New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-01-16

were fully revealed to the shudderlng
sailors. Suddenly the sails shivered and
tapped. :, !.
Cup with your helm! keep her tull!v
shouted the captain, as he turned toward
the pinnacle.
"The wind has headed us off pint, sir, !"
responded the seaman, as he glanced
from the compass to the weather leech OF
the maintopsail.
"Then God have mercy on us!" NUT
tered the captain, as he glanced quickly
to leeward. IS IT'S narrow chance, and
any thing is preferableto being dashed to
pieces on yon rocks. Mr.. Person." and
he raised his voice, "loose the mainsail
and reef it,
The mate stared at his commander in
%unalloyed amazement, and probably for
the first time in his life hesitated to obey
the order of his superior.
"She will never bear it, sir"
"She must, or carry the masts over
the side. Set the sail, sir, or I'll do it for
you"
sI'll do it, sir, if it's the last act Of my
lite,' and soon after the hardy crew were
heaving the tack down, while the sheet
was manned and hauled flat aft.
The effect of the broad surface of can
vas upon the ship was tremendous. Her
lee channels were buried in the foam
ing surges, and she reminded her bold
commander of a fer y steed under he
lash.
The ship no longer rode over the seas,
but forced herself bodily through them,
dividing the masses of water which pour
ed in a continual torrent aft to the
break of the house.
A favorable start had enabled the Sun
beam to head we'll up, the breath of the
seamen came freer; but in the midst of
their hopes and fears the short wintry day
came to close, and the sombre shades of
night enveloped land and sea. All day
long not mouthful of food had passed
the lips of the crew, from whom came no
word of complaint. It was impossible to
start fire in the galley stove, and, in
fact, no one on board thought of hun
ger.
Sound the pumps there, carpenter,and
pass the word for the stewart to light the
binnacle."
The captains orders were at once obey
ed; the carpenter in faltering voice re-
ported three feet of water in the hold.
"What is the matter with you, Chips?
Your voice trembles like an old woman's.
Is it anything to be wondered at that
vessel makes water when she is forced in
this manner? Rig the pump, sir, and be
careful what you are about, or you'll rue
the day you ever signed articles with
Jack Hardy" and the Captains voice as
sumed hard, stern tone, which had its
effect upon the subordinate.
The bowling of the wind, and the,never-
ceasing roar Of the huge waves as they
toppled on high, now mingled with the
dismal clank Of the pump, and the rush
of hail as they battered on deck. The
running gear had been swept in confu
sion to leeward, and damned by the wa
ter washing to and fro meath the spare
spars dashed along the water-stays.
The glass had began to rise, and al
ready the gale betrayed symptoms Of dy-
ing out. Still not an officer or man left
his post. At ten o'clock the vessel was
judged to be abreast Of the islands, and
as the gale lulled, the roaring Of breakers
dashing against the rocks doomed through
the air.
At midnight the wind sank suddenly
away, and the sound of the breakers be-
came clearer. Perilous as had been the
the situation of the ship throughout the
day, it was rendered infinitely more so
by the dead calm.
There was not breath Of air. The
ship had become unmanageable, driving
broadside to the rocks, where the heavy
southwest swell was breaking with a
force only equalled by the appalling
noise of the reverberating surges as they
eliminated in clouds of foam and vapOr
about the iron-bound shore.
Every moment the ship was forced
nearer and nearer to her doom. The ca
bles and anchors were entirely useless,
for there was no bottom to be had at one
hundred and sixty fathoms; the boats
were of no service for towing, on account
of the furious swell, and all hands real
lied that in less than twenty minutes the
good ship Sunbeam would be ground in
to pieces as minute as toothpicks. The
seamen gazed at one another aghast, as
death, clothed with countless terors,
stared them IN the face. Suddenly the
carpenter started forward.
"There is one chance left, lads. Fol
low me, and lend a hand to launch, the
long-boa p
ssThe long boat! the long boatg,' was
repeated from the pallid lips Of the. poor
fo1l ,hr.Sx = 10,