The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-13

Hope in the good ship Nancy Lee,
whereof James M'Cul1och was master,
on our voyage from Bombay to Liver
pool. / was the only passenger. The
voyage had been tedious, for the bottom
of the vessel was covered with barnacles,
and the captain was not very enter
tanning or instructive mariner. He had
one mate, Smith by name, whose only
diversion during the watch below was a
daring attempt to conquer "Life let us
cherish on one-keyed flute. was
consequently cast upon my own resour-
ces. The table was not very luxur1ant-
ly supplied, but there was always a sufi-
cheney and on Christmas day we had
an extra feast. We dined at three
o'clock. The weather was beautiful
all sail was set, and we were congratu-
lating ourselves upon so propitious a
"double of the terrible Cape of
Storms. We were not very sensible of
sudden change in the motion of the
vessel until heavy lurch to larbeard
sent bottles and glasses on to the deck
of the cuddy. The captain looked up
at the barometer over his head, turned
deadly pale, and staggered out on the
quarterback. Mr.. Smith was asleep on
the poop the crew, with the exception
of one sick man, were drunk and quar-
reling. The position was perilous, in
the extreme. Crack and the main-
royal with its yard and sail tapped
against the top-gallant. The captain
staggered to the halyards and called
out, as loud as he could "Let go
everythingp' The wind became fiercer
each moment ; the jib was torn to shreds;
the mizen-royal went ; the vessel was
almost on her beam ends. rushed
out, and aided the captain in "letting
co." to urge them to reef and furl and
get down the shattered masts-all to no
purpose. Only one or two were suffi-
GENTLY in their senses to make an effort
to do their duty. I jumped upon the
poop, and shook Smith out of his lethargy.
He stared, bewildered for some mo-
ments and when he seemed to realize
the condition of things, he began to
brawl and use his whistle for he was
bos'n as well as mate), and wondered
that no notice was taken of it. The sea
had now risen considerably, and every
now and then heavy seas dashed against
the Nancy Lee" OF swept clean over
her. By great efforts the "letting go I"
had been accomplished, and every yard
being loosened, the sails Topped about
tremendously, breaking from their lifts
and braces. The man at the helm, W ho
ought to have been relieved two hours
previously, now declared he could hold
on no longer-the pressure upon the
rudder was beyond his powers. He
place he was unheeded. So, in his
i 1A IL a11 e. -
and went forward-only to drink his
share of the liquor, which had been put
into his keg for him. The captain was
! frenzied-he stamped, swore, prayed,
invoked, ordered-all to no purpose.
Out of crew of fourteen, only four per-
sons, myself included, were fit to do any
thing. The elements took advantage
of our helplessness, and made terrible
havoc with everything on and above
deck. Happily, the matches were
hermetically closed, to protect the car
go. The foretopmast, unable to bear
the strain, now went, and in its fall
killed a sailor, who bore the rather in
| appropriate soubriquet of Happy
Jack" The men became frantic. One
went up aloft to cut loose the main-royal,
which still hung by some cordage to the
lower stem. He got up with difficulty,
and affected his purpose. The mast fell
on the deck. and struck Mr.. Smith he
staggered towards the gangway, and fell
overheard. I screamed with alright
and rushed to the side. A rope that
hung below the main-chains had caught
him as the vessel heeled over but in.
stead of proving his salvation it aided
his destruction, for saw his poor body
swinging to and fro, striking the ships
side with force enough to kill him if he
had ten lives. To shorten the story,
the gale slackened at midnight, and {
dead calm rapidly ensued. We haG
then nothing but the rolling of the help
less ship to trouble us. But to what {
miserable wreck was the full moon wit
ness Every effort was now made t.
repair damages, but although two
months more elapsed before we entered
the Mersey, our condition was 80 dilap !,
dated, that, in spite of the efforts made bi
the skipper to tell good story to his own
ers, they mulct him and the crew of al
that was due, and resolved that, il
future, no more such "merry Christmas
es should be passed by poor M'Cul
loch in their service.