The Portland daily press., 1884-05-22

OuIItuJ coming QOWn from the ArcClc re-
glons. Then the wind again found its way
to the Southwest and came up with an in
creased warmth of temperature which we
felt was sure to be a forerunner of something
not enjoyable. In fact the day was what
sailors term a 'spet' day, or bad weather
breeder. 1t was clear and unnaturally warm
at nrst, but there wasa peculiar halo or circle
around the sun and singular haze envelop-
ing the atmosphere. Toward night it be-
came overcast and gloomy and another gale
came on, If possible more severe than tho
last. The sea rose quickly to mountainous
nelght and made the vessel plunge heavily
and necessarily. Much damage was done by
the heavy laboring and rolling about.
IEis breeze in due course passed off, and
was succeeded by another from the North
which finally found its way to the North
East, and as the sea went down rapidly the
people improved in health again, and assem-
Died In large numbers upon the deck to OBJ
tam needed fresh air and change.
The mysterious passenger was, however,
becoming more restless than ever and walk
ed about alone muttering to himself in a
most extraordinary manner.
some of the people, being now we'll, began
70 chaH and tease him, and in one or two
cases molested him. He therefore appealed
to the chief officer and surgeon for protection
and complained bitterly of the treatment
hO AOOcAScu. hd balu, some or THESE Ger
mans have threatened to kill me. They have
put knite before me, right into nv face,
and my life is in danger. claim the right
of being protected, although it will only be
for short time if you still persist in going to
destruction" He seemed like a man for
saken by the world and compelled TO bear
the storms of life without the aid of friend
to support and comfort him, an afflicted be-
ing, crushed and broken down by misfor-
tunes, and waiting for the time to arrive
when he would be relieved from his misery.
He wandered from one end of the deck to
the other, sitting down in odd corners and
places where he would not be disturbed.
he always made his appearance with a car
pet bag in his hands, which he never left for
moment He took none of his meals with
the others, but brought his tins to the stew
ard, who placed his rations in them, and he
then assembled to the deck to select some
quiet place where he could eat his meal I'M
disturbed and in comfort. He made ad-
vances to the chief officer, who, being man
with little liberation for idlers, repulsed
him at once. The captain was probably in
his opinion, too high dignitary to be ap-
preached; at all events he was unmolested.
Myself aud the other oaicers being young,
listened to all his visionary views, but was
the one selected as the medium of his COM
munication with the captain, and no doubt |
he placed an amount of confidence in me
not wholly deserved But the strangest |
thing was that he slept SO little, and never |
in the berth which was allotted to him. He |
generally stole away to some corner and |
slept in sitting position.
Most Of his approaches to me were in the |
dark, at night, and after others had gone to |
bed. One evening after a pleasant day, I |
met him still carrying the bag. He was get |
ting desperate, and so very excited that he |
trembled. l supposed he was suffering from |
want of sleep and suggested this to him, re- |
questing him to apply to the surgeon for a |
sleeping draught, which would sooth him. I |
said, what is the use of your having all |
these absurd forebodings, and suspicious? |
| am confident everything will turn out all |
right. Surely there must be something |
weighing upon your mind" tried to calm |
his fears, and allay his anxieties, but all / |
said was of no avail
He waved his hands toward me in sol |
emn and impressive way, and said. Young |
man, you have not seen much of life yet. |
You have not suffered from misfortunes, |
your health is good, possibly no affection |
has come upon you, and probably what is |
before you now is the first trouble you have |
had; butsI tell you that with every move |
ment this ship is making, she is going to de- |
struction. Will you try, then, to get the |
Captain to listen to me for momentp
AS he was making this remark, he placed |
his bag upon the deck, stopped and opened |
1t, and brought out small coarse canvas
pouch, which he held in his hand. He
put 1t before my face and shook it gently.
From the noise it appeared to be filled with |
coin. He then put one hand upon my shout |
der, waved the bag before me, aud said, |
Look here, will give you this purse with |
100 gold sovereigns in it, if you will only |
persuade the Captain to go back with the |
ship. believe he likes you, and if you can
possibly impress him with the fearful woe he |
will bring upon this ship and people, should |
he still persist in going on as he is going, |
you might succeed in influencing him to |
turn back again, before it is too late. Think |
of that awful word, ''too later
PART II.
The Wreck.
A thick snow storm set in during the ear |
ly part of this night, and the speed OF the |
ship was reduced. Soundings were taken
frequently, while passing across the several |
banks. About II o'clock a light was OBJ |
served upon the port bow, which proved to
be fisherman under sail, as it soon altered
its bearings. Shortly after this another light |
was sighted upon the starboard bow At |
first it looked like shore light, as it APP
peared to have more fixed character than |
the other, but finally we concluded that it |
was "fare-upn or flashing light from a
fishing schooner. By the Captains orders,
went up aloft to try to ascertain its char |
acter, but while was there the snow came |
on thicker and heavier and obscured every |
thing from view. As I was coming down
the rigging there was a considerable luI or |
halo around each of our side and mast head |
lights, proving that the darkness and the |
snow fakes effectually prevented seeing very
far in any direction.
For myself, 1 had little knowledge of the
coast, but felt confident in the ability of |
the captain, especially when 1 observed the |
precaution he took in making soundings.
Sometimes the depth did not coincide with
that expected TO be found at the spot where
the ship was supposed to be; but these dis |
crepancies were accounted for by the fact of
stong S. E. current which was known 10
exist in that locality, and might have infu-
enced the ships position.
After midnight went to my cabin, it be- |
ing my watch below, having been relieved |
from duty by the chief officer. 1 did not
"turn in,' as the phrase is. Twas anxious |
in a manner l cannot describe. I felt a sense
of approaching evil, and had an indefinable |
feeling of anxiety pervading my mind. / |
therefore kept my clothes on, and lay down
upon the sofa. The other junior officer was
in the opposite room, but we exchanged few
words. dozed off for time. but my sleep
was fitful and full of disturbed dreams At
last slept soundly, but cannot tell how long
had slept when / was awakened by VIC |
lent shock throwing me off the sofa. Almost
simultaneously heard screams and loud ex-
Carnations. At first thought it was col
lision with another vessel, or the breaking of
some portion of our machinery; but in mo-
ment was made aware OF what had oc-
CURED, and fully realized our desperate sit
uation. The steamer had struck on a rock,
or reef of rocks, and seemed to be struggling
hard with the stony mass, wrenching and
twisting into all sorts of contortions, until
the engines ceased working The ship then
remained tolerablY quiet; but we could dis
tinctly hear the iron plates cracking on the
rocks under her.
Putting on my pea jacket to prepare for
contingencies suggested by these sounds, 1
rushed out of the cabin to the deck, closely
followed by the other officer. 1t was dark
and chilly with snow and sleet still falling.
was making all haste towards the bridge to