Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-17
HOMEWARD BOUND.

in to her loading berth this tide, but it's
blowing a gale and she can't stir"
'she's flying light,'I suppose?'
"a bucket at one side of the keelson and
broom at the other is all that's in her
hold" answered. "She's like bladder
in the water"
Him." said Mr.. Bronson. "And how
is Captain ST. CLAIR to-day? Have you
seen himp
"No; 1 have not seen him to-day. He
was ashore, but did not come across him.
heard, though, that he is just as bad as
ever"
Eric ST. Clair, master of the Dutch gall
lot Queen Anne, of Sunderland, had been
for ten days on mad spree since his ar
rival in Layton, town on the south coast
of England.
"IFs miserable to have to do business
with a man in his present condition. He
has only signed the memorandum Of agree
ment We must get the charter party
signed this evening for the merchants.
Where is this wretched fellow row" asked
Mr.. Bronson, ship broker, in whose Office
at Layton was outdoor clerk or runner
81 heard he was aboard sir" | an
swered ''Ie has discharged his crew,
except the mate and boy. He had to
employ shore hands to shift this morn
ing"
"Would 1t be possible for you to get
aboard? | am most anxious to have the
charter party signed this evening for the
shippers. They won't put a pound of the
china clay into her until the charter is
signed, and, of course, we don't want to
miss the vessel. Is it blowing too hard to
get aboard?'
/ went to the office door and looked
down the street toward the river, ringht in
the eye of the fierce southwest gale The
March afternoon was perfectly clear Not
cloud was in the heavens. The wind tore
up from the southwest as if frantic with
terror.
"'Twon't be very easy, bat I can man
age it, sir" | said, coming back into the
Office, putting on my thick overcoat, and
pulling my hat down over my eyes.
" Do not run any risk, James said Mr.
Bronson, as he handed me the charter
parties. "If you find him aboard and he
is in condition to do business, make him
sign these. OF course, he is bound sufi-
ciently by his signature 10 the memoran-
dun, but things will be mere regular when
his name is to these"
thrust the papers into my pocket, and
was out in the gale, walking with head and
chest bent forward into the wind before
another minute had passed. Run any
risk Of course | ran risk, and more than
one risk, too. My boat might be capsized,
or swamped, or saved. This man, Eric
Ttngg -
and might become violent at any moment.
He had been smashing furniture and glass
the night before at the "JollY Sailors"
and that morning he had been walking
about the quays with an adze over his
shoulder asking for Ellington, the ship
wright, with q view to taking Billington's
life. Ellington had done some repairs for
the Queen Anne, and Captain Eric St.
Clair considered the work badly executed
and the charge extortionate. Hence, st.
Clair had come ashore, adze on shoulder,
to let Ellington feel what he thought of
the affair. But, risk or no risk, the out
door clerk to a pushing ship broker, has
simply to get the business done before
allowing the risk TO operate against his
limb or life.
The wind was terrific. Chimney pots
and states were flying old tins and pieces
of wood and rush mats were trundling
madly up the hllly street that led me
down to the river An outside shutter,
wrenched off one of the corn stores on my
right, lay Tapping on the hagway like
dying sole. At the corner was group of
porters idle; the force of the wind made
carrying sacks or deals or baskets along
planks an impossibility. passed the men
without a word. One could have spoken
only in a shrek. ] crossed the broad quay
to the head of the craving dock, where
my punt lay moored TO hopper, and slid
down the bars of the stage 10 the deck of
the hopper.
At Layton the river is about half mile
wide. 1t runs east and west, so that with
the southwest wind blowing there is al
ways swell, and with gale a little sea.
My punt was much larger than those used
for mere pleasure on inland waters. |
have had five adult persons in the boat,
but this, of course, was in tranquil weather
The oars were locked to a thwart. | al
ways carried the key; for | often had to be
ahoat before the Office was open in the
morning and after it was closed at night.
Ii was slow and careful work to get out
TO the gallot. The punt's head had to be
kept to the sea, and as the vessel lay
abreast, it was only by edging foot by foot
progress could be made toward the
schooner. When | got close | hailed the
deck, but got no answer / looked over
my shoulder and saw the accommodation
ladder was hanging over the side of the
main chains, and that the ships boat was
not under the stern. From the absence of
the boat it was more than likely the Cap
tain was ashore. What q fool | had been
not to ask the men at the corner of the
street if they had seen him land
As | was now in midstream | resolved to
so aboard and learn from the boy or mate
where the Captain was likely to be found
There was not much tide; it was close
upon high water, and the galliot was yaw-
ing and driving and pitching and roll
ing good deal The punt had taken in
half-a-dozen bucketfuis of water was
wet through with Spa ;::ay, and my feet we're
washing ankle deep as the punt leapeG up
and down the swells. pulled a few
strokes, unshipped my oars, ran alongside,
caught the accommodation ladder, and
struggled on deck with the painter of my
boat in my hand, made fast the painter TO
Delaying pin, shook myself, and looked
round
There was nothing very noteworthy to
be seen. The matches were on, the deck
was cleared. The companion was open;
from this assumed the mate must be be-
low aft. The forecastle scuttle was closed;
49,. and the absence of the boat
be boy must have sculled the
ore, and that no one was aboard
- al would go aft and hear
iaple, the mate, had to say
plain and his condition.
To let 90 the Delaying pin to which /
clInnn at,d rnnrh thn ~, 81 IL, .,,,,,n L.,