The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-21


tive and irresistible fury over the taffrail,
followed almost Immediately by another,
which washed us away from the wheel, burst
in the cabin doors, filled it, and also the
ships deck up to the level of the topgal-
liant rail. Our little vessel staggered and
trembled under the pressure, for she was
now completely submerged. Had third
comber of sea followed the second, Think
she would have certainly foundered. As
it was, she seemed to hesitate for moment
as to whether she would float or sink, and
just as we were thinking she was going
down, she seemed to shudder and shake
herself, and began to rise and recover her
way. She had been nearly at standstlll
during this dire ordeal.
After regaining the wheel, which was
done almost immediately after the second
sea broke on board, and in much less time
than it has taken me to relate what hap
pened, we found the vessel within two or
three points of her course, and quickly got
her straight again When conversing with
my companion, he informed me that he
had served several years in schooners en-
ployed in carrying fruit from the Western
Islands to England, and that when running
before heavy gale and high sea it was
the custom to have two canvas bags tllled
with oil and hang one over each quarter,
whence the oil dripped into the sea, and
difusing itself over the surface, smoothed
the waves. This statement | repeated to
the captain, who without any hesitation
gave his sanction to the experiment, and as
soon as it was daylight [ sent this man to
make two bags such as he had seen used
on board the fruit schoOners. When flat
tened out, these bags were Of triangular
shape, with the apex cut off, and wnen
filled with any liquid assumed comlcal
form. In fact, there were none other than
the sailors duf-bags. These bags might
contain each about half gallon of oil, but
into each was poured only about quart,
for we had not much to spare, the mouths
were securely tied, and then they were
hung one over each quarter. The oil now
began to drip slowly into the sea, and after
a few minutes the effect produced seemed
the work of magic. Although the wind
was still blowing fierce gale, the sea seem
ed to be comparatively hushed, and, in the
wake of the vessel, calm; for instead OF the
angry roar which we had been so accustom-
ed to hear at our backs while steering the
vessel, all was quiet, save occasionally Il
bigger and more furious wave would lap
little of its subdued crest over the tatfrall
and quarters with a kissing and defiant
noise What was before Il great comblng
sea was now reduced to huge mountainous
swell, which rolled harmlessl ly up to us and
passed us with smooth and almost comb
less crest. But on each side of our track,
and where the oil had not difused itself,
the waves still broke and roared with una
bated fury.
For many days we ran before these noble
gales and seas, but not another ever came
on board At times the canvas bags be-
came clogged with the oil, and then they
were pricked with large robing- needle,
which was attached to one of them by a
lanyard for that purpose. The quantity
of oil used. 50 far as | remember, did not
exceed half gallon in the twentyfour
hours. Compared with such small guam
tity of oil, the effect Of it upon the sea was
almost incredible.
Relating the above facts to some friends
in Nagasaki, among whom was an Irish
man. the latter remarked that it was no
wonder the sea was smoothed with the oil,
since the latter was 50 slippery that the
wind could not take hold Of it. Now |
have since learned from your Journal that
this is the reason, though l was perhaps
disposed to think at the time that the
Irishman was only quizzing me.