Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-04

nlSht nor Gay Slucc the iust iuau was
took. Z.
So rapidly had the pestllence spread
that on the fifth day out only five men
beside me was lit tor duty and two had
been put over the side. Then the second
mate was took down, aud 1t We're funny
that when l went into his room for to
see him he were awful troubled along
OF that poundin' he give me at the
mouth OF the river whereas oi course
didn't bear him no ill will, KNOWN
as he only done his duty; but l suppose
he were little out OF his head with the
fever. or he wouldn't have took it SO to
heart -l -.-- ...
Wall. sir. as you may see. things was
q getLin' serious for US. All this time
the wind had hung on light from
southeast. and we had kept all sail onto
her, havin' worked her down, .kecpin
we'll to the eastward; but it be NOW nee
essary for to get her under snug sail, SO
as il we caught u breeza we NIGH mt be
caught uappin' There werri { no ,ise
turnin' back and as to the pestiien"e.
our only chance were to worE her down
till we caught the trades. when the"
were a chance as the sick might get
we'll. Judges, too, rs the old man
didn't like to go back, SO long as he
could keep her agoin,- We was little
! enough, however, Tor. to reef her down
| and ii we waited another day perhaps
! there wouldn't be enough OF us tor to do
| it. So it were determined, we beih
well into the blght to the eastward, ior
| to get her head to the sDuthard, and her
under double reefs. Accordin' the mis-
sus took the helm, and we clewed up
and turlcd the royals, to'gailan' sails
and tlyin' ]lb. put two reels in the top
sails. and slowed the crochick.
Two more sailors was took down the
next day, and also the steward We
didn't have but one more to take care OF,
however, because two more of the chaps
died, making tour in all. 1t were dread
full pleasant for to see how the missus
bore up under all this trouble, as it was
lit to have broke down Il strong man, iet
alone delicate woman; but she kept up
her spirits through it all. and KEEP the
old mans heart up too and / really thlnf;
if she had not been along he would sar-
tinly have knocked under hisselt. Old
Mills, the mate, were Il big two-fistel
chap, as was proof agln lever or any
other disease. and he took things com
Portable, of course, turning in and out
with the old man and going below a
the end of his watch and sleeping u:
if nothing had happened. whereas the
old man scarce slept wink night o.
day, beng anxious tor to try t" GIT som'
oil the chaps on the mending hand.
You are wearing yourself OUT th'
mate says to him, and doing nobod,
, any good you had best take your regu
, lar watch below us | does, and Keel
5 fresh; that's the greatest kindness yo'
can do to all hands. Leave The nussin!
TO Tom, and take care of yourself. els
he will have you on his list atore long
and l will be left alone Tor to look ate
the ship
2 This were good advice, but the oil
man couldn' take it, aud Him and III
+ and the missus worked away the bes
4 way We could, she maxim all kinds t.
i nourishin' food in the galley. and hin
o and me givin' it to sich as could tax
o it, and on the seventh day out there wa
g two of the sick ones as was past til
crisis, aud a mendin'.
), 1t are wei Tor TO think it were OF
r nussin', but to my idea, perhaps, it weG
e the shlttln' OF the wind a couple OF pint
# iurder 10 the BASTARD. she comm up
Il about south. She didn't GO ahead yer
j. fast, but that couldn't be helped. for "
It daredn't put any more sail onto her, an
n it were well we had her SO snug. tor til
n next day our renlainin' three men W;
y took down and two more OF the sic
,f ones died, leavin' only the old man, til
IS missus and me tit for duty, and three
It us we'll tuckered out at that.
y Still the missus kept up her spri
n hraCa1v sTnprn aipt any mare N I
d taken SICK says she. and that's COZ
n ISOLATION, aint it, Toni? Says she
me All we've got to do now is to s.
e these poor fellows well, and that we
o soon do now. By tomorrow we ougl
n to get the trade winds, and then we
of be all right ..
d Yes. marm,' says l, 'leastwise ifnor
II OF us amt took down
j. oh. we amt going to be sick wei
d tever-proot, you KNOW says she.
81 1t seemed as we was, and next d;
10 sure enough we got the wind fresh fro
~ the east northeast.and at noon WAS soul
II of the Tortugas and into the trGe gu
current. That day we buried anoth,
man, making seven in all that we hs
lost. but the rest was mending rapi
and there were every prospect OF the
T. being able tor to help work the ship
10 few days.
+, Next morning we sighted the Cubs
Ia coast, and began to git her around II
, miSsus she takes the wheel, the old m;
NJ having larned her how to steer som
IN what. and then we three turns to AT
,r haulS up tho fore and main sails, IN
~ taxing in the slack OF the gear, VI
u. know, because there were no necess
for to haul them up snug. Then we brai
of up the spanker, and goes to the or
no chick braces, the old man and the ma
,d taking the man. Then the missus WI
,d told for to luff. and as she come in Il
I'd wind the lee braces was let go, and Il
II after yards swung around OF theirSelve
IL we taking in the slack of the wealth
,n braces, and the missus at the same tin
ts heaving the wheel hard up atore she 10
headway. Arter getting the slack Of Il
r braces well in, we goes forward, al
TX when she were off aiore the wind v
I'd lets fly the head braces and gifts the TO
40 yard round alore the top sail took ab.c
,e hen we sing, out To the misSus for
,v right the helm, 50 as she wouldn't con
ne to too tar, and We goes onto the for
p. castle and gifts the iib and stavsail shee
"a Wv lct w ilCl y" Z ail tuc ltl
III sheet. and taking the tack to the ca
le Stan, we heaves 1t down. Then begi
i. Mug with the fore braces, we took e
Id efything to the main capstan and g
H. the yards sharp up and weather brac
IA taut, arter which we set the mains,
a, and spanker agin, the whole JOB takin
rs suppose, nigh onto three quarters
in an hour. whereas if we had had 4:
,p hands il would not have took over I,
X minnits for to have tackled her. 1t we
Mt conselIng, however, ut all events. tor
,e know as we could work her. and v
knowed ii we could keep her off Il
20 shores the current would do the re.
u and every mile we went were toward
n. healthier region.
IN That night at dark we weared h
Ill round agin, preierin' tor to do o
lit evolulin' by daylight. The WIND Ike
Or steady and strong from east-nor.heas
err the weather being cool and comfort
IN bic, no more deaths and all the 81.
.h mcndlng. Old Mills. the mate, .steere
10 most of the time. and the rest of us tent
10 ed to the sick men, keeping everythiu
he round EN- clean Us were possible al
at giving OF 'em as much OF the blesse
IN northeast wind us we could Ne,