Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-07-06
CROSSING THE LINE.
The Story of Ono Fourth of July
at Sea-

To SEQ my spare spars at tho present
time and view the jury mast wear for n
backbone, around which my summer gear
flaps idly in the sultry breeze this warm
weather, you would scarcely suspect that
/ lay claim to being an old Jack-salt Why,
running rigging may need ovcrhauling
and my old hull be little the worse for
wear, my boy, but you may punch my top
lights, If can't reef, hand, steer box the
compass or shift the quid equal to any old
sca-dog of your acquaintance. am one of
Neptunes sons, legitimately baptlsed in
the equatorial bowl on the Fourth of July
almost twenty years ago, Those wero days
when the rich merchants son had no better
chance to crawl aft through the cabin win
dows than did the son of poor tisherman's
widow. Both commenced their nautical
career as boys before the mast and fought
their way upward and won promotion ac-
cording to their merits. Nowadays, the
rich mans son passes an examination at u
naval academy and takes his different de-
grccs like collegiate landswab until he is
declared proficient in navigation. Had
their nautical educations been acquired in
the good old-fashioned way, there would
be less bones bleaching in the caverns of
the sea and less widows mourning for
brave Jack salts, who have lost their lives
through tho ignorance of the kid-gloved
navigators of modern days.
But am getting ahead of my tow-rope
started to tell you about a Fourth of July
Mt sea on board an American merchant
man. Dash my topsails, boysl it makes
my blood tinglo with pleasure to think of
the good old days when my blood was made
TO tingle by ropes end 1t don't seem to
be moro nor yesterday since | made my
first voyage round the cape-bu'st my
stunsis If it doesl
1t was along the latter part of June two
or three years aftor the war, when our
clipper left the Victoria docks in Liver
pool We made good headway until we
struck the "hoss " latitudes, and you may
kcelhauI me for land-lubber il we didn't
stick just north of the line for almost u
week.
About. six bells on the dog-watch one
night an old tar on the lookout sang out:
Ere we goesl" The watch on deck all
make break for the lee rails, and, sure
enough, we could see slight wake astern
and, on looking aloft, the royals, that had
swung listlessly from their yards in the
vertical sun for n week, gave vent to dis
NAL creaks as they yielded to the pressure
of the breeze against their canvass.
"AIan tho weather bracesr' hurricdly
exclaimed the captain, as he looked over
lne port quarter. lauU inc IlltS ana MOIST
the staysails," he said to the mate.
For fow minutes every thing was up
parontly in hustle and confusion. An
occasional "yippehayl yahdum and bow
line song, as timer for the sailors TO pull
together, then tho tramp of our bare feet
US we shuffled along the'dccks, and all was
still. As we boys coiled down the ropes
for the night we noticed the lower sails
were filling and the breeze was stiffening
fast.
dublin" said the skipper to one of the
men, 1--WE will cross the line on the Fourth
of July If this breeze holds out. haven't
met with old Neptune for several cruises
now / wonder il he will pay us visit
during the dog-watch to-morrowm
81 shouldn't be surprised, yer honor"
replied the tar, touching his cap.
How many of his children have we
aboard who have not seen their fatherm
questioned the captain.
six besides the boys, making eight
yer honor"
You'd better SEQ that tho font is ready
for the old man when he comes, hadn't
youln
Fright you are, sir;" said Dublin, as he
turned and walled forward.
During the remainder of the dog watch
seven or eight of the oldest of the crew
congregated near the MAIN hatch and held
whispered consultation.
AT eight bells, as the watch was about to
change, the man on the lookout sang out;
"Light on the weather bowl"
"Where awayl" followed the mate from
the quarter deck, aft.
1.-TWO points tn windward, SIR"
just then a fog-horn was heard on the
weather bow, although the night was clear
md the water like a sea of glass.
"Ship ahoyl Throw me burline and
take me in tow; want to come aboard"
came in stcntorian growls from over the
ships head.
"Who are your asked the mate.
"Got any fresh-water swabs aboardl II
you have, want to see 'em."
" 1t dun bo ole Neptune, hisselfr ex-
claimed the cook, who had stepped outside