Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-10-30
The PERILS OF CAPE HATTERAS.

The night was setting in cold and buster
ing, with every appearance of storm.
The day had been raw, even for November,
md riffs of ragged, gusty clouds, driving
before bleak northerly wind, had chased
each other across the armament, now hid
ing the sun in their thick folds. and now.
as they rolled apart, disclosing his cold
iisk to our eyes. The wind had kept up a
constant moaning, such as can only be
heard III the more wlntry months, when the
seas are roughened with continuous foam,
and the icy breez IS of Labrador sweep down
he stormy American coasts. As night drew
On. the clouds grew gloomier in the north
crn horizon-the gale sang shriller than
ever through onr rigging. whistling wildly
along over the FAST blackening waters. and
making us shiver involuntarily. The
breeze, too, was perceptibly damper. Snow
lakes began to fall.
Its going to be a wild night" said the
Captain, land ! fear Hatteras is under our
lie. We must close reef and get an otfing."
lie spoke anxiously, so that ali thoughts
Of sleep We're dismissed from my mind;
and going below for my nor'wester, ! pre-
pared to spend the night on deck As the
hours wore on the storm increased, the
wind howled wilder through our hamper.
:he rain drove fierce across our decks. The
cold was intense. and the rain became at
length sleet. Out to windward only the
white caps of the pillows could lie seen;
10 leeward nothing but waste of driving
foam met the eye. Oh! how We longed for
morning.
At last the dawn came, but slowly and
cavity, as if unwilling TO supplant the
uight. To eastward the dusky clouds were
seen heaving like misty curtain. Gradu-
ally the light increased, the dusky curtain
parted; but misty veil still hung over all.
The schooner moaned as she struggled on,
now striking into the trough, then rising,
calamity from her sides. Suddenly was
startled by the voice of the lookout shout
ing, Breakers ahead"
| looked to leeward. There, hardly two
cables length distant. they We're just dis
,elnible through the dim light-a whirlpool
Of white, angry foam. A tremendous cur
rent combined with the wind to drive US
toward them with frisltful velocity.
"Hatteras, heaven help u.s." cried the
Captain at my side.
How often had heard that name as
name of terror: but with only vague idea
Of it, after all; for had never expected to
De brought face to face with it and death.
But now [ was in the very presence of the
dread monster whose ravenous nav had
levoured thousands, whose bowels were
full of countless victims. l could al
most throw a biscuit into the breakers. In
less than five minutes would be in their
midst.
These reflections rushed across me swift
as lightning during the pause which the
Captain made TO take breath. Then his
rtentor voice shouted, down with the
helm! Haul in the sheets Harder!
harder
The wheel wbir,ed around; the huge sail
came heavily in; and then moment OF
awful suspense followed. Would the
schooner lie any closer? She quivered,
and seemed to drift boldly toward the surf,
I grasped q rope instnctively. A moar
rose from the little crew.
Cut loose reef" Numbered the Cap.
tain. Never mind untying, but out with
your knives. Stand by, some of you, ta
haul and Delay"
The expedient was little short of mad
hess. But it was our only hope. 1t seemed
AZ if all was over. As the sheet flew out,
1t gave jerk that nearly heeled us on ON
beam ends; then, catching the full fuzzy OF
the gale, it dragged us wildly along; plung-
Ing us headlong through the giant pillows,
while the water foamed around, rolling in
cataracts over the deck, gurgling and hiss
ing as it swept astern.
Keep her to it," shouted the Captain,
holding in the weather-ra ttlins, as he
watched the straining mast above.
Just ahead the breakers ran out into G
long point, beyond which was comparative
ly smooth water. If We could weather that
point there might be hope. We were shoot
ing toward it with the velocity of an ex-
press train. If rope should part-eveD
if the wind should blow stronger, we
would be lost. Even without these it was
doubtful whether we could rasp by. The
spray of the boiling surf was already
around us.
At that moment came q roar as it the
heavens were exploding. 1 glanced fear
fully up, supposing it was the main sheet
splitting. But no! the stout sail stood firm.
| saw the mast bending like a whip-stalk
in the gale, a sudden increase in which had
caused the noise. At the same iGstant the
schooner crashed through a huge billow,
throwing the foam in cataracts over us;
and when l next looked to leeward, the
breakers were whitening astern, and we
were in comparatively deep water.
We could scarcely credit our escape.
For moment or two the crew gazed silent
and bewildered on the receding surf, as if
Just aroused from a dream. Then, stimuli
taneously, all broke into huzza.
"Thank heaven!" said the Captain,
heside me "a Iitfla mora and I should