Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-05-25

were untiring and eager hosts. There
was banjo playing, and some good
ringing choruses. and as the day cool
ed, even a little dancing on deck; but
later came the best sport, when the
officers, each in turn, told splendid
stories-regular yarns" about bat
ties, and storms. and pirates. and
cannibals, and all manner of hair
breadth escapes at sea, which gave US
a pleasant sense of past or distant
danger, and admiration for the gallant
young nsrrators who seemed to have
endured many of the hardships they
now described. No matter how dull
those stories threatened to become,
they always ended we'll, and sailors
seemed to- have been spared always
from the most perilous disasters to tell
the tale cheerfully.
1t was sundown when we dropped
anchor in the shallow bay of Yeddo,
about ten miles from shore. and we
expected to row across this stretch in
the ships open boats.
A heavy rain set in, and we decid-
ed to stay on board until morning, to
escape q soaking.
The Monocacy, moored all summer
long off shore. had been taken posses
ion of by large colony of gnats, who
selected the stateroom cabins for per-
manent quarters; when we went to
our berths, tired out at last by the
DAYS amusements, we found that we
were to be imprisoned in folds of the
strongest netting, nailed above, and
tucked in on all sides to defy the at.
tacks of this Japanese mosquito-a
truly formidable foe.
When we entered these flmy en-
tren C hments, the rain had ceased and
the sea was calm, clear stars and q
soft moon were shining through our
open ports.
I was awakened suddenly in the
middle of the night by the flash of
what seemed a shining food of molten
silver pouring through the port, but
which proved to be a waved of cold
salt water, bright with the phosphor-
escence which often makes that sea 80
luminous.
This glittering, foamy stream soon
spread over my little bed, and threat
ened to swamp me before could tear
down the mosquito barricade. Ny
shoes were floating in the briny wave
when l seized a big wrap hanging
near, and drawing it. around me, step.
ped into the deserted ward room to
call for help. No answer came to my
summons, though piercing calls from
the boatswain's whistle, and run
ming order all along the ship to "close
the ports" showed that the sailors
were on the alert.
Driven again from the drenched
state room, l seated myself in the
cabin. A strange silence pervaded,
the air was heavy, the sea evidently
rising.
The ships barometer was near the
companion way, not far from where l
sat. Leaning against the table, my
head in my hands, drowsily saw
two officers come down to examine
the glass, and heard their unguarded
exclamations of wonder and alarm:
at is dropping like lead" ut was
800 at three o'cloCk-now it is almos,
down to 800" at is o typhoon."
Wide awake now, called my sis.
ter. Her stateroom was on the side
untouched by the first wave sweeping
against the ship, precursor of the
wind which was fast making its way
toward US and driving the sea before
it.
We dressed quickly, thrilled with
the prospect of a typhoon at last, and
shortly were on deck, where officers
and crew, oil haste and hustle, were
making ready for the storm.
My sister and l had our sea chairs
lashed to the mainm asst where we
could watch the sailors and the com
ing storm in safety.
1t was four o'clock-day was
dawning in gravish green light, q
few dim stars still hung in the sky
like beryl stones.
After a ringing call to call hands
down light yards and masts." NJ
special orders were given. Each of.
ficer and man knew his part in pre-.
pairing ship at anchor for storm,
and all, even the merriest ensign,
now wore the stern expression of con.
scious responsibility. They were "o1
duty" to work to-day, not to play as
they had been yesterday.
The battery was now secured fol
sea-" the boats and guns made fast
by gripes and extra lashings. The
next move was to look to the ground
tackle. Already one anchor, bower
was out, but the second, and two
sheet.anchors and coils and coils ol
heavy chain, were still in their places
on board, ready to follow. Steam
was getting up to be in readiness to
help the ground tackle, should thai
prove in adequate to hold the ship.
| AT Intervals or nfteen minutes, OF
more, sweeping gusts of wind from
one quarter and from another, whirl
ed past US, each follow by lull. The
greenish dawn passed into copper
hued day; as the sun rose, dull
metallic round, the sea rose too, while
the sky lowered, lowered.
We were surrounded by shipping:
Chinese junks, queer Japanese boats
European vessels, and crafts of every
sort anchored as we were and now
preparing for the storm.
A fine Portuguese merchantmen
lay between us and the sharp rocky
ledge of little island hard by, where
a tall lighthouse stood like silent
sentinel The merchantmen was 81