St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-07-11
outriding a Cyclone at Sea.
BY REV. c. L. GooDELL, d. D., ST. LOT

ocean at Qay Dfeak ny CyClOuc. IHo
sea had been vexed by autumn gales,
and the waves contrary for some days.
But this black angel spread his wings
on the water without warning. A cy-
clone moves with the stealth and spring
of a panther. The shock was sudden,
tremendous, awful. The blast of the
tempest, riding the gulf stream all the
way from the heated tropics, was like
the breath of fiery furnace. 1t was
the same cyclone which damaged Gal
weston, and tearing through the Gulf Of
Mexico, swept up the Atlantic coast and
out upon the ocean, spreading wreck
and death. ..
Our iron ship was staunch and well
manned, but the first swirl of the whlrl-
wind, travelling in its might like ma
iestic cylinder of fire-stOTm, stripped a
portion of the guards and boats from
the deck, and carried one of the crew
into the sea, breaking his leg. He
caught stray rope and was rescued.
The man at the wheel lost control of
the vessel for little, and veering
round, she went into the trough of the
sea. The great billows instantly Hood
ed and submerged her, and the sea-
water poured down the hatchway and
through the sky-lights on the deck like
falls of mill-dam. Those in the sa-
loon feeling the roll of the ship, the
waves going over her, and seeing the
green water starred with foam at the
port t-holes, and in the descending cata-
ract within, threatening to fill every
room and cabin in the ship, will never
forget the scene. This was repeated
several times. The wind blew so fierce
ly that the waves were cut Off COM
pletely by it, and leveled like a floor,
and the foam made it look white and
heecy, like wool spread out upon a
plain.
The ship could not be guided into the
teeth of the wind at right angles with
the waves, but must be made to "quar-
ter on" striking each wave at an angle
of As .. In this way there was con-
stant strain on the machinery, tending
to force the ship round parallel with
the waves, so she would roll helplessly
in the trough of the sea, and soon go
to pieces. The trial of her strength in
this way, hour after hour, was fearful
ly great When the stern would be
down in the water, and the PROV climb
|
on it sounded as if it were grating OF
the side of a vast granite rock, making
the whole ship tremble as she labored
staggeringly over it. Then, in going
down on the other side, the stern of the
ship would be lifted from the water
and the increased speed of the grea
propelling screw, freed from the resist
ance of the water, and driven by tho
force of thousand horse power, would
shake and jar the ship as if it wer'
coming to pieces. The passengers as
sembled in the dining saloon and cluns
to tables and sofas and chairs round tn,
room, which were chained to the floor
1t was impossible to walk, or sit, or re
cline, without holding on to some OBJ
iect with great firmness. Many wer
thrown and tossed about like foot ball
and much injured. For eighteen hour
this stress of weather was on us. Fo
eighteen hours, with few Interruptions
sat on the edge of a sofa, clinging t.
table before me; my wife lying o.
the sofa, and 1 bracing back against he
so as to keep her from being throw
upon the floor. 1t was a severe test Q
physical endurance. The sun rose an,
found us there it set and left us there
1t was not until near midnight tina
winds began to abate. Then for hour
the sickening roll of the retiring wave
was very trying in our state of exhaust
ion. 1t was long time to endur
hardnes.
After the danger of the first shoe
= was passed, the ships power to resis
before it must give way, was only
f question of time. Strained to the nj
most in every part, the time was com
y ing when it must weaken somewhere
Neither could the brave and faithfu
men who manned her long hold ou
Any moment some seam might open i
t the ship, some part of the toiling ma
chinery break, and all be over. Th
e sea was lashed into fury in its hight
and depths. Death sat on the floods
v Peril looked in at the windows. Th
roar and tumult was terrific. We wei
t 1,5OO miles from shore each way. Ther
was but plank between us and etel
+ nifty.
For the first fifteen minutes whe
. death seemed inevitable, my shrinkin
and recOil from death was very stron.
1t was terror to think of being cas-
a into such an angry, surging sea. The
came the thought, cannot give up m
il work for Christ now; His service is
joy, and in my strength l want to liv
h and toll for Him. After this cam
thoughts of my children and friend
y and my church in St. Louis. / said i
my heart, my work is not done. l car
h not part with them now. Lord, spal
me from this hour. When this tide
y thought and emotion had swept swift
past, it was as if Jesus came to m
y walking on the sea. My heart leape
out to Him in complete assurance an
e rest. "Perfect love casteth out fear
From that moment He was my refug
d and all burden went. There was
great calm in my soul Hooron snnn
e ed near and unutterably precious. I'll
bright way to it through the cryst
a waters appeared short and beautiful ;
pavement of emerald. There was
D. feeling of resignation and READINGS
then and there, in the midst of the boi
le ing, tempestuous sea, to go home to I'll
Heavenly Fathers house. From th
y early point to the end, was permittt
to minister to others.
id The occasion required a soul cal
and serene and confident in God. TT
lg crash of the sea and the revels of Il
wind, and the thunder of the far det
ne was mingled with the shrieks and groa
to of the affrighted passengers. Under Il
influence of fear the eyes protruded
y in strangulatiOn and drowning. A
classes were in prayer asking mer,
I" and seeking piteously to be directe
a. The interest in personal salvation W
instant and universal. A Jew sat
,g my feet fifteen hours, leaving only
the briefest intervals. The group aroul
IT me, clinging to their holds, listened
the words of salvation as for their live
IL The Bible seemed builded as an arm