving
all sail standing, and all eur traps on board,
barefOOted and barelegged, we made for our
quarters, food, and medicine.
The "Blue Birds" cruise was ended. We
had been absent about forty hours, had sailed
some sixty or seventy miles, and, despite the
stormy weather, and exposure, had had a very
jolly time. G. A. p.
A PARIS SCANDAL.-A few DAYS ago, saws
Gslignani's Messenger, the Figaro related the
adventure OF young woman, demi-mOnde,
famous for her yellow hair, and a young Bel
gian nobleman, who had made her present oil
a carriage and pair, driven by a negro. Sus-
pectiDg the fidelity OF his mistress, he one day
blackened his face and put on the servants liv-
cry, with theidea OF catching her tripping The
plan succeeded, as he found that, on alighting,
she joined young man who was waiting fOi
hE Nm fnr vuIn ah obo,f 80