Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-21

ike unto that made by Niagara mighty fall, and
with time only to ORDER Hard up the helm
Let go the main sheet ! Let go the lee topsail
sheetsi Let go the topsail halliards!" when
furious blast struck the ship, forcing her over
under its mighty power, until the muZzles Of
our lee guns were buried In the water. while
at the same time dense mass of spray or mist
was driven over the rail with a force that
blinded every one AS the ship herself was
almost thrown on her beam ends by the first
puff of the squall. so all on deck were thrown
down. and found themselves struggling in the
lee scuppers. For few moments, what with
the bowling of the wind. the slapping of canvas,
and the impOssibiIity of standing upright it an
peared TO me doubtful whether or no l should
be able to save either the sails or the spars but
our stanch old ship paid off slowly and surely.
and as the force of the wind was brought abaft
the beam the crew picked themselves up
ders.
At length discipline, combined with the pre-
partitions that had made, enabled me to tri-
unph over the fury of the squall, and by the
time the ship was before the wind the tOpsails
had been clewed up to the mainsail hauled
snugly up to the yard; then close reefing the
tOpsailS, set the fore and main and furled the
mZZen, then sent the tOpgallant and royal yards
on deck. Looking around to see what damage
had been done, found the foresail and lib were
split, and the fOretOpgallant sail blown away
from the jack stay; there were also a few
bruised limbs among those who had been pitched
to leeward. All the smokers forward lost their
pipes and tobacco, and received q thorough
drenching, while the watch officers who had
turned in, being on the weather side of the
ship, were all turned out i'm a most uncere-
mOnious manner, finding themselves suddenly
sp.awlng on the deck in their staterooms.
Everything was to rights at last, the ship
running before the wind, when as suddenly as
the squall had begun, 80 suddenly it ceased,
passing away in cloud of mist, and disappear
ing IN the distance to leeward, leaving nothing
TO mark Its pathway save our good ship stripped
OF her canvas and living almost motionless on
the water. went to the cabin to report, and
found the captain standing at the door, looking
very pale and miserable. After giving him the
details Of the squall and Of my actions In regard
to the ship, he remarked:
That was terrible squat, Mr.. Bluegrass +"
Yes, Sill" answered. it was quite heavy.
think 1t must have been q white squat > but
1t is all over now it has passed ahead and as
the weather is as it was previous to its advent,
make sail?"
Make SAIL sir" he answered, with indigna-
ton expressed in his tones, ''make SAIL sir! No.
slr' Thus the interview ended, and sail was
not made on the ship in hurry
White Squalls so called, are Of very rare oc-
currence No seafaring person of my acquaint-
ance has ever experienced one. Even with my
nifty years OF service this was the first and last
nave ever met. Showing, as they do, few or
no signs OF their approach, and travelling with
great velocity. they are particularly dangerous
and woe betide that unfortunate vessel over
taken by one, If unprepared to meet it, for she
must either be dismasted at the first fury Of the
blast, or else forced over by its mighty power,
be capsiZed, and
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
From the time when discovered the far dis
tant mist that heraded the approach of this one
until the time when it had passed away not an
hour elapsed, and it left US with the stars as
brightly shining, the wind as gently blowing
and the sea almost as smooth as it had been be-
fore its coming.
AS have stated, sail was not made again on
the V in hurry, for during the space of
four days and nights she remained under the
short sail that reduced her to, the captain not
permitting any more to be made. being fearful
lest another white squall might be bOlted up
somewhere in the universe. only to be let loose
upon his devoted head At last, to the surprise
or everyone sail was ordered to be made and
In due time We arrived safely at Porto Praya
where. finding the commander in chief, our cap
tain reported
"The dangers he had passed"
In conclusion, ask whence came that mys-
FERROUS voice. but for whose repeated warnings
! should not in all probability have discovered
least serious damage to the ship or perhaps her
loss altogether? ascribe the voice ana those
warning words to that
s'Sweet little cherub
That sits up alOIt,
Aad looks out for the life OF
Poor Jack"
-Gh1-l sfynoe Mt Coz