Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-12-28
THE MISSING SHIP.

We sat eating our duff. Very little
molasses on thai duff! We were near
ing the end OF our voyage; and our Nam
tucket owner, did not intend, when they
fitted out the ship. that any OF the men
in their employ should overload their
stomachs. They believed it was I'M
wholesome to eat too much; and. oil
how considerable of our health they were
at least i'm that particular.
But we talked not of that; We thought
not of that, for we had got accustomed
to it, We Thought aud MO talke.l OF tho
Door fellows who had just come out from
nome, and who haul long voyage be-
fore them. Such were the crew of the
Lady Adams. The ship WAS rocking
and plunging, aud rolling up her bright
copper almost within an arrows flight oil
her weather bow.
Capt. TObey and his boats crew had
just gone aboard, for they had paid us d
visit and had brought letters from the
States.
We talked of those 'pOor fellows" with
commiseratiOn, though they wore brigh,
blue jackets. while they We're all in tat
tiers, and wore garments with patch upon
patch, astonishing specimens of mas.
culine needle work. We also talked of
Capt. Tobey; smart young fellow was
lie, who, it was averrcd. might have mar
rieu the owners daughter if he had been
so disposed. lie had chosen dark eyed
damsel of less lofty professions. This
was his first voyage as captain. He had
sailed from home only u few weeks after
his marriage
Capt. Tobey and his boats crew had
there were signs of whales in the dis
lance, anu the captain OF the Lady Adams
was not 4 man 10 neglect business for the
sake of amusement.
But, so tar, the TWO ships kept CON-
pany, and il was agreed that, if nothing
prevented, the two captains should en-
JOY the day together on the morrow.
We were eating our dun, and specu
lating upon these matters, when. sud-
denly the first mate leaned over the
hatch and Ldwlel out to- Us:
up here, at once. all hanls, and
don't be hanging OH there by the teeth.
Up. every mothers son of you, and
clsoe-rerf the ropsails -
"Uah now we are going to have it r.
calculated old Ben Lowell, aS he rose to his
feet anu pulling OH his unmentiOnablrs;
''we're going to get the bitter end OF
Japan. Capt. Ilussey ought to have
squared away for Cal,fOrny before this
time. Boys. you are going to see trou-
ble."
speech we were all on deck. 1t GER
tainly looked ominous to windward. and
the gale was already singing ill tile rig
ging.
We looked ut the Lady Adams. Her
look outs were hastily descending from
the top-gallaut mast-heads, and we could
even hear the nasty orders, given, as the
sbrill tones of her officers came over the
deep.
But we We're sooner under the short
sail than our cOnsors, tor her hands were
mostly green, and it took them longer
to r,duee the caYass than it did us.
1t was observed, however, that Capt.
Tobey had not contented himself with
reefiug. The sheets were let fly, and
the clue lines were manned.
Our mate was quick to notice that,
and looked meaniugly AT the captain; but
perhaps Capt. Hussey did not care to
receive instruction from young Tobey,
and he let the crew hoist the topsalls
Delay. ,,,a.
then ir roared, and thick cloud vi
binding spray Game rushing down up
ON us from the windward-
c,rried completely out of the ropes, an
like a small white cloud noateo out upon
the wings of the tempest.
The lee gunwale was in the water
there was a rumbling under deck; Dul
not much fear that the cargo woulu
sb;ft ne due care n I'd been taken TO stow
comnactly. The fore and miZZen masts
and their weather rigging We're strained
yat Cant. Hussey would not risk starting
the sheets
anI nj length orders were given to clue
nm and turl the mizzen topsall. In
ssheets were carefully losened anu the
cIue lines we'll manned. but the rope:
rushed through the hands OF the mel
who held them, and the sail, rent iron
top to bottom, iuttered like streamers IL
the gale, Another report IKE that U
n cannon, announced that the iorc-toP
sail haG been blown out OF the Dol
ropes.
al tor the Lady Adams. 1t was useless
NOT on account of intervening sea!
rolling mountains high, but the blind
ing mist or spray. which scarcely per
,nitted us to see the men who stood a
our sides. All the afternoon the water
was smooth as a marble floor. and thu
seas. forced down flat by the wind, no
one of them daring to show its heat
above the surface, for fear OF having it;
cap blown OF. :,
Night came on, and there was no Jul
in the gale. The ship was held fast, a:
il in wise, Just in one position, with the
lee gunwail under water.
The Lady Adams was probably al
some distance from US; and far into the
night the watch discerned a bright light
which doubtless appeared nearer than
ii really was.
The captain was called up, and much
speculation arose on the subject. Ii
could not be ship trying out blubber-
that was incredible in such gale. Ii
could not be the Lady Adams, or some
other ship, setting signal of distress.
Then what could be the meaning of that
distant glare OH the surface of the water:
The captain said little but he looked