The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-02-07
DRIVEN OUT TO SEA,

About fifty miles above Sidney, Aus.
tralia, an English gentleman named
Howe, a retired civil officer, had fine
place directly on the sea. This was
twenty-five years ago, and the place NAV
have passed through half a dozen hands
since. It was 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 small
brig which called in at intervals to carry
our stuff away. On my first voyage in
With this brig the gentleman took a fancy
% me and hired me to work ashore. and
I had been with him three years when the
distressing incident am about to relate
came about.
Howe owned pleasure yacht but as
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 I re was scarcely a pleasant
evening that did not row some of the
iamily out. There was fine bay in front
Of the farm, and unless the weather was
very boisterous this water was always
safe.
On the evening of December 10, 1865,
the brig came into the hay to load with
;argo, and she anchored almost opposite
he house. She had fine new yawl, in
Vhich the Captain came ashore, and it
ppeared that Howe and the women folks
gere greatly taken with it. Early next
morning was told to get this yawl ready
or a sail down the bay to the small
sland, where a picnic dinner was to be
aten. The party, when ready to start,
onsisted OF Howe, his wife, and an
ighteen-year-old daughter named Bessie,
miss Of thirteen named Ransome, who
'as on visit, and little Rem Howe, who
vas only five years old. Two ladies from
he next farm above were to have gone
With US, but a merciful Providence de-
aimed them at home It was touch and
20 whether we should make the trip
without them, but it was finally decided
o go in order not TO disappoint the young
ollzs. I he'd filed TIE water keg and
AIKEN a big lunch basket aboard, and
Then we moved away there was just
1reeze enough TO fill the sail and jog Us
,loag at about three miles an hour. A
more perfect morning never saw, and
he Oldest sailor could not have suspic-
oned a change.
We reached the island all right, re-
NAMED there until 2 o'clock P. NJ, and
hen started for home. At about l
o'clock the sky hazed up and the wind
lied almost away, and as the tide would
pegin to run out at 2 / became somewhat
inxious. My sailor experience warned
ne that there would be a change of wind
md weather, and l was impatient to get
way. One trihe and another detained
rs until the hour named. The people
enjoyed themselves immensely, and it
vas not for me TO say when we should
start, although / did throw out a hint or
TWO that l suspected a change Of weather.
All were in good spirits when we finally
got away, and as the yawl was a good
saiier she crept along at fair speed IN
"a llAC VIM ouaAtNnA1 It'll d udb do you
pleased. We were then opposite the
ocean inlet, which was mile broad, and
We began to drift out with the tide.
had pair oars in the boat, and Mr..
Howe took one and the other and we
pulled away to cross the space. AS he
vas not strong man, and had had no
practice in rowing, we made no gain,
md, to make matters worse, he lost his
oar overheard and it was swept away.
We were three miles from the brig,
.ad 1 was getting ready to hoist a signal
when the sky darkened up with a sort Of
Jog. shutting US in, and the wind breezed
up directly of shore Had it not been
for the strong tide could have beat back
into the bay, even in the fog, but was
soon compelled 70 tell Mr.. Howe that we
were being drifted and driven out to sea.
The news al once unneryed him, and