Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-13

Sea'ners In the gale. Another repor,
IKE that of canon announced that rbe
ioretopsail had been blown out of the
bolt-ropes.
We now could do no more. and VIC
looked for the Lady Adams. Il was
useiess-not on account of the interyen.
ing seas "rolling mountains nigh "
out the binding mist or spray which
scarcely permitted us to see the men
VINO stood at our sides. All the after.
noon the water was smooth as a marble
moor, and the seas, forced down fiat by
the wind, not one of them dared 10
snow It's head above the surface, for
fear of having its cap blowed of.
Night came on. and there was no
iuii in the gale. The ship was held
last, as il in vice. just in one position
with the lee gunwale in the water.
The Lady Adams was probably at
some distance from us; and far into
the night the watch discerned bright
light, which doubtless appeared nearer
than it really was.
The captain was called up, and much
speculation arose on the subject. 1t
could not be ship trying out blubber
that was incredible in such a gale. 1t
could not be the Lady Adams, or some
other ship, setting signal of distress
Then what could be the meaning of that
| distant glare on the surface of the
water?
The captain said little, but he looked
very grave.
In the morning there was less wind
and heavy swell. Nothing was TO be
seen of the Lady Adams, and then the
steward reported to us that there had
been much talk in the cabin about the
light which had been seen during the
night. The captain had expressed ar-
prehensiOn that it was ship on fire.
Old Ben listened in silence to our
speculations; shut up his jack-knife,
stuck it in his belt, and went on deck
with a sober countenance without ut
terlng word. Then we doubted not
that Ben believed that the Lady Adams
and all her crew had perished by fire
on that stormy night.
We sailed for California. After a
short stav at Santa Barbara we left for
home with full cargo of sperm oil.
Nothing more was heard from the
Lady Adams, and il WAS taken for
granted that she had caught fire and
and thas all hands had perished by the
confiagration.
Years rolled on, aud among the
whaling yarns that whiled away the
long winter evenings at Nantucket
firesides was that of the tragic end of
the young and gallant Captain Tobey
and his ilI-fated crew.
In the meantime from young boy l
had become a man. Business called
me TO New London, and | put up At a
hotel in that town. The young man
who attended the bar was what was
called "a clever fellow" and he and !
soon became acquainted. | had not
been many days at the hotel when this
youth joyously Informed NE that he
was going to New Orleans. A gentle
man named Chessner, who belonged TO
the South, and who had taken a fancy
TO the amiable youth, had promised to
give him a good situation if he would
90 TO New Orleans with him.
While we were talking Mr.. ChessneT
came along, and nodded to his young
protege.
That's the man-that's my friend
said the youth.
l turned and looked at Chessner,
feeling somewhat curious about him.
and having heard so much OF his kind
ness to the young clerk. Chessner,
who overheard the remark of his pro-
tegc, turned at the same moment, and
our eyes met. He gave slight start,
scowled, and turned very pale. He
then went on.
was certain that 1 had seen that
man before; but where. l felt that
it was impossible to say. l felt conf
dent that he recognized me, and that
the recognition pleased him little. His
eyes were very black, surmounted by
thick, black eyebrows, under which
shot malignant fire. 1 never saw such
an expression of concentrated hate.
Why that? whom had l ever injured
or offended past forgiveness, that this
man seemed desirous of annihilating
me?
Once again / saw this man. 1t was
on Sunday, and l, with many others,
was walking in sort of park or pleas
ure ground. Suddenly l encountered
that sombre countenance. Ii was GER
tainly face, the expression of which
was familiar to me, but the dress and
form were strange. had no recollec-
ton of any part of the man except his
face, and that face now appeared TO me
at distance, those black, ,vengeful eyes
glaring through long vista of shawls,
bonnets and hooped skirts, so that the
rest OF his person was hidden from my
view.
On the next doy, or the day after,
for nv memory is treacherous on that
point,l went out in Il sail-boat to take
pleasure excursion on the sound. A
flaw of wind upset the boat on my re-
turn. was not more than a quarter OF
mile from the shore, and severa! per-
sons who witnessed the accident be-
stirred themselves very zealously to
send me assistance. A boat put off;
but it was needless; / swan TO the
shore without difficulty. On the next
dav. a fellow lodger at the hotel said to
me. " Do you know Mr.. ChessnerT
"why that question:" was my re-
ply. .,
suppose you and he must be great enc
mics. When your boat capsized yes
terday he was on the wharf and saw il
all: vet he walked rapidly away instead
of assisting in launching the boat
which went TO your aid.
al think have seen Chessner some
where" said 1; "but / have no recol- |
lection of any person of that name"
"There is something very eccentric