Wichita eagle., 1889-12-12
AT SEA IN A YAWL.

sea- This was twenty-five years ago, and the
place may have passed through half dozen
hands since. 1t was q villa or country seat
and farm combined. Howe was rich, but he
raised fruits, vegetables, hay and wool to sell,
and be was part owner in a brig which called
in at intervals to carry our stuff away. On
my first voyage in with this brig the gentle
man took q fancy to me and hired me 10 work
ashore, and | had been with him three years
when the distressing incident am about TO
relate came about.
Howe owned pleasure yacht, but IS he
feared the sea she was seldom used. When
she went out had charge Of her and could
I1rn her very nicely with the help Of boy.
We also had several row boats, and there was
scarcely pieasan: evening that ] did not
row some Of the family cut. There was a
fine bay in front OF the farm, and unless the
weatber was very bOisterous this water was
always safe.
On the evening Of Dec 10, 1865 the brig
came into the bay TO load with cargo, and
she anchored almost opposite the house. She
had fine new yawl, in which the captain
came ashore, and It appeared that Howe and
the women FOLKS were greatly taken with it.
Early next morning l was told TO get this
yawl reedy for sail down the bay TO
small island, where picnic dinner was to be-
eaten The party, when ready tc start, con
sisted Of Howe, his wife, and an S-year-old
daughter named Bessie, miss of i3 named
Ransonna, who was on a visit, and little Ben
Howe, who only 3 years old. Two ladies
from the next farm above were TO have gons
with US but rleFciful Providence detained
them at horne. It was touch and 60 whether
we should make the trip without them, but
1t wss decided to 90 in order not to disap-
point the young foil,s. / had filed the water
key and taken a big lunch basket aboard,
and when we moved away there was just
breeze enough to fill the sail and jog US
aiong about three miles hour. A more
perfect morning never saw, and the Oldest
sailor could not have suspicioned d change.
We reached the islald all right, remained
there until O'Clock p. m, 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 torun oct at / became
somewhat anxious My sailor experience
warned me that there would be change of
wind and weather, and / was impatient to
get away. One trife aud another detained
rs until the hour named. Tie people enjoyed
themselves immensely. and it was not for me
throw cut hint or two that | suspected a
change of weather. All were in good spirits
when we finally got away, and the yawl
was good sailer she crept along at fair
speed until the wind suddenly fell as fiat as
you pleased We were then opposite the
ocean inlet. which was a mile broad, and we
began to drift out with the tide. ! had
pair of oars in the boat, and Mr. Howe took
n A. ln2 -
cross the space As he was not strong man,
and had had no practice IN rowing, we made
no gain, and, to make matters worse, he lost
his oar overheard and il was swept away.
We were three miles from the brig, and j
was getting ready TO hoist a signal when the
sky darkened up with sort Of fog, shutting
us in, and the wind breezed up directly off
shore. Had it not been for the strong tide /
could have beat back into the bay, even in
the fog, but was soon compelled TO tell Mr..
Howe that we were being drifGed and driven
ont to sea- TIE news ut once unnerved him,
and his words and deuneanor all the others,
who began waihng and lamenting. Little
Ben was an exception. Re was not only too
young to understand the danger, but he en-
loved the novelty of the situation. He crept
back to the stern sheets, stood between my
lnees 10 steady himself, and whispered;
Il sha'n't cry, Jack. Only l wish my dos
was harew
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
il. although double reefed the sail Had |
attempted to beat back to the coast line l
should have got among the rocks and reefs
which lined it for miles and miles. There
was room in the inlet to beat up against the
tide, but it was now so dark thst ! 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 TO have TO pass
the night on the water. By morning, at
least, the brig would know that We had met
With piece of Ill luck, and would stand out
70 pick us up. And, too. the wind might go
down with the or veor TO 2 favorable
quarter Therefore. while Mr.. Howe cursed
his fcoiishness in ever stepping foot into the
yawl and while the women covered and
went, / was encouraged to hope that every
thing might turn out for the best.
At 5o'clock by NY watch, the face of which
/ could hardly see through the gloom, the
wind was blowing topsaii breeze and tbs
sea getting nasty roll Every one but my
elf became seasicl and feb 10 the bottom of
Che boat, and for the next three hours heard
nothing but cries and groaEs of distress. The
real darkness had come now, and could not
see half the length OF the boat. / held her
steady as she went, and was grarified TO find
thut she made good work OF 1t and did not
have to be watched as closely as a larger
boat might. II was about O'Clock when hr.
howe reused up and crawled aft TO me. He
was in despair, but calrsler than before. l
made light Of the adventure, predicting that
We would De back 81 the farm before noon
next day, and calling his attention TO the
splendid behavior Of the boat. ard after a
Nssle he seemed to have hopes / suggested
that we have hlbs 20 eat, and he got tine
hamper Of provisions. Ii contained VINE
cake. crackers, cheese and meats. and aiso
two candles, which had been taken along to
explore a cave said to be located on the isl
and, but which we did not find We got a
light, reused up the Others and after we had
broken our fast ali felt more cheerful
Had the women besn Of the common sort
should have known what to say to brace them
up, but they were aristocrats, tender as
spring flowers. and q bit of hardship was cal
culated to upset EN- made an attempt to
belittle the situation, and declared that it was
nothing but an unpleasant adventure, and
after bit they ali got some courage and be-
gan to be more hopeful What worried me
The most was the fact that the wind kept get
ting up stronger and stronger. and hT>u