Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-27

NSSOuuNs lOI tu6Te WAS Il cOuJlu-
uous gale in the wrong direction. We had
Just enough coal to run to an island about
twenty miles off the coast which was near
US. There we set to work to cut wood.
Inc whole ships company was drafted
InIo service. We brought the wood from
shore IN our boats, which would OCCASION
ally SINK, but we raised them again and
made pretty good headway. We had a
supply enough to last us a while, and
tnen steamed across TO the mainland,
Where we took shelter in a little bay,
which we chrlstened
CHRISTMAS BAY,
Tor 1t wanted but few days of that holt
Gay, and we knew we wouldn't get away
ior many days. The first thing we want
eo was provisions, and the next wood.
Tame was very scarce, but the rise and
TALL OF the tide in the bay was between
twenty and thirty feet. When ii receded
IL left the rocks literally covered with
mussels. AT the first low tide after our
arrival every man went TO work on those
rocks with a will. Hoes, picks, shovels,
anything we could get hold of, served 20
drag the clinging mussels from the rocks.
w hen we had pile collected on board
sufficient to go around, every fellow
came up with pan or kettle and secured
his share and made off to wrestle with
onOh oAOhCs NOWs Mu5SeiS dTGu
such bad eating at first, but they
don't wear well unless you have some
some variety. Our time was pretty well
divided between gathering mussels and
gathering wood. We needed the former
to help us with the latter. We were par
tlcularly DESTROYS OF securing a variety
OF food for Xmas dinner. On the day
before Xmas q thought l saw some geese
not far on, and q couple of us went after
them. They We're geese. We found both
black and white ones, always pairing of,
according to color, one black and one
white. WeSueceeded in shooting several,
and retarnedDte the ship highly elated.
Goose tor Xmas sounded very fine, ard
we had large anticlpations, for the mus
sells, AZ steady diet, were growing a
little Hresry. Our steward promised to
cook them in style fit for king. In
honor OF the occasion we decorated our
cabin with all the flags and bunting on
board, and made things look holiday like.
DINNER TIME CAME,
and so did the geese. and our mouths
watered, but they didn't water long.
With the geese came the most intOIerable
stencil you can imagine. L had noticed
they smelt little fishy when we first got
them. But when they were dressed and
cooked, great scot! how they did smell.
They drove US out OF the cabin, and took
away all taste for mussels. Even Jacky,
who is not generally over particular, kept
at good distance. Our precious geese
had to lie thrown overheard. If we had
only known what we learned afterwards
we might have had good Xmas dinner.
The skin contained all the fishy, oily mat
ter that made the trouble, and If they had
been skinned before cooking we could
have enjoyed some nice tender slices from
their plump breasts. So after all our
Xmas dinner consisted of nothing but
mussels with bunting decorations.
1--WE remained in Xmas bay for two
weeks, gathering wood and mussels. AT
the end of that time the wind suddenly
veered around 80 that 1t favored us, and
we again put to sea, We rugged up
some extra sails that helped some, and
under steam and sail made about three
knots and 1t was about 700 miles TO VAL
paraiso. We had almost reached bay
some distance up the coast where there
was a settlement, when the wind failed
us and we were rapidly drifting out to sea
again. We dropped anchor and fOrtu-
nately could hold our own. 1t was a sore
disappointment 10 be so near relief and
yet unable to get any. Suddenly boa t
put out from shore with man and
LOAD OF POTATOES.
s'He came alongside and we gaves him
and his potatoes very cordial welcome.
He was an American who had OWNED
our predicament and gave us assistance
when we needed it most. How we did
eat potatoes! We had them roasted,
boiled, baked, fried, fzzled, in every
style imaginable. l never tasted any
thing SO good in my life. We imagined
our American Samaritan must be an
escaped convict or something OF the kind,
but didn't ask any questions. He lived
all alone near by, and raised enough to
live upon. 1t was afterwards learned
that he was the mate of a whaler, who
had committed some act of cruelty aboard
ship that necessItated his jumping over
board to save his skin. 1t wasn't long
before he managed, with the help of a
favorable breeze, to get inside the bay.
The only white men at the settlement t
were TWO priests. One couldn't speak
a word of English, while the vdcab-
ulary Of the other was rather
limited. He knew but two English words
woman and whisky SuitIng the ac-
tion to the last word he drew from be-
meath his gown long black bottle full
of first rate whisky. 1t tasted good, now,
l tell you, Well, it's enough to tell that
we succeeded in making our way slowly
up the Coast until we reached a port,
whereiWe secured supply of coal as
we'll as of real provisions, and had an OPP
portuhity OF tightening up our loose
wheels and making some other slight re-
pairs. Then we were able to make better
headway, and finally reached Valparaiso.
We learned good many things on that
cruise, among others, never to go round
the Horn experimenting. AS long as L
live | will never forget that disappoint-
ing Xmas dinner twenty years ago. L
think it will be turkey Tomorrow, con-
Guided the Commodore, smacking his
lips, and it won't smell, either.'"