Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-11
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eve was anchored in the harbor of
MANILA" said n bronzed and weather.
beaten sailor as he stretched his legs
under the table and looked meditatively
at glass of beer which had Just been
placed before him. 1T were in the ship
Albert, as / shipped into fur the voyage
and our old mans name was Cole. The
old man was the best ever see at scentin
blow. Why, bless We, that nose of his
were better than any barometer that ever
was made. Many time I've seen him IL
walking up and down the poop with the
sky AS blue and the wind MS fair us any
thing suddenly he'd stop, cock up his
nose and give sort of snuff like. Then
he'd snuff all round the compass and
sing out for to shorten sail and get ready
for blow And the blow came, too. The
old man used to say he sometimes lied,
but he never made Il mistake "Well, us
l was saying, we was anchored in the
harbor of Manila. 1t was the most
beautifullest day You ever see. Not
enough wind to ripple the water, and not
cloud in the sky. The old man was
ashore. Bimeby he come aboard. As he
stepped over the side he stopped and give
q great snuff. Then he snuifed harder
and harder all round the compass. Then
he looked scared like and rushed below
to look ut his barometer. He brought
the barometer up on deck and placed il
where he could keep his eye on it, and
began to get the ship ready for II
typhoon, for TINT was what he thought
were a-comin'. The barometer didn't
go down bit, but that didn't fool the
old man. He sent down the sky-sail and
royal yards, bent on purventer buckstnys,
put double gaskets on all the sails
'cepting the fore and main tawps'ls, and
did every thing he could think of TO get
the ship in a condition for typhoon. We
oyerhauled the sheets, halyards, buntlins,
clewlins ana braces of the fore and main
tawps'ls, and fixed the gaskets so as we
could get nm oft in about two shakes of Il
lambs tail, fur You see we wanted to be
able to get sail ON to her quick to keep
her of shore if so be as she should drag
her anchors. We put out both anchors
and all the chain We had, and it was II
powerful lot / can tell you. "Well. that
night there want any sign of blow
just as calm and pleasant as il had been
and there was the old man a-walkin' M
and down the deck purity much all night
a-lookin' at that barometer, which never
moved IN inch. The next morning the
barometer did go down little. and the
old man looked actu'lny pleased, fur you
see he'd rather be in the biggest blow
that ever was than be caught at n mistake
in smellin' bad weather. Well. about
noon that day, while we were all at
dinner, there come dull rumblin' sound,
and the ship began to tremble all over
like as if she had struck II rock. Then
she began to go up, up, and we rushed
out of the foc'tle to see great tidal wave
sweeping into the harbor and on shore the
dust and bricks and trees was a-hyin'
round in great shape. We was all pretty
well scared, but fortunately we had out SO
much chain that we rode the wave in
safety. In the midst of the confusion |
saw the old man clinging for dear life to
the tiferail and heard him shout, "A
earthquake, by thunder; l thought twas
atyphoon. ="