The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-24
OFF CAPE HORN.

spell asSbad as that, which is said to en-
velope the Flying Dutchman. FOurteeI
days we have been off Cape Horn, anC
the last thirteen there has been no Cd
portunity to catch a glimpse of sun
moon or stars. L would give half Of al
that l am worth for an hours cleal
weather.
And Captain Hardy-Jack Hardy, as
he was best known-descended to the
cabin to pore over large chart spread
out on the center table. He was moi
over thirty years Of age, brave, capable
and handsome, despite the bronzing his
complexion had received meath tropi-
cal suns. His frank, open contenamce
| wore an anxious eXpres sion, which was
reflected back from the rough, weather.
| beaten Yisage Of the mate, u man past
the meridian Of life.
| AS for the ship-the Sunbeam-she
was a clipper, and as tine craft as ever
sailed from the port Of New York Tor
| San Francisco.
| The ship was lying to under close
reefed maintopsan, main spencer and
forestaysail, and as the short day came
to close the gale seemed to increase
from tue southwest. Furious squalls
of hail and sleet howled through the tall
| spars and taut rigging of the ship, which
at times keeled over to The icy blasts,
until the lee-scuppers were submerged
IN the dark fOam-streaked waters.
The whole expense Of the heavens was
| covered by black cloud, which, as the
| darkness increased, appeared to sink
lower and lower, until the gilded balls
OF the poles were obscured by whirling
masses OF scud driving before the furI-
| Gus tempest.
| The shivering watch, wrapped in mon
Key jackets and oil skins, gathere / aft,
crouching for shelter under the lee OF the
bulwarks, while the mate, bundled in b is
long watch coat, walked the quarter
deck In sombre silence.
Aft by the pinnacle, peering at times
at the compass, dimly revealed by the
tlIckerlng lamp, stood Captain Hardy.
| No thought of sleep entered his head
A terrible anxiety, coupled with
| thoughts of wife and children, filled his
stout heart as he peered necessarily to
windward, or strove to pierce the gloom
| which had settled like pail TO leeward.
And so through the long dreary night,
the watch was kept up, and with morn
ing's dawn slight change was noted.
The ship was lying to on the starboard
| tack, making lair weather OF it Tor so
| sharp vessel, when the murky obscur-
| lty began to clear, and glimmer of
clear sky was seen.
The important news was imme diateiy
reported to Captain Hardy, who was
doing in chair by the companion
| way. With bound he sprang up the
steps, at the same instant the CRY OF
Land, Ho" echoed through the sup.
Four points OF the weather bow the
loom OF land was seen, which eyery
moment was becoming more distinct,
while off the lee beam stretched the ice
bound coast Of Cape Horn.
The dark face of Jack Hardy grew a
shade paler as his eyes ranged from
point to point, taking in certain land
marks, which but too accurately con-
tirmed the dangerous predicament of
the Sunbeam, presentlment of which
had haunted the young commanders
breast.
The ship was nearly landlocked, on a
lee shore, attended with horrors we'll
calculated to demoraliZe the brayest
seaman. The land on the weather bow
proved to be the island Of Diego
Ramirez, that on the weather quarter
81. 1dletonso rocks, and that on The lee
beam was the coast OF Cape Horn.
But two alternatives remained by
which the lives Of all ON board could be
saved, together with the ship and cargo,
One was to run between Diego Ramirez
anu Cuo NVaoey GAe oLueI W make SAIL
and endeayor to bear off shore in the
teeth of the gale, which had abated
somewhat in violence.
1t was impossible to remain hove to.
as few hours would have found the
vessel on the rocks.
Jack Hardy was not long In making
up his mind as TO the best course to plr
sue. A glance at the chart revealed
countless sunken rocks and lodges in
the channel, with which he was totally
unacqualnted. He would only attempL
that as last alternative.
"Send all hands aft, Mr.. Person,
Rouse out the watch below. Splice the
main brace, set the olose-reeted foretop-
sail and reefed foresail."
The steward hastily served out the
grog, which was eagerly swallowed by
the sailors, VINO fully realized the ma
ture of the struggle they were about to
engage in.
A tremendous sea was running, which
set the snip still nearer to the lee
shore with every heave. Under the
press oil canvas which 1t was imperative
to carry, the Sunbeam was all but buried
in the foaming surges.
eea alter sea broke over the ship as
she lay In the trough, deluging her with
water from The forecasLle aft to the bin
nacle, Where Two OF The best seamen had
been ashed to the wheel. Occasionally
the sharp DoWs Of the clipper would de-
scend with terrible force, plunging mad
ly Into the seas, threatening to tear her.
self asunder as she struggled on.
The entire ships company was on
deck, cllnging to lite.lnes which. had
been rove lore and aft. The captain had
taken up his position aft by the wheel.
while he two mates, with their respect.
i've watches, stood ready to execute apy
orders tnat might emanate from the
quarterdeck.
Gradually the ship closed in with the
land, ana Inc sight was truly a terrible
one. When the vessel was in the trough
OF the sea, nothing could be distin-
guished but waste Of waters; but
when borne aloLt on the summit OF some
enormous wave, then the high, beetlInR
rocks, with mountains OF ice, over which
the seas were breaking masthead hipb.
were fully revealed W the shuddering
sailors.
Suddenly the sails shivered and flap
ped like thunder.
"Up with your helm! keep her fullp'
shouted the captain, as he turned to-
ward the binnacle.
"Ihe wind has headed us off a pint,
,ir,' responded the seaman, as he glanced |
from the compass TO the Weather-Ieech
]fthe maintopsail.
"Ihen God have mercy on U.S., NUT |
,ered the captain, as he glanced quickly |
To leeWaru. SSIiHia a Mario n, nh a MO onI