News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-10-18

seen some queer sights My grand
father and great-grandfather were En-
glish seamen, who cut the waters long
before steam was thought of. My grand
father had one particular adventure
which mystified nation, and which |
have heard called up In cabin and fo'-
castle half hundred times.
He was mate of a brig named the
York, which was chartered from Hull to
one of the Shetland Islands with lumber
and general suppl, g. The brig had q
total of seven men, and was new and
stdunch. She left port with fair wind,
and the crew had made several voyages
together and We're III harmony. Nothing
out OF the routine occurred until the brig
was well uD with the Orkneys, hut to
the east. My grandfather then turned
IN one night at midnight with a smooth
sea and everything ship-shape. He had
four hours OFF, and was not disturbed
He should have been called at o'clock,
but when he awoke of his own accord it
was after 6. 1t was almost n dead calm
then, and the brig had but little motion.
The mate was filled with wonder that ho
had been permitted TO sleep half his own
watch away, and lie hurriedly dressed
and rushed upon deck. There was not
a soul in sight, and five minutes later he
made the astonishing discovery that he
was the only person aboard. The sails
were set, and in the light wind the brig
was going to suit herself. There was
not the least sign of confusion or of
struggle. All the boats were in place,
and not thing in the shape of personal
property had been removed. The six
men we're simply missing-gOne as sha-
dows go. When he was satisfied on this
point the mate was terribly upset. The
brig was right and tight, the weather all
that could be desired, and why should
the crew have deserted her2 Then, too,
how did they get away, none of the
boats having been takenE If they left in
a panic, there would have been signs of
it. If not why had they failed to sum-
mon him7 1t was puzzler, as you may
perceive, and the poor man was half
crazy over it. In those days ships were
few and far between compared to these,
and the brig went driving to the North
Sea in perfect solitude.
''All that day, said my grandfather,
81 was in such state of mind that |
gave the brig but little attention. The
mystery made such q coward of me that
! dared not repeat my first visit to the
fo'castle, fearing that | should see a
ghost. l went over the brig time and
again, looking closely for some sign to
show how the men had departed, and
why they had deserted her, but could .
find nothing. Toward evening [ made .
out the Shetlands to the west of me, and /
I also saw a sail in the south, but l was .
helpless. The wind had hauled to the .
south and increased, and the best could .
do was to keep tho brig before it and /
let her drive. The breeze held so steady /
that lashed the helm and secured con-
siderable sleep that night, but at day
light next morning l had my hands
more than full. The wind drew to the
west, kicking up nasty sea, and it was
only by the use OF the capstan, and
after great exertion, that l squared the
yards to meet the change. Before 8
O'Clock was rushing along like ace
horse, and it required all my strength
and skill to manage the helm.
Having passed the Shetlands l fig
ured that the only hope for me, unless
the wind made great change, was the
Farce Islands, lying a matter of hun
dred and fifty miles to the northwest.
Indeed, that was the only course | could
steer while the wind held. | had never
Deen there, knew nothing about the 10
eallty, and felt that wouli be as apt to
beach the brig on reef as to sail her
INTO harbor. During the day 1 saw
Two ships at distance. had set sig !
nal OF distress, but they were too far
away to observe it, and by and by night
came down again. Luckily for me the ,
WIND abated great deal, although it
soon hauled half way round the compass,
and could no longer lay my course to
the northwest. BY this time my nerve
mad come back, and was surprised to ;
nnd myself so hopeful and confident.
by Watching my chances / managed to
get bite to eat now and then, and, as I
the weather was mild, got up some ,
blankets and caught many links of