Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-12-19

WHICH, 10 WHICH UEtUN&Eua VS. W
low, the boatswain' 5 whistle was heard.
followed BY the shrill cry "All hands
take 10 sail! Jump, men and save
shipl''
Springins from eur hammocks. We
found the frigate leaning over 90 steeply
that Il was with difficulty we could
climb the ladders leading to the upper
deck. Here the scene was awful
Bhe main deck guns had several days
pfaxinHalF been rnu imknnd hpuaeds ana
/ TIE p0Fl- holes closed. 6nI llle lke caf-
ronades on the quarterback and fore
castle plunged through The sea, which
undulated over them in milk-whIte bill
lows Of foam. With every lurch TO
leeward the yard-arm ends seemed 10
DIP in the sea, while forward the spray
dashed over the bows in cataracts and
drenched the men who were on the
foreyard.
But this time the deck was alive with
the whole strength Of the ships COM
pany. 500 men; officers and all, mostly
clinging to the weather bulwarks. The
occasional phosphoreseence oithe yeasty
sea cast glare upon their upliIted IA
ces, as q night-fre IN a PoPulous city
lights up the panic-stricken crowd.
In a sudden gale, or when a large
quantity OF sail is suddenly 20 be furled,
il is customary for the First Lieutenant
to take the trumpet from whoever then
happens to be officer Of the deck. But
Mad Jack, the Second Lieutenant, had
the trumpet that watch, nor did the
FIRST Lieutenant now seek 10 wrest il
from his hands. Every eye was upon
him, as IL we had chosen him from
among US all to decide this battle with
the elements by single combat with the
Spirit Of the Cape-lor Mad Jack was
the saving genius Of the ship, and so
proved himself that night. owe this
right hand that is this moment flying
over my sheet, and all my present be-
ing, TO Mad Jack.
The ships bows were now buiting,
battering, ramming and laundering over
and upon the head-seas, and with ter
rible wallOwing sound our whole hull
was rolling In the trough of the ioam.-
The gale came athwarl the deck. and
every sail seemed bursting with its
wide breadth. All the quarter-mas-
ters, and several Of the forecastle men
were swarming around the double
wheel on the quarter. deck, some jump
ing up and down with their hands upon
the spokes; for the whole helm and gal
| vanized keel were feFcely feverish with
the life impaired 10 them by the tem-
pest.
II blew a hurricane. The spray few
over the ship in foods. The gigantic
masts seemed about TO snap under the
worldwide strain Of three entire top
sails.
"Clew down clew downl shouted
Mad Jack, husky with excitement, and
in frenzy beating his trumpet against
| one of the shrouds: but owing 10 the
slant OF the ship, the thing could not be
done. twas obvious that before MANY
minutes something must go-eiiher
sails, rigging or sticks: perhaps the hull
itself, and all hands.
Presently a voice from The top ex-
claimed that there was a rent IN the
main topsail, and instantly we heard a
report like two or three muskets dis
charged together; the vast sail was rent
up and down. This saved the main
mast, for the yard was now clewed
down with comparative ease, and the
topmen laid out to stow the shattered
canvas. Soon the two remaining top
sails were also clewed down and close
reeIed.
Above all the roar Of the tempest and
the shouts Of the crew was heard the
dismal tolIing of the ships bell (almosi
as large as that Of a village church, J
which the violent rolling Of The ship
was occasioning. Imagination can not
conceive the terror Of such a sound in
the night tempest at sea.
"Stop that gbost!" roared Mad Jack
"away, one Of you, and wrench of the
clapper."
But no sooner was this ghost gagged
than a siIll more appalling sound was
heard-the rolling 10 and fro OF the
heavy shot, which on the gun-deck had
broken loose from the gun-racks, and
converted that part Of The ship into ar
immense bOwling-alley. Some hands
were sent down TO secure them, but q
vas as much as their lives were worth
Several were MANNED, and The midshIp
men who were ordered TO see The duty
performed reported il impossible untI
/ the storm abated.
The most terrific job Of all was 10 fusl
flhe mainsail. which at the commence.
ment Of the squalls had been clewed
up, c0axed and quieted as much as pos
sible with the bunt-lines and slab
lines.
Mad Jack waited some time for q
lull ere he gave an order tOo'perilous tc
be executed; for to furl this enormous
sail in such gale required al least fifty
men on the yard, whose weight, su.
peradded to the weight Of the ponderou,
stick itself, still further ieoparGizeG
| their lives. But there was no prospect
Of cessation Of the gale and the order
was at last given.
At this time hurricane Of slsntine
sleet and hail was descending upon us;
the rigging was coated with thin glare
Of ice, formed within the hour.
"Aloft, msin-ysrd men, and all yot
main-top men, and fuh the mainsaII r.
| cried Mad Jack.
| dashed down my bat, sIipbed out o
my quilted jacket in an instant, kiekeC
the shoes from my feet, snd, with q
crowd Of others, sprsng for The fizging
Above the balwstks (Which 10 irigals