The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28

when filed too full.
1t was a terrible tempest. /, who
have seen some fearful weather in nv
time, will take my affidavit that worse
storm OF wind never raTed than that.
II picked the sea up and made wheels
of the waves, that loOked-I don't saw
they were-but they looked to be forty
or fifty feet high. The Eagle was full
of iron very deep. and labored heavily,
taking in tons of water forward, so that
the undertook forecastle was scarcely
to be come at by the men through the
scuttle. In the troughs, during the
water rolls, the barque would Law so far
| over to the windward that it was 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
| Eagle was q 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 Cd the lean
of a tventy-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 lookout in the cabin,
and coming her by the tell-tale.
"For three days we had terrible
weather: then it broke, the wind veered
to due east, and after blowing double
reefed topsail breeze for twentv-four
hours. settled away into the northeast
and blew along steady and bright again
into the trade wind. 1t was Wednes-
day, the morning watch and [ had
charge of the deck. Daybreak found
us under q forctopmaSt stun sail. the
sky clear. and the east as green as
moonlight with the dawn. The sea
was calm, the trade clouds rolling in
puffs Of vapOr athwart the stars over
head and in the west, and the horizon a
line as black as YOU could produce by
the sweep of pair OF compasses dipped
in India ink.
Il stepped over to leeward to have
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. It bore
about four points on the lee bow. /
fetched the glass. and took look She
was a vessel, OF what rig [ could not
distinguish, but apparently under small
sail. put down the glass and waited
a bit, and then had another look. l
now fancied ( could detect signs of con-
fusion aloft, but of this could not vet
be sure, though the small canvas she
showed made her appearance singular
considering the fine weather. just
then Captain Blackett came on deck,
and / reported the sail to him. He
pointed the telescope at her, and said:
&" 1t seems case Of distress. Your
sights better than mine; have you made
out anything resembling q color?n
'''No SIR replied.
"'Well, we will bear down and see
what's the matter. Keep her away"
he called out to the young fellow at the
wheel; and at the same time / sung out
to the watch to lay aft and brace the
yards in a trifie. This was done, and
the vessel brought about point on our
lee bow. 1t twas not long before we
were able to make her out very plainly |
with the glass. 1t was now seen that
she was n small, fuH-rigged ship of
about eight hundred tons: her three
lower topsails and topmast staySail had
been blown away, and her wheel and !
all boats were gone. She had bulwarks, !
and lay very deep, as though full of |
water. In the lower miZzen rigging !
the English ensign had been seized, |
union down, and there it blew. flicker
ing like a flame, making as strong an
appeal for assistance as ever Il man
could by waiting his hands. Well, we |
shortened sail and approached her. !,
keeping a sharp lookout for anything
that should resemble a human being; |
there was nothing in that way to be |
seen. There was lOngiSh deck-h0uSe |
aft, and the remains of another one for
ward. There was not much swell on,
and she lay pretty quiet, giving herself |
a slow slant, now and again, that hove {
a space OF her wet side into the sun (
and made her lash out like beacon.
.''She looks to be abandoned. sir, |
says to the Captain.
Why, yes; that's her appearance,
says he. But it's a fine
no harm can be done by your
stepping aboard and giving hera brief
overhaul
$50 the bark's maintopsail was laid
10 the mast, a boat lowered, and three
hands pulled me over to the wreck. |.
Two men clambered over the rail after
me, leaving one in charge of the boat.
" e stood moment looking around.
Her decks were full of rattle, ropes,
slaves and casks, and the like; the main
matches were off, as if the crew had
been iettiSOning her cargo, her port
bulwarks forward of the main rigging
we're smashed flush with the deck. and
she had the most ship
wrecked and strained appearance that
ever saw IN a vessel atioat. 7 put my
land to my mouth and sang out:
d" Anybody aboard here?" but the.
)nly answer that came was the sound
If the streaming of the wind through
he rigging, and the bubbIing and wash
ne noise of the water over the side.
+" NO fear rs to her not being aban-
Toned, SIX said, one of the men. An
empty coffin couldn't be more destitute
If hfe.' L stepped to the door of the
ieck house and looked in. There was
10 appearance of injury here A table
vent down it. with fixed chairs on one
lde and locker on the other, and on
he port side was row of cabins. five
" six, think. The door of this deck
lOuse swung open and the two men
md | peered in. and then saws L:
y q IiH just step in and see isl can
.ome aeroSs ans=papers belonging to
ler.' for 1 HAustutell you there was no 4
h.nr. lou 4 =