The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-14
FOUR HOURS or MORTAL TERROR.
swept Overheard In u storm Mt Night Out OF
sight of Land.


made fast TO the pier next south Of Fulton ferry
on Saturday evening. and tho first thing that
Capt. McDade did was to call for coach. A
helpless sailor was then taken to his home.
This was First Mate O'Donnell. whose father
owns the schooner and whose brother In law
is her Captain.
The Louis Walsh sailed from Bnracon, Cuba.
on the 9th OF April with a cargo Of bananas
and cocoanuts She is n trim little vessel. and
rides n rough sea like n nautilus. The weather
was flnc until the third day out, but just after
they had passed Castle Island II began 10 blow
up from tho southwest rather fresh. When
Mate O'Donnel made his appearance on dock
that morning he was rather gloomy, and his
old friend. Patrick Downey. the steward. who
had been around the world with him. asked
him what was the matter.
Something is going 90 happen" he replied.
II had terrible dream last night"
Downcy tried TO cheer him up, bu, when few
hours later he saw two sharks swimming after
tho schooner. he remembered what o 'Donncll
had saidand began himsolft to feel npprehensivc
Tho wind stiIened and became a gale. but the
little schooner being fixed for It. scu1dcd along
at twelve knots an hour In the early evening
the wind abatcd little and there was some
rain. but shortly before midnight a gust from
the southeast caught the schooner unprcparcd.
Then the wind seemed 10 blow from all points
Of the compass, the sea ran very nigh. and the
darkness WIS SO intense that II looked like u
black wall. ILLUMINATED now and then 10y flashes
Of lightning. The crow could not sleep. and
made their way to the deck, and when q Donnell
stepped on deck for his watch al midnight he
felt So nervous his dream and the storm being
assO lated in his mind. that he asked Downcy
to keep him company during his watch.
At o'clock the storm was at It's height. The
Captain tried to Jihe. 50 us 10 get out of the
trough Of the sea, hui "A gust Of wind Whipped
"a MOI nd I'd 4 Ina la
ling snapped ono Of the spOkcs Of the pilot
wheel and whistled by Capt. McDade's head
could not see an arms length In front o. them.
and could barely hear the Captains orders.
strained the tackling. Something had got to
give or tho schooner was oyer, ana the iron
traveller" an inch and n half thick. did snap.
Mate O'Donnen knew what had happened
and. crawling. along the deck with the second
mate. John Peterson. they caught some OF the
main boom tnrklin O'Donneli threw it around
u Delaying pin near the main throat halyArds.
hoping thereby to hold the main boom. Every
instant they expected To- 40 over.
Lower sail, john the mate said To Peterson
as he tried 90 secure the blight to the delaying
Peterson felt for the main throat hayards.
II he could only lower sail ana ease her on the
danger would be- lnss ned. Just then there
came a gust that nude the timh'rs crcak aud
sounded on the sails like cannon boom. Pc
terson heard n sharp swapping noise and knew
that the delaying pin To- which ODunncIl had
The cor1nge turned around ono Of O'Don-
nell's legs 80 tight ihni h. was lifted clean from
his feet n the wind shipped the main boom
around. and threw him against the gunwale.
He struck on tho small of the hack. and WAS
thus drawn along t. tho storm. There the rope
unrnil' \, and lr dropped int the sea.
"Clpn. I'm oycrh0ard." Cant. McDado heard
his hr,'h'r-in-law -'renpi IL WINS trying mo-
ment for the Captain. His wilr's brother IN
The SEA. nnl bis main boom whipping back aud
forth, his ssrl ear"ning. ana his control over
her almost gone. If he tried 10 save the mate
his sriiit gone suIr
Hr's dead; its NJ use, Cap'n," Peterson
Capt. McDade did not answer. for Just then.
rs the vessel lurrhod. the pinnacle light went
out. and an instant aiterwari q fash OF light
Downoy saw that fash; Ny God, he crel n
the Captain, " the ships pilre.' He leaped into
the cabin The three oil lamps were ON tho
floor. and the fire was we'll under way. Downcy
sprang through the iiame to tho Captains state
room. seized the blankets from the bunk. and
throwing th"m ON the tlrc 81 tmped Il out.
Meanwhile the crew had gOt the mainsnil
lowered. and the schooner was, easci. Matc
Peterson. however had heard O Donns shout
and without waiting for orders CROPPED hisw way
nm then can't. MrDals hoard him shnuiinr
away behind IN the 'hoOner's wake Alriit in
the mott " ihuut an oar. and tho schooner
max i'm. ten knots an hour. Ile could not even
500 the schooner > tor h. the WAVES ran SD high.
Peterson had given up hope Suddenly lie
henrd family away Off in the darkness
1t was poor ODonnell. whom Peterson sup
posed To Ice M the bottom Of the sea. just tn n
h" SAW the senoon"r's light She had lacked.
ana was almost sweeping over him. He made
fast to her ms she s'ulld a along. and shouted TO
the Captain that he wa. -rl,. ust then they all
heard again a voice out loo tho Il lrkns-s Dow
ney s".I'd the ours. jumped into tle yawl. and
with Peterson roNed toward tue voice.
When OponneA struck the water he sunk
only few feet. and on rising 20 the surla 'e
shouted 90 the Captain. ana then tried q SWIM
He could not rs" hi~ legs Then j" rrmtm-
bnr u the blow that he had received in the small
% the bn' k. He thought his buck was broken
AMI That he might as well DIE H.