Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-10-21
Douglass, George
I Shirt storg.
A STORM AT SEA.
By 4. B. NORRIS.

was engaged in the coasting trade,
in the year 1876, the time of this oc-
currsnce which | am about to relate.
The Orrin Porter, a three masted
schooner, well built, fine model, and
rakish spars, was truly magnificent
looking vessel. She was reputed to
be one Of the fastest sailipq vessels on
the coast, and | am able to osay, upon
my own word, that fiom the time
pat my foot on board till | left her
never saw anything in the shape of
sails pass her.
We left Galveston, Texas, on tie
fourth of September, homeward bound.
our place OF destination being New
York. We crossed the gulf and
rounded the Keys with excellent
weather but Hatteras, that dread
point, with its barren wastes and hid
den shoals, that lie embedded in the
oceans bosom many miles from land.
to dash to pieces the unwary sailor
that ventures too near-that dread
point, whose light is seldom seen, and
sea is never calm, whose breakers roar
with sound that only the thunder of
heaven can drown! Those that are
acquainted with this dangerous local
ity give it wide berth.
We were in company with small
schooner, which, We afterwards learn
ed, was from Jacksonville, Florida,
deeply laden with lumber, and also
bound for New York. After being at
sea few days, nothing inspires the
heart of Il sailor more than the COM
pany of another vessel ; the close prox-
unity in time of danger, the excite
ment of race, and many other things
render it very pleasant.
Everything went we'll till We reach
ed Hatteras, on the fifteenth. This
day, | remember, promised to be the
most beautiful | ever saw. Calm and
bright the sun rose from behind the
oceans crest, shedding its rays far
and wide beneath cloudless sky, and
with 1t came a gentle breeze, waiting
the odors of pure, sweet air that
none but those who follow old oceans
pathless wastes can appreciate.
The forenoon passed away very
calmly with just enough wind to keep
the sheets from dragging in the wa
ter. We went down to dinner, ma
turally the captain glanced at his
weather glass as did so | saw cloud
sweep over his face, and in answer to
inquiry he said,-
Look for yourself"
Eating hasty meal | ran on deck !;
here everything was in confusion !;
sails were being lowered, and storm
sails were being rugged and run up in
their stead, and in remarkably short
space Of time we had everything stow
ed, and stood ready and waiting anx-
iously for the fierce onset we knew
would surely come.
Meanwhile, what was our little craft
doing all this time? Lyingabout half
a mile away, with all sails set, she evil
IDENTIFY regarded our preparations as
being entirely needless. So it seemed
for the sun never shown brighter than
it did now but the hand on the deal
plate of the weather glass pointed too
sternly at the word stormy and we
knew that that little hand never lied.
The gale struck us about two o'clock
throwing us on our beam ends, and
carrying away the fore staysall out of
its balling with report like that of a
cannon. One great sea boarded us a
bout the fore rigging, sweeping the
decks of everything that was movable,
and dashing the spray from forward
to aft.
We turned to see how our little craft
had met it. Alas! it was as we had
expected. Having no time to free her