Frostburg mining journal., 1882-12-23


ship paid off slowly and surely, and rs
the force of the wind was brought abaft
the beam the crew picked themselves up
and worked with IL will in carrying out
my orders.
At length discipline, combined with
the preparations that had made, ell
abled me to triumph over the fury of
squall, and by the time the ship was
before the wind the topsails had been
clewed up and tho mainsail hauled
snugly up to the yard; then close raefing
the topsails, set the fore and main and
furled the mizzcn, then sent the topgal-
lant and royal yards on deck. Looking
around to see what damage had been
done, L found the foresail and jib were
split, and the foratopSailant sail blown
away from the jack STAY; there were also
few bruised limbs among those who
had been pitched TO leeward. All the
smokers forward lost their pipes and
tobacco, and receiv, thorough drench-
ing, while the watch officers who had
turned in, being on the weather side of
the ship, We're all turned out in most
unceremonious manner, finding them
selves suddenly sprawling on the deck in
their state-rooms.
Everything was to rights ut last, the
ship running before the wind, when as
suddenly as the squall had begun, so as
suddenly it ceased, passing away in u
cloud of mist, and disappearing in the
distance to leeward, leaving nothing to
mark its pathway save our good ship
stripped of her canvas and lying almost
motionless on the water | went to the
cabin to report, and found the captain
standing at the door, looking very pale
and very miserable. After giving him
the details of the squall and of my actions
in regard to the ship, he remarked:
'"That was a terrific squall, Mr.. Blue
grass"
"Yes, sir" answered, sit was quite
heavy. / think it must have been q
white squall;' but it is all over now; it
has passed ahead; and as the weather is
as it was previous to its advent, with
every indication of continuing fair, shall
l make sail ?"
"Make sail, sir !" he answered, with
Indignation expressed in his tones,
"malle sail, sir No, sirl" Thus the
interview ended, and sail was not made
on the ship in hurry.
White squalls, SO called, are of very
rare occurrence. No seafaring person of
my acquaintance has ever experienced
one. Even with my fifty years of SER
vice this was the first and last have
ever met. Showing, as they do, few or
no signs of their approach, they are
particularly dangerous, and woe betide
that unfortunate vessel overtaken by
one, if unprepared to meet it, for she
must either be dismasted Mt 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 1 discovered the
far distant mist that heralded the APP
proach of this one until the time when it
had passed away not an hour elapsed,
and it left lis with the stars as brightly
shining, the wind as gently blowing, and
the sea almost as smooth us il had been
before its coming.
As have stated, sail was not made
again on the V in hurry, for dur
ing the space of four days and nights
she remained uuder the short sail that
L uti ItCuCtu uSE W, VIC ttJU;lln tiOU
permitting any more to be made, being
fearful lest another white squall might
be bottled up somewhere in the universe.
only to be let loose upon his devoted
head. At last, to the surprise Of every
one, sail was ordered to be made, and in
due time we arrived safely at Porto
Praya, where, finding the commander in
chief, our captain reported
"The dangers he had passed."
In conclusion, ask, whence came that
mysterious voice, but for whose repeated
warnings I should not in all probability
have discovered. the approach of that
squall i'll time to prevent at least serious
damage to the ship, or perhaps her loss
altogether? 1 ascribe the voice and
those warning words to that
''Sweet little cherub
That sits up aloft
And looks out for the life of
Poor Jack"
christmas at Sea.