The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-11
vessel as the American clipper, and in


i weather such as would have tested the
endurance Of the strongest crew.
The remembrance OF the next three
days and nights haunts my memory
still, at intervals, like the confused de.
tails OF ghastly dream. had divided
|, the men under my orders into two
watches, as usual, but for myself there
was no rest, since Ihad no officer who
could share with me the responsibility
! of the ardu0us task which had been, sc
TO speak, forced upon me. Always on
deck, through darkness and daylight,
through wind and rain, l worked hard
to save the ship and the lives OF those
committed to my charge.
4 weather-for ON the skirts of the
II typhoon rough seas and strong gales
were encountered-was the only enemy
with which it behoO we'd us to do battle
Some sinking junk had come violently
into collision with the American three
master, and we had scarcely lost sight
OF the mountain SUBMITS OF F0rmOsa
before the carpenter reported an undue
depth of water in the well, and that a
dangerous leak, beyond his power oil
plugging, had been sprung. We fought
long and patiently to keep back this in
| sidlOus foe; the clank Of The .cnain
pumps was incessant, and even ladies
lent their delicate hands to the toll, as
worn out meu reeled away for short
repose; but more than once it seemed as
though the water would win the victory,
while all on board were spent anu
weary, and it was evident that an acci-
dent such as the swapping of link or
The choking OF pump would send the
Henry Clay to the bottom Of the sea.
And all this time we staggered on un-
der such sail as our improvised mast
| would bear, over a hoWling wilderness
OF waves.
Fine weather came at last; the wind
and the sea abated, and after some
trouble, 1 contrived to get spare top
sail lowered and secured across the leak.
keeping out in great measure the influx
OF the green-blue water, so that moder-
ate amount Of labor at the pumps sui.
feed to Tree us from immediate danger
of sinking. l was able, too, for the first
time, to take solar observation, and
after brief calculation as to our where
abouts, decided to bear up for Kusu,
the most southerly island of Ine Japanese
group, which could not, as judged, be
above two hundred miles distant. Our
troubles were not quite over, for rickety
jurymast went by the board, carrying
away with 1t two poor fellows who were
aloft to reduce sail, and who were washed
leeward and drowned without the posi-.
sibility OF rescue. However, the prayers
of those on board the Henry Clay were
answered, and after another eignt-and-
forty hours OF anxiety we sighted Klusu,
where Japanese pilots came on to guide
US to our anchorage.
How vividly it comes back to me now.
the scene of our arrival in the peaceful
hn hp h,
the peaks OF blue inland mountains,
several vessels of various flags lying at
anchor, ana a fotilla of boats contain
ing sight-seers, native and foreign.
among whom were Japanese ladies with
fiuttefing fans and silken robes, hover.
ing around the Henry Clay, whose bat
tered state showed how narrow had
been the escape from destruction. re.
member, too, that some officers from
British steam corvette at mvorings in the
mar Dor had come on board OF us, and
were shaking me by the hand, and con-
gratulating me, pointed out to them as l
mad been by the passengers of the great
ship, the ladies among whom, in their
simple gratitude, insisted on speaking
Of me as their preseryer. And then on
a sudden, my eyes appeared to grow
dim, and all things swan before them,
and the sound OF friendly voices reached
me only as q deep, indIstinet hum, like
that OF bees, and dropped down swoon-
ing on the deck. Fatigue and anxiety
had been too much for me, and before
nightfall was tossing " and fro in
the delirium of fever.
When | recovered my senses, found
myself, weak and ill indeed, but in a lair
way towards recovery, in cot which
mad been charitably assigned to me on
board IL. M. 5. Nautilus. Kind nursing,
skilliul surgeon, and robust constr.
tuition soon enabled me to be On deck
again; and when the corvette was
ordered around to Nagasaki harbor, L was
set on shore, thinner aud paler than
when / had left England, but Well and
lit for work. 1 found, however, with
.dismay, on presenting myself AT the
OF Messrs. Parker and
Mills, that my post was occupied by
another.
"Very sorry, indeed, Mr.. .Harlando
said The senior partner, screwing
up mis- parchment face into grimace Of
what was meant for sympathy; "but,
you, see, us men OF business can not
afford to Indulge in sentiment. The
vessel in whicn you were known
to have left Ceylon having been
reported as lost In the typuoon, with
all nauuS, why, OI COURSE
In short, under the very natural belief
that l, the accepetd Candidate, had perish
ed the wreck Of the oaucy Maid, Messrs.
Parker and Mills nad flied UP the
vacancy. After all, though L was not
dead, was woeiully behind the stipu-
lated time for my arrival in the mer-
chants' office, and had no right TO COM
plain.
OF all the many foreign adventures In
that Japanese seaport, few | suspect,
carried with hum a sadder or heavier
heart than did, as left the counting
house OF those who were to have been
my employers, and strolled lisllessly
down to the beach. What was l to do Z
The cash had would suffice to maintain
me in idleness for a short time only; and
then--not that. l repined at the neces-
sity-1 must work for living. A few
weeks on shore, for the complete res-i
ltorauion of my health, 1 might allow my
self, and then, no doubt, 1 should have
to get aaoat again an as officer ON board
some vessel in the coasting trade. But,
lin resigning the bright hopes which had
Iallufed me to Nagasaki, felt as though
I were relinqulshing all prospect OF an
early union and happy home with
Dora, and that was hard 10 bear. In no
way Of which could think could be-
likely to realize speedy competence.
Bread nay former profession could afford
me but not, Tor many weary year at