The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-16

/ mean, as regards human speech or
sound; the gale and the laundering
seas never for a moment ceased their
tumult. Then followed the grave and
searching investigation into the Tys-
terry. Who'll had seen him last? Where
was he then? In what state? How long
ago was itP and SO on, and so on; un-
til at last the whole ships company
knew that.one of their number had
gone over board-presumably in the
morning watch; probably swept offby
a peculiarly heavy sea, well remem-
bered in that watch. But unknown,
unheard, unseen-his cry for help. if
stch cry he gave, utterly drowned
and smothered in the ceaseless roar
OF the sea, the shrek of the wind.
And so the men were dismissed, each
to his special duty; and the paymas-
ter was directed to see that the fatal
letters d. D. discharged dead) were
placed against the unhappy mans
name in the ships books.
And now occurred circumstance
which took the whole ship by storm,
as it were, and which, mere accident
and coincidence as it was, made all
the old seadogs nod their heads and
eye the younger men meanlngly, as
who would say, "What did l tell
you" while they, on their part, were
firmly impressed with the lesson, in
cause and effect thus so poineedly
placed before them. 1t was clearly
established and ere the AFTERNOON
watch was over the sky had cleared,
the storm had dropped, the wind had
shifted right round an'! was now blow
ing dead fair. There was no room
for more argument-the oldstei.s had
1t all their own way-the scotfers were
silenced.
The shipnowin afew hours rounded
the cape, which before had seemed an
impossible obstruction to her, and
made her way unhindered TO the
north; but the feelings engendered by
the events Immediately preceding .hiy
change had taken too strong q hold
upon the men to pass lightly away,
and in many q long first or middle
watch the subject OF the disappear
ance ofthelost shipmate and its im-
| mediate effect upon the elements was
discussed with bated breath, and ma
ny an ominous shake of the head was
given as the opinion was moodily ex-
pressed that "we'd not done with
him yet. And when afew days after
wards, on a Sunday morning during
divine service, the quartermaster OF
the watch came creeping and tiptoeing
down the ladder to report something
to the commander, who at once fol-
lowed him silently up the after hatch
way, but a few minutes afterwards re-
turned and whispered mysteriously
to the captain, who in his turn mount
| ed on deck and did not come down
again, we all felt that perhaps some
| thing more might be instore for us, and
was even now perchance at hand. How
impatiently we sat as the sermon
dragged out Its seemingly interminable
ing had engivcn and the quick, sharp
voice OF the first lieutenant had issued
| the order, "boatswain' mate, pipe
down. we literally tumbled up on deck
| to learn what twas that had disturb
! ed the calm of that SABBATH forenoon.
1t needed, but glance. "Icebergs''
There they were, along array OF cold
| tilmy, shadowy giants, looming huge
in the mist with which each surround
ed himself-ghostly, ghastly, clammy
spectres from the very land OF death
itself Not that we thought OF them
as such; no, we were glad,we young
sters; we liked them, thought they
were "jolly, Though any object asss
! gifted with an aspect OF ioviality one
can hardly imagine. Each, as We
neared it, wrapped us in its clammy
/ shroud OF death-cold fog and chilled
us to the very marrow, and towering
far above our mainroyal mast head
seemed to threathen us with instant
and appalling destruction.
+, So we sned on. iceberg after iceberg
rising above the horizon as we helc
our course; and if sources OF anxiety
and alarm by day, how much more sc
by night! Often we entered vast
bank ofimpenetrable fog concious
that somewhere in it's inmost recess
es lay concealed, as if waiting for its
prey, q gigantic berg, but never know
ing from moment to moment when OF
where exactly to expect it. This was
q splendid chance for the croakers
Many q great solemn head was shaker
and many a jaw wagged with gloomy
| forehodings over that unusual anG
unexpected appearance OF ice in the
Southern seas. BY and by the vino
began to freshen and signs Of another
gale appeared, though this time from
another quarter fairly favorable tc
us; and with hercanvas snugged dowI
and bright lookout forward, the ole
ship began to shake her sides as she
| hurried away from those inhospitabls
seas with their spectral occupants
towards the inviting warmth OF thc
tropics and the steady blasts OF tn,
trade-winds.
| Anxious for q breath OF fresh ali
before turning in to my half-sodde1
hammock, | went on deck to take {
turn with a chum, and enjoy. as w,
often did together, O. few anticipation
OF the delights of home once more
1t was a vida very wilt
: night. There was small moon; bu
the clouds We're hurrying over her fac
III ragged steamers, and in such con
stant succession, that her light va
seldom visible; and when she did sho,
it Tor tfeeting moment, it tell upon
black, tossing, angry sea, whose wave
broke into clouds OF icy foam as the,
baffled off the bow Of the great ship
or tried to leap savagely over he
! quarter. 1t was hard steady gale
: , tho wind shrielins and hummin
! through the rigging, and the old shi
herself pounding ponderously but il
, reslstlbly at the great mountains {
water before her, and creaking, groar
ing and complaining as she did sc
masts. yards, hull, all in one striden
> concert together, as if remonstratin
9 at the labor which she was forced t
undergo. In spite OF the moon tn
) night WAS as black as Erebus, an
from the quarter deck on which W