Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-19
AT SEA IN A YAWL.


About fifty miles above Sidney, Australia,
an English gentleman named Howe, a retired
civil officer, had a fine place directly ON the
SEA This was twenty-five years ago, and the
place may have passed through half a dozen
hands since. IL was a villa or country seat
and farm combined. Howe was rich, but he
raised fruits, vegetables, hay and wool to sell,
and he was part owner in brig which called
in at intervals TO carry our stuff away. On
my first voyage in with this brig the gentle
man took fancy to me and hired me to work
ashore, and had been with him three years
when the distressing incident am about to
relate came about.
Howe owned pleasure yacht but rs he
feared the sea she was seldom used. When
she went out had charge of her and could
run her very nicely with the help of boy
We also had several row boats, and there was
scarcely pleasant evening that did not
row some Of the family out There was a
fine bay in front Of the farm, and unless the
weather was very boisterous this water was
always safe.
On the evening Of Dec. 10, lSGj, the brig
came into the bay 10 load with cargo, and
she anchored almost opposite the house She
had n fine new yawl, in which the captain
came ashore, and it appeared that Howe and
tho women folks were greatly taken with It,
Early next morning l was told TO get this
yawl ready for a sail down the bay to a
small island, where picnic dinner was 10 he
eaten The party, when ready to start con-
sisted of Howe, hts wife, and an 1S-year-old
daughter named Bessie a miss of Is named
Ransome, who was on a visit, and little Ben
Howe, who was only ; years old Two ladies
from the next farm above We're to have gone
with Us, but a mcrciful Providence detained
them ut home. 1t was touch and 60 whether
we should make the trip without them, but
1t was decided to go in order not to disap-
point the young folks had filed the water
keg and taken a big lunch basket aboard,
and when we moved away there was Just
breeze enough 10 fill the sail and jog Us
along about three miles an hour. \ more
perfect morning never saw, and the oldest
sailor could not have suspicioned IA change
We reached the island all right, remained
there until O'Clock p. IN, and then started
for home. At about o'clock the sky hazed
up and the wind died almost away. and as
the tide would begin to run out at = became
somewhat anxious. NV sailor experience
warne1 me that there would he a change of
wind and weather, and | was impatient to
get away. One trihe and another detained
Us until the hour named The people enioved
themselves immensely, and 1t was not for me
20 say when We should start, although did
throw out hint or two that / suspected a
change of weather. All were in good spirits
when we finally got away, and as the yawl
was good sailer she crept along at a fair
speed until the wind suddenly fell as fat as
you pleased. We were then opposite the
ocean inlet which was n mile broad, and we
began TO drift out with tine tide / had a
pair Of oars in the boat, and Mr.. Howe took
one and the other, and We pulled away 10
cross the space. As he was not a strong man,
and had had no practice in rowing, We made
no gain, and, 70 make matters worse be lost
his oar overheard and 1t was swept away.
We We're three miles from tbs brig, aud |
was getting ready % hoist a signal when the
sky darkened up with a sort Of fog. shutting
Us in, and the wind breezed up directly off
shore. Had It not been for the strong tide l
could have beat back into the bay, even in
the fog, but was soon compelled TO tell Mr..
Howe that We were being drifted and driven
out TO sea The news at once uunorved him,
and his words and demeanor all the Others.
who began wailing and lamenting. Little
Ben was an exception. He was not only too
young 10 understand the danger, but he en-
joyed the novelty Of the situation. He crept
back TO the stern sheets, stood between my
knees to steady himself, and whispered:
Il sha'n't cry, Jack. Only wish my dog
was here.'
After we had driven over the bar. which
always forms at every inlet, the breeze fresh
ened still more, and / had to run off before
It, although double reefed the sail Had |
attempted to beat back TO the coast line I
should have got among the rocks and reefs
which lined IL for miles and miles There
was room in the inlet TO beat up against the
tide, but 1t was now SO dark that / could
hardly see the bow Of the boat, and had no
compass and could have run only by DANGER
Gus guesswork. In heading dead out to sea
expected nothing worse than 70 have to pass
the night on the water By morning, at
least, the brig would know that we had met
with a piece of i'll luck, and would stand out
70 pick US up. And, too. the wind might 20
down with the sun or vecr to Il favorable
quarter. Therefore, while Mr. Howe cursed
his foolishness in ever stepping foot into the
yawl, and while the women covered aud
wept, was encouraged To hope that every
thing might turn out Tor the best.
At 5o'clock by my watch, the face Of which
I could hardly See through the gloom, the
wind was blowing a tOpsail breeze and the
sea getting nasty roll. Every one but my
self became seasick and fell to the bottom OF
the boat, and for the next three hours heard
nothing but cries and groans OF distress The
real darkness lad come now, and could not
see half the length Of the boat. l held her
steady she went, and was gratifled to find
that she made good work of il and did not
have TO I've watched as closely as a larger
boat might II was about 8 O'Clock when Mr..
Howe reused up and crawled aft TO me. He
was in despair, but calmer than before. |
made light Of the adventure predicting that
we would be back at the farm before noon
next day, and calling his attention to the
splendid behavior of the boat, and after a
little he seemed TO have hopes suggested
that we have bite 70 eat, and he got the
hamper of provisions. II contained wine,
cake, crackers cheese and meats, and also
two candles, which had been taken along to
explore cave said to be located on the isl
and, but which we did not find. We got n
light, reused up the others, and after We had
broken our fast all felt more cheerful
Had the women been of the common sort
should have known what TO say 10 brace them
up, but they were uriStocrats, tender as
spring flowers aud bit Of hardship was cal
culated TO upset EN-. ] made an attempt to
belittle the situation, and declared that il was
nothing but an unpleasant adventure and
after bit they ali got some courage and be-
gan 10 lie more hopeful What worried me
the most was the fact that the wind kept get
ting up stronger and stronger, and by IL
o'clock the yawl was humming through the
yeast like man-of-war in a gale knew
we were going out into the Indian ocean at
the rate Of fifteen miles an hour, and that N
the wind held as il was we'd be M least a hum
dred miles or the shore by sunrise. IL il got
up much stronger I'd have TO bring the yawl
about head on, no matter what the risk, for
she was now rolling gunwale down and only
just keeping ahead Of the rollers / got the
women folks TO lie down in the bottom of the
boat, and then had Mr.. Howe pass me the
single oar, piece Of board which little Ben
had put in, bit of two by four scantling
which was under "a thwart, and a water pail.
While still holding the yawl dead before the
wind tied these together for n drag. told
Mr. Howe TO attach them to the boats
painter, and by midnight was ready TO bring
her head on
II was time. The wind was now blowing
hnlf "A oraIa md el.ara. 4.