The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-21
Our Olio.
SAVED BY OIL.
From Chambers Journal.

From an officer in the service of South
of England shipping company we have re-
ceived the following narrative of his expe-
riences of the use of oil in tempestuous
sea:
In April, 1869, I sailed from Cardiff as
chief mate of bark called the Glamorgan-
shire, whose dimensions were-length, one
one hundred and forty eight feet, breadth
275 feet, depth, 17.5 feet, and register
tonnage, 745 tons; built of greenheart,
with iron beams, and classed at Lloyd's Al,
fourteen years. As may be inferred from
our port of departure, our cargo was coal
Of which there was upwards of seven hun
dred tons on board. And | remember re-
marking as we left the docks that our
draught at the sternpost was equal to the
depth of hold, but the draught forward was
some twenty inches less But be that as
it may, although | did not measure our
freeboard, | know that it was very small,
a.., felt sure that in heavy weather our
ship would be wet one. Encountering a
southwest gale as we left the docks, we had
an opportunity of testing the capabilities
of the crew, which consisted of two able
bodied seamen, two ordinary seamen, one
cook-and-steward, three mates, carpenter,
the captain, and six apprentices two or
three of whom had made one voyage to
sea. the others being quite inexperienced.
When We dismissed the tug off Lundy
Island we made sail, and before many hours
passed, had to reef the topsails; but our ap-
prenticcs would not 90 aloft, as they were
afraid to leave the deck. Nevertheless, by
dint of little encouragement, they were
induced to ascend to the fore-topssail yard,
and assist to the best of their ability In
reefng the sail; and before we had got
south of the roaring forties they could all
hand-reef and steer in very creditable
manner. Unfortunately y our carpenter died
before we reached Madeira, and as the ship
was on her first voyage, there were lots OF
carpentering jobs to do, which devolved
chiefly upon myself and the captain So,
while we were running through the trade
winds, we had managed to get the ship
pretty square and ready for heavy weather,
Rounding the Cape in Jul (which Is
there the depth Of winter-we edged away
southwark until the parallel of from thirty
eight to thirty-nine degrees south was
reached, and pom which parallel it was
determined that we would run down the
casting. There we began to encounter
stormy weather Well do [ remember that
a few nights after crossing the meridian OF
the Cape we had fresh northwest wind
and were under topsails and courses, when,
about half-past seven p. NJ. Il heavy head
sea sprang up from the eastward, causing
the ship to dive and plunge violently. We
happened to be pumping the ship at the
time when she took heavy dive, stove in
the fore-end of the forecastle-which was
house built abaft the foremast-carricd
AWAY all the russes and cranes Of the four
topsail-yards, threw the third mate on to
his head. and caused my chest to turn a
somersault, and remain bottom up while the
decks were flooded with water, the ship
having buried herself as far as the fore
mast. Here was the beginning of our
troubles, for next day the wind hauled to
the westward and rapidly increased to a
gale, accompanied by rising sea: The
wind then veered a little to the southward,
when the weather became clear. We were
now running before the brave west winds,
and these, accompanied as they were by
the stupendous seas which they raised,
drove our ship at speed OF something like
twelve knots an hour. These magnificent
seas are a splendid sight, rolling as they do
with such stately majesty, changing from
dark blue at the base to gray, and then to
a beautiful semi-transparent green near the
crest. that curls over with an awe-inspiring
roar, breaking into froth and foam, and
capping these miniature water=mountalns
az with snow. Yet grand in aspect as these
waves are, they approach vessels stern IN
4 way which is sometimes far from pleas
ant, for they come on with an angry rush,
rapidly increasing in velocity; and if they
do not come on board, they break around
with disappointed roar.
After scudding for several days before
these gales, and being popped and quarter
ed by many heavy seas, our vessel was
becoming the worse of the bufeting. Some
of the boats had been stove in, the cabin
and forecastle several times washed out.
while the deck houses themselves were as
leaky as sieves. One afternoon the captain
and myself were employed calking the top
Of the cabin-house, when heavy sea board,
ed the ship, washing us both OFT the house
and dashed us into the mizzen rigging
where we grasped the shrouds and were
saved from going overheard. Had we been
at work few feet farther aft at the time
we would have gone clear Of the rigging
and perished. Our calking-irons and NAL
lets were swept overload.
Those gales continuing to blow day after
dav, our poor bark was suffering much
nearly all the bulwarks having been washed
AWAY. while the g-boat, which was stow
ed in chocks on the mainhatch, and con
tained the pinnace, slowed bottom up In
side, was split into two by the pinnace be
ing driven right through her, and both lay
mass of wreck on the deck, only prevent
cd from being washed away by the lashing'
| and grips which still held on. The spare
spars were even washed away, dragging
with them, out of the deck, the ring-bolt'
to which they were lashed. The after ol
booby-hatch was covered with network o
lashings, so persistent did the sea seem IL
its endeavors to wash it away.
Our time was now employed in repair
ing damage, and no sooner was one thinE
secured than something else was WASHED
adrift; or the crew was so repeated.
washed away from their work that it hat
sometimes to be abandoned altogether
The captain began to regret that he hat
not lightened the ship by heaving caFg'
overheard when he had the opportunity
But it was now too late, for no hatcl
could have been opened without swampin!
the ship.
During the night watches the vessel wa
steered by the two able seamen, of whom
there was one in each watch; the captain
and myself for night after night taking ou
shift of four hours at the wheel, which re
auired two hands to manage it. Thes
| go, c4;Il .olIod oftor nc or nacsnd III