The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-10

l ciPWIlneS cOulQ De m2nneu, IDe IOEctop-
sail blew up and burst into smithereens,
Just like one of those elastic air-balls
when filed too full
at WAS a terrible tempest. |, who
have seen some fearful weather in my
time. will take my affidavit that worse
storm OF wind never ragged than that.
1t picked the sea up and made wheels
/ of the waves. Tat looted-I don't say
they were-but they looked to be forty
or iiftv feet high. The Eagle was full
of iron very deep, and labored heavily,
taking in tons of water forward, so that
the undertook forecaStie was scarcely
to be come at by the men through the
scrttle. In the trOughs, during the
water rolls, the barque would lay so far
overto the windward that twas enough
to make the oldest seamen hold his
| breath to look at the curl of the oncom-
ing sea. and speculate whether it was
| poSsible that she could hoist herself out
! clear of that terrific, white. roaring,
flashing arch, before it rolled its enOr-
NOUS volume clear over her. But the
Earle was a good sea-boat, having a
| faring bow that forced the head surges
to throw her up, and a swell of the
sides that made her cork-like oD the lean
of twentv-foot hill of water Had she
| been of the ordinary tank shape, it must
have been all froth to ten feet above the
mast-coats, with the watch on deck in
the weather-rigging, and the master and
mates keeping a lookout in the cabin,
and coming her by the. te!l-tale.
'.For three days we had terrible
weather: then it broke, the wind veered
to due east, and after blowing double
reefcd topsail breeze for twenty-four
hours. settled away into the northeast
and blew along steady and bright again
into the trade wind. 1t was WedneS-
dav. the morning watch and [ had
charge of the deck. Daybreak found
us under a fOretopmast stun sad, the
| SKY clear. and the east as green as
moonlight with the dawn. The sea
was calm, the trade clouds rolling III
pulls Of vapor athwart the stars over
head and in the west, and the horizon q
line as black as you could produce by
the sweep of a pair OF compasses dipped
in India ink.
II stepped over to leeward to have Z
look at the sea under the foot of the
mainsail. and Just then the arch of the
sun jutted up and sent long beam OF
silver light flashing across the ocean
the extremity of which sparkled upon
an object that appeared white and
glistening in the radiance. 1t bore
about four points on the lee bow.
fetched the glass, and took look. She
was vessel, OF what rig l could no
distinguish. but apparently under SINAI
sal. l put down the glass and waitec
bit, and then had another look.
now farcied [ could detect signs OF con
fusion aloft, but of this l could not yet
be sure, though the small canvas she
showed made her appearance singular
considering the fine weather. JUS
then Captain BlacSett came on deck
and 1 reported the sail to him. HI
pointed the telescope ut her, and said
1t seems case 0l distress. You
sights better than mine; have you made
out anything resembling 4 color"
"'No sir l replied.
".Wel. we viii bear down and see
what the matter. Keep her away.
he called ont to the young fellow attic
wheel: and at the same time | sung Out
to the watch to lay aft and brace the
yards in a tribe. This was done. and
the vessel brought about point on Oul
lee bow. twas MT long before we
were able to make her out very plainly
with the glass. 1t was now seen tha
she was a small, full-rigged ship o.
about eight hundred tons; her three
lower topsails and topmast staysail had
been blown away, and her wheel anC
all boats were gone. She had bulwarks
and lay very deep, as though full O.
water. In the lower miZZen rigging
the English ensign had been seized
union down, and there it blew, flicker
inc like flame, making as strong al
appeal for assistance as ever maj
could by waving his hands. Well, we
shortened sail and approached her
keeping 4 sharp lookout for anything
that should resemble 4 human being
there was nothing in that way to bt
seen. There was longiSh deck-houst
aft. and the remains of another one for
ward. There WAS not much swell on
and she lay pretty quiet, giving herself
SLOW slant, now and again, that hove
a space OF her wet side into the SUI
and made her fash out like a beacon
".She looks to be abandoned, sir,
SAYS to the Captain.
why. yes; that's her appearance
certainly SAYS he. But it's fin'
morning; No harm can be done by you
stepping aboard and giving her brie
overhaul.
$50 the bark's maintopsail was laiC
to the mast. boat lowered, and three
hands pulled me over to the wreck
Two men clambered over the rail af.a
me. leaving one in charge of the boat
We stood a moment looking around
Her decks were full of rattle, ropes
slaves and casks, and the like; the mail
. matches were Off, as if the crew haC
been iettisoning her cargo, her por
, bulwarkS forward of the main rigging
were smashed flush with the deck, an'
altogether she had the most ship
, wrecked and strained appearance tina
ever saw in a vessel aioat. put M,
,, hand TO my mouth and sang out:
, =" Anybody aboard here?' but tn,
only answer that came was the sount
of the streaming OF the wind through
! the rigging. and the bubbling and wash
, inc noise of the water over the side.
f mo fear rs TO her not being aban
= doned, sir said one of the men. Al
l empty coffin couldn't be more destitut
l of life. I stepped to the door of tn
deck house and looked in. There wa
5 no appearance of injury here. A tabl
= went down it, with fixed chairs on on
G side and locker on the other, and o
9 the port side was row of cabins, fiv
n o.. IL I tIi,,l- Tho dnnr Of this danE