The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-06
THE TRAGEDY
ON THE HELEN.

eyASS met. They we're strong. able fellows
with deep, full voices and clear ringing
laughs. To be with them was to like them
for they we're always merry and full of fun
even when work was going on. have Said
all, but, in the laughter and fun one man
never joined. though he was always friendly
and c0mpanionable.
This exception was Harry Carliu, the
patriarch If the crew, and as good a sailor
as could be found. He was not morose or
grabbed, and was never known 10 growl at
calm weather or foul Winds and many an
hour had he spent giving the youngsters
lessons in the mystery of splicing knott n g
aud boxing the conn ass. | was a youngster
then, and the Tempest was not built, but a
finer or more comfortable vessel than the
Helen never floated, nor will you meet
with many crews that can compare with
the men who gathered In her forecaStle
when the dog watch came.
Our captain, though strict in the matter o
duty, always allowed the men the dog
watch unless stress of weather made it
necessary for them TO go on with the work,
and | have followed lis rule since | became
skipper, and | guess that is the reason why
the Tempest never had to seek for crew.
1t takes very little to make a sailor COM
Portable, and a kind word costs nothing,
find it so, and | find that more contented
crew than mine cannot be found. But to
return to my yarn.
We were sailing up the River" in the
Helen, even as We are now in the Tempest,
hOmeward bound from the South, with load
of coffee and spice. Stern sails were set
and the wind steady and every evening we
& ,thered in the forecastle to spin yarns or
sing songs.
Now, in our yarn-spnning and singing we
had never been able tp induce Harry Carlln
to Join, though we felt certain that if he
would lie could tell some good and interest
Come Harry. it's your turn now, and
you see all the rest of us have run our line
out to the bare end"
well. l suppose that it is no more than
fair for me to spin one yarn, boys, as you
have spun SO many" said Harry; but
mind, l do not agree to make it funny or
bright story. In fact it is a tragedy, and one
that | ne'er shall forget"
He remained silent for some time, and
was beginning to think that we would lose
the story, when he went on:
Five years ago | shipped in the brig
Helen, bound from Boston TO CienfpegoS for
load of sugar and molaSses. She was a
neat, trim and handsome little vessel, and
the crew were old sea-dogs like myself, and
used TO rough weather ana hard work.
:" he captain had his wife and her sister
on board. and this made it pleasant for us,
for Miss May, the young lady, was just
cosy, good-jooking body, and very fond Of
fixing our clothes. MUD that she darned
my old pea jacket aud mended my shirts,
and then she knit us fancy colOred mufflers
for cod and stormy coast weather.
"A through she proved herself n sailors
friend, and | used to think that nothing
could compare to her low, sweet voice as
she sat chatting in the sheltered side OF the
cuddy where the wheel vas. She used to
question me about my life at sea, where |
had been, and what had seen, and all about
my seafaring life, and many an hour have
spent spinning yarns to her, and when you
understand why | always try TO get out of
telling yarns, and why AIN so still with my
tongue.
''She was the bonniest little woman that |
ever saw, Tor never did see another whose
face wore continually such a sunny and
happy expression. She was never in a
sulky mood. never ili-humOred, and | soon
began to think that she would make the
best wife a nau could get. | was not alone
in this thought, for the second mate, in
whose watch L was; often east loving, but
sheepiSh chances at Miss May, and soon he
would join lis at the wheel, and take part in
our conversation. He was fine, manly
fellow, good looking, and a thorough sailor
was Rob White, and young too; AMI often
did l think that Miss May aud lie would
MAKE Il iIlll couple, luE lAOu WIS am DsliOuS,
and was bound TO raise himself in his pro-
fessiOn.
Now Miss May was just the woman to
help him, for she was neat hopeful and in
dustriOus; one of those that men like to go
and receive encouragement from; and |
soon saw that Rob was very glad to discuss
his future plans with her. | was pleased be-
cause OF this, for | liked Rob, and he was
young and just the man for Miss May, and
so my conclusion was that here would be q
match, and l commenced to picture out
their future. This was during the outward
bound trip, and it was as pleasant voyage
as | ever made. The sea was just rippled
by light and favorable wind, and we
sailed along merrily. having a clear sky both
night and day, and bright moon most of all
the WsiI, We loaded and left port and had
the same favorable weather until after we
had rounded the west end of Cuba, when it
cane on thick and blew Heavily. 1t kept on
this way for nearly week. and we had run
clear of the bahamas and were standing
north, when heavy gale from the north
east commenced, and we were forced to lay
to- Things had been going on strangely for
some time, and the men forward had been
predicting that something was going to take
place, for large shark had followed the
vessel ever since the beginning of the gale,
and new gear had parted that had no strain
on it.
Rob White also seemed to feel uneasy,
for lie grew thin and haggard, as if some
thing was proving on his mind. Ben Cain,
one of my watch mates, noticed this, and
spoke about It..
Ibid you see the second mates face % he
said one morning after lie HAD gone below.
1T looked as though he had SEEN ghos..'
l had noticed it, and also noticed that it
looked more haggard than ever, and so,
when the midwatch came l was not sur
prised to have Rob come aft and open a con-
versation.
"Harry,' said he. do you know that |
think there is something wrong going to
happen that viii cause US both great sOr-
rOw2'
"'You do, why?' answered.
"'Can't say, but my mind is troubled. Not
that | give any heed to the talk about the
shark, or the ropes parting, or anything like
that but there is something on my mind
that lies heavy and cold, as though my soul
was held by an icy hand
Oh, that is because the weather is bad
l said. cannot see why we should fear
danger. The Helen is q stanch :craft, arid
it Will take a heavier gale than this to put
her in Davy Jones' locker
1t is not the vessel at all. It's
"He broke off suddenly and walked for
ward until he had reached the mainmast,
then turned and came aft again.
Do you believe in presentments p he
asked, stopping by my side.
mo, / can't say that l do, for | have
never had any of mine come true, and they
have been generally bad ones.'
"'Well. l do believe in them, for have
had some come true, and always bad ones
And so you suppose those that you have
now will come true?
81 do
The wind was bowling fearfully now.
but the Helen was good sea-boat and rode
the waves like duck. The sky was not SO
dark as it generally is when northeast storms
are on the coast, but now and then the
clouds would break away and leave patches
of blue sky besprinkled with stars. Now
and then column of moonlight would fall
from one of these riffs and cast q brilliant
radiance on the tossing waters.
1t was a wild, yet strangely beautiful
night and mingled feeling of awe and fear
was excited by its contemplation. The oc-
casional light enabled US to see how we Law.
and the sight was not pleasing one, for No
person likes to see the huge waves curling
and rushing along, seemingly intent on sinh.
merging all of the obstacles in their nath.
Still, the Helen was such staunch. trim
vessel that | knew there was nothing to fear
in the present state OF sea and weather. /
said so 10 Rob- thinking he referred to this,
but he shook his head.
TITS not the Helen that is i'm DANGER Int