The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-04-07

piece of paper, bottled it up, and here
goes! ~ be shouted, throwing it at
the same time over the quarter rail
into the sea. "What'll you bet on
our bearing of it again ?"
"'Twould be safe enough to bet
against" said the first officer. Il
shsuld say the chances are about
eqoal to my being turned into a
whale"
"But we do hear reports of ves-
sells in that way, now and then" the
captain said /; though, of course, the
chances are q million to one against
i it, 10 any sarticulsr case. Now,
YOU throw another overheard, or
auy one else that has any empty bot
ties on hand. Let's multiply the
chances, just for the fun Of the
thing"
Down went the mates to ransack
for bottles, and in q short time some
six or eight, each containing a writ
ten statement, with embellishments
to suit the fancy of the writer were
committed to the ocean.
"Ive reported the Ajax with FIVE
hundred barrels" said the third mate
That's only anticipating little. If
we haven't got it, We want it,"
This was not said in the captains
hearing. He supposed that all the
bottles contained bona fde reports,
though he did not ask to look at their
contents.
"My story is" said one Of the men,
that we have had terrible mutiny
on board that big black Sam has
got command OF the ship, and has
driven the captain into the galley to
cook for him."
What did ron write, Mr.. Wins
low 2" the chief mate asked
"I'm not going to tell. If my
bottle is picked up, it will astonisb
the finder more thin ary one Of them.
But, pshsw we never shall hear
from any of them again"
NO; there's not much danger Of
it," was the careless reply.
They watched the bottles, bobbing
up and down in the swell, for some
little time hut. gradually carried to
the westward by the force of the
current, they had all passed out of
view long before the favoring breeze
filed the sails of the bark, and she
again pushed forward on her course
to the cruising grounds about New
Guinea and the Archipelago of Solo,
mon: where, cut of from all but
merely accidental communication
with the civilized world, we leave
her and her hardy crew to pursue
the objects of their adventurous
cruise, aDd to battle with The Levia-
than in bis native element.
Months passed awsy-long, weary
months to the true hearted girl, who
vainly besieged the local post-ofiice-
vainly swept her eager eyes over the
marine list Of the Bristol Mercury.
only to meet with disappointment.
Only one letter, written ;hree weeks
out from home, had reached her; a
true sesmsn's hove letter, filed with
the outspoken affection Of her stout
hearted whalemsn, with confidence
in her enduring truth, with her pride
in his noble vessel and shipmates,
with sanguine predictions of merited
success and triumphant return. Its
successor came not; and the Ajax
had been absent nearly q year Still,
Jane did not cease to hope-for her
father, who bad followed the sea
himself, but bad given it up in coa-
sequence Of failing health, still
thought that they had found a pro-
6tab,e cruising ground sorsswhere
by themselves, and nade a port at
soma out-ofthe-wsy island.
"When you do hear from the ship"
said be, "sbe will be doing well, de-
pend upon it."
Thus matters stood when Jane
one day bought, as usual, the Mercn-
ry; and hasteaing bone with it,
paused not even to remove shawl or
hat; but tearing il open, she cast
her eyes upon the shipping intelli-
gencc. With riveted gaze upon the
paper, and the paleness of death
chasing the rosy bloom from her
cheeks, she dropped into the nearest
chair, and mechanically read on.
What is it Jane! News from
Reuben :"
No reply. The breath came hard
and thick through the parted lips.
the dilated eyes wandered not from
the item till the last cruel word was
read, the last spark of hope dying
out with it, the paper fell to the
floor, and. the insensible girl was
caught in the feeble arms OF her faith
er, as she sank under the blow so
heart crushing, so suddenly inflicted.
Fever aud delirium followed and
for several days Jane Atbearn's life
wavered in the balance But nature,
aided by medical skill and the care
fol nursing Of her father and bis !
kind neighbors, at last triumph.d.
With The captains permission, ] |
have copied from the printed slip
which be still carefully preserves, as
3 reminder, he says, of the one great
tolly Of bis life
"SAD MARINE DIsAsTER-PRoBA-
BILE Loss OF THE BARK AJAX,
AND ALL OF HER CREw.
Ship Condor, which arrived at this
port yesterday, reports, March 10th.
v hile beeslmed in the Blight Of Bra
I'll, picked up . junk bottle sealed
lightly. which appeared to have been
several months in the water. On
opening the bottle. the following re-
port was found: Bark Ajax, of Bris-
.ol, at sea, near the Cape of Good
Hope Aug. l-six feet of water
n the bold, snd gaining upon US
every hour We have just got the
aferesail on her to scud before it,
1ut the gale, which has blown for
.wo days, is still increasing. There
. little or no hope for us.-R W.
We have copied this from the paper
tself, which is in good condition. AMI
'till perfectly legible The hand
writing corresponds well with the
signature Of the second officer, Mr..
Reuben Winslow. on the duplicate
II the ships articles. Had she reach 1