Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-09
CAPT. SARAH BATES.

Sarah Bates lived in New York Har-
Dor. She slept in Oldport, New Jersey.
went to school in New York Citv, and
studied her lessons or helped her mother
at housekeeping in the great bay behind
Sandy Hook. Altogether, she lived oyer
a great deal Of space for one so young
more singular still, her fathers house
Travelled more than fifty miles every day.
stopping at night in Oldport, New Jer-
sey, and spending the day at New York,
or somewhere between these places.
To understand this rather queer ar
rangement, you must know that Sarah's
father was called the captain; one of
the men-Mr. Cramp-was called the
mate I; one of the other men was known
as the engineer the other was called
the fireman, and the last man-Jake
Flanders by name-was known as the
deck-hand. The house itself was named
the Mary and Sarah," and the name
was painted in big white letters ON the
side of the house.
One day the MARY and Sarah was
on her way to the city. Sarah had been
helping her mother and was late with
her lessons, so she gathered up her books
and went forward.
Her father was at ihe wheel, and
Sarah slipped behind him to the sofa
and curled herself upon it, and prepared
to study her lessons. The boat steamed
steadily on and on, and soon entered the
great bay that opens in from the sea be-
tween Sandy Hook and the Narrows.
The "Mary and Sarah" plowed ahead
directly for the Narrows, leaving
wake of fragrance from a mil
lion strawberries to mingle with the
sweet breath of the sea. They would
reach the Narrows in about an hour, and
enter the upper harbor, and in another
hour would be at the dock, in good tinre
for Sarah to go ashore to school. JUST
ahead of the boat was q long line de
ships coming and going in the MAIN
channel that extends across the mouth
of the bay from the Narrows to Sandy
Hook. The wind was southeast, and
quite number of vessels were running
III before it, while others were beating
out against the wind, or were being
towed down to the Hook, with their
sails loose in the wind, ready to spread
as soon as they should clear the land.
The sun shone directly upon the girl S
shapely head, and the cool salt air lifted
her brown hair playfully. She was not
exactly pretty, but pleasing-one of
those sober girls who grow to be splen-
did women, strong, quick and capable.
Perhaps she was almost woman now.
She could cook, and sew, and make up
state-room, as well as any girl ashore.
If need be, she could stand up and take
that great wheel and steer the steamer
from Oldport to New York and back
again, and ask no favors of ship or ferry
boat. She knew all the bells for the en-
CINE, and the rules of the road, and had
handled the boat many a time in the
crowded Hudson, and twice she had put
the boat in dock, without even scratch
ing the paint on her sides.
"There's bound to be collision -
Her fathers voice startled her, and
she laid down her book and looked
through the window. They had crossed
| the bay and had joined the procession
of vessels in the main channel. Directly
ahead was large bark bound in, under
full sail, and in front of her was three
masted schooner, beating out. They
were dangerously near each other, and
the schooner seemed to be badly hand.
led. She changed her direction, and
| the bark shifted her course to avoid her,
and then the schooner came up in the
wind on the other tack.
What a dreadful pity They are
! going to strike.
Almost before she could say this, the
/ two vessels came together with loud
crash, and the bark's bowsprit broke of
and fell into the water, and the schoon-
er's foretop-mast snapped, and the fore.
top-sail came fluttering down to the
deck. At the same instant the engine.
bell rang, and the engine stopped, but
the boat had sufficient headway to bring
her up alongside the bark.
Captain Bates leaned from his window
and cried out to the men on the bark:
"Want any help? ?"
A man looked over the ships side anC
said
"Tow us to the city,"
"Take the wheel, Sally, while go OF
board the bark. This is too good joi
to lose. Keep her steady until | senC
Mr.. Cramp up to you.
Sarah stood up and took the wheel a
if it was the most natural thing in the
world, and her father went out on deck
and down to the deck below. The
schooner had by this time drifted ava,
from the bark, and falling off before th'
wind, bore away on her course withou
waiting to see what damage she haC
done. The tide was running in strong
and the bark, being much larger thar
the steamer and having her sails set, be
gan to move away from the boat.
"Bring her 'longside, Sally" criet
her father, from below. She pulled tn
bell and leaned forward and put he
mouth to the speaking.tube to the en-
CINE room. "Give her three stroke
and STOP" at once came back the en-
hgineer's voice from below, "All right
Captain Sarah"
They all called her that, so Captain
Sarah turned the wheel over and in
moment laid the boat alongside tn
bark, just as the engine finished it
three strokes. Sarah has keen eye
you observe, Just then, Mr.. Cranp
&hm wnatm ANkawaA &hM Raiin@ hne4mn av7,