Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-03-15

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there was still less use in saying any
thing.
Things we're in this state when w
came into Port Louis, and while We lay
in the Tier, March's humor seemed to
grow blackcr, and it looked as though he
had less command overhimself. He did
one thing at this time which nearly lost
him his berth, and but for the difficulty
of replacing such a man In a little hand
basin OF a port, | think should have
let him go. We had a cask OF rum aft,
and we had q llindoo cabin steward, who
had been stealing this rum and selling
it to the men in the forecastle. March
found out what was going on, and in
stead OF Furnishing the rascally
steward, he tried to make me be-
lieve that the second mate Mas the
guilty party-and no doubt he thought
this the more easy, because the second
mate had been keeping the key Of the
store room, it being part OF his duty to
weigh out the provisions to the tindaL
or foreman Of the coolies. 1t was in
evitable, however, that | should suspect
any charge made by March against
Norris, and so ! said nothing at first, but
went into the forccastle, and, by a little
judicious diplomacy, soon got at the
truth. sacked the unfaithful steward,
as n matter Of course, but | did not think
it necessary to make any explanation to
the chief mate. The facts spoke plainly
enough for him, no doubt.
at may be imagined that this frustra-
ton OF his little plot did not mitigate
his animosity to Norris, and | made up
my mind that ! should have to keep my
weather eye open all the way home.
However, the sailing day arrived; we
hove up the anchor, and drifted out Of
the harbor on the ebb tide. You know
that the holding ground (anchorage) Of
Port Louis is a heavy, greasy, blue clay,
1t is about as dirty n bottom as know,
and when the anchor comes home 1T
generally brings up a ton or two Of this
sticky mud, which also is plastercd over
portions of the cable, and which covers
windlass, deck and every thing with mud
before the anchor is slowed. Well, on this
occasion, the anchor wassent home short
apeak, but the crownw was just out of wa
ter, when | gave orders that some OF the
hands should leave the windlass and
help the boys in making sail. In getting
in the cable we used a jigger, a small
tackle, which was clapped on the cable
abaft the windlass, and kept taut in Or
der to prevent any slack rising in the
chain, and so causing it to slip.
"At this moment, the boatman who
had charge of the jiggcr sung out to the
men at the windlass to avast heaving
until the tackle was shifted. They
stopped, and just as the jigger was
taken off the cable, and before it could
be put on again, higher up, something
nobody could ever tell what-started the
cable. 1t began to slip over the wind
lass, and fabricated by the greasy, blue
mud with which It was covered, the mo
ton grew swifter every second. There
was nearly one hundred fathoms OF the
working cable on deck, and we had now
drifted into sixty or seventy fathoms o.
water. The anchor was a very heavy
one, and its momentum increased as i
plunged downward. In less time thar
it has taken to tell 1t, the chain wa
fairly flying around the windlass, the
newly-arranged bights on the range be
ing whirled up with lightning rapidity
and the rattle growing into a roar unde'
which the ship trembled.
with such a range of cable and sucl
a depth Of water, 1t was on the card
that the bows might be torn out OF he
il the rush could not be stopped, an,
the danger grew every instant. At frs
all hands were a little confused by wha
had happened. ] was at the bows look
ing over and saw the anchor plunge GU
of sight. jumped for the lurch Of tn
+ topgallant forecastle instantly, and sun
out to get swabs and throw them o.
t the windlass, in the hope that the tougI
, yarns would get ~entangled in the link
, OF the cable and so check, perhaps stoI
the rum. But the cable had got toe niue
, Roadway by the time the swabs wer
!, brought, and, when thrown, they wer
/, either torn to rags instantly or fun
violently of again. BY this time ever
body on deck had run forward, and
| while it was impossible to approach tn
S windlass, round which the cable wa
flying so rapidly that the links coul
not be distinguished, 1t was equally in
practicable to do any thing with tn
0 chain on the range, for the bights Of
$ would have either knocked the brain
out Of any one getting near them,
t have caught and carried him to certai
$ and instant death upon the windlass.
march had at once occupied himse
Q in throwing swabs, coils Of rope, an
a every thing he could snatch, down upo
the windlass, but so far nothing had hel
G for a moment, and the situation was b
coming very serious. Fortunately, IL
@ weather was perfectly fine, and the 81
r smooth. The top-sails had been loose
n but were not sheeted home, and the sh.
d drifted slowly without steeragewa
The second mate, who had been al
q looking after the men who were aloi
making sail, now came running forwar
looking half-scared, and, at first, / al
others thought he was going to jump
d the cable On the range, with the despe
1t ate and foolish idea Of stopping it.
n dozen voices, however, shouted warnin
g at him, and he stopped short, just
Ie time. Then an idea seemed to stril
h him, and he ran up the ladder leadil
10 on to the top-gallant f~orecastle, and &
a. ing to the break Of the f~orecastle, rig
lc over the windlass, stopped down, al
began to tumble with q roll OF mattil
IN which was dashed there for occasion
n use in protecting the forestays, evider
10 ly thinking to throw 1t upon the runnil
v. cable. 1t is, perhaps, necessary to
Is mind you that all this, and what Il
lowed, occupied a very short space
10 time. Atsuch critical moments one Sc
I, moro in thirty seconds than can aftt
wards be described In half an hour. n
ut whole scene I am now trying IN bri'
lie before you did not really take more TIL
D. two or three-at the most--hve minut
liz tho acting Of III but In those II
8. minutes enough happened 10 give . nj
b food for thought during . lifetime.
" AS Norris crouchod down ON u
l. break Of the foreeaitlo I glanced fro