The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-06
THE MILO PILOT.
Yankee Blade.l

IN Lne InonUn OF March, 1872, took
passage at Marseilles ON board the mer-
chant ship Good Hope. My own ship
was at Smyrna, and thither the mer-
chairman was to carry me, she being
bound there after part of cargo of
fruit The captain of the Good Hope
was named John Napton, and though he
was good and careful navigator he had
one striking fault He was very quick
tempered and sometimes quite vindic-
tive. But for all this, his men liked
him, for he never failed to grant them
all the reasonable privileges in his power.
The first mates name was Sawyer, a
true sailor and an excellent man.
We had a smooth run until we had
passed the southern capes of Greece and
entered the archipelago, but here we had
signs of bad weather. Capt. Napton had
never been in these waters before and
did not feel quite safe to trust himself
among the Ionian isles in long storm,
and we had reason to believe that such
storm was coming. To be sure, the
chart was explicit, but then those are
wild tracks to travel in stormy nights.
In pleasant weather the task is but slight,
but it was very likely to be different
now.
Capt. Napton asked my advice. told
him there were plenty of experienced
pilots at Milo, and that in all probability
one of them could be hired to go to
Smyrna and back for mere trife. As
for the archipelago, though had passed
through it several times, knew nothing
about navigating it. The captain con-
ferred with his officers, and it was soon
arranged that the ship should stop at
Milo and take in pilot. On the next
morning Milo was in sight on the lar
board bow, and having run in to the
westward of the Pigeons we hove to off
the coast and made a signal. In less
than half an hour we were boarded by
half a dozen rough looking fellows, ev-
cry one Of whom professed to know all
about navigating the archipelago.
Among the number was an oldish man
who gave his name as Marco Midas. He
followed fishing for livelihood, but his
statements with regard to his qualifca-
tions as pilot were by far the most sat
isfactory of the lot He offered to go to
Smyrna and back with us for $25, and
after some further consultation he was
engaged.
Near noon we filled away. There was
but little wind, not more than enough
to run off two or three knots, and even
that was from the northward and east
ward and as near dead ahead as pos
sible, so the pilot concluded to make q
long leg" upon the starboard tack and
pass to the leeward of Siphanto. 1t was
o'clock in the afternoon when the ship
was again put about, it being intended
to make a run to the eastward between
Siphanto and Serpho. The breeze had
freshened little and the reel now ran
off four knots. The northern point of
,Sphanto bore about five points on the
lee bow, about ten miles distant.
I'm afraid we shall have to tack
again" said the pilot, looking anxiously
on the point of land under the lee bow.
I'VE can certainly clear that cape on
this tack" returned the captain.
But I'm afraid the ship won't hold
up to her course" resumed the pilot.
'She must certainly hold up to east by
north to do it, for she makes consider
able leeway."
"Oh, I'll warrant her to do that" said
the captain very confidently, and with
the air of man who does not like to
have his ship thought incapable of doing
the right thing.
So the pilot, feeling assured that thus
far all would be right, went below to get
his supper. He had been gone perhaps
half an hour, when there was sudden
shock, and in a moment more the ship
stood still. Marco Midas fastened upon
deck, and was just in time to meet the
captain at the companion way
"What does this mean?" cried Napton
tn an angry tone.
The old pilot gazed for amoment upon
the shore, which was yet some five miles
distance, and then he calmly said:
''It's your own fault, captain"
my fault, you lying lubberg'
Certainly it is" calmly returned the
pilot.
"Take that, theni' and in the heat of
his passion the captain struck the old
man blow that sent him staggering
half way across the deck.
Without waiting to see the effects of
his hasty outburst, Napton sprang to the
rail and ordered all the yards to be
squared. The ship had struck upon
hard sandbar, but, as she was not going
very fast at the time, and as the bar ap-
peared to be somewhat abrupt, she was
easily got off, and RS soon as she had
backed clear of the danger, she was put
upon the starboard tack, and stood of
TO the northward.
The pilot had turned very pale, and
though his frame shook with agitation,
yet he made no movement toward the
captain. We all knew that he was not
10 blame, for the ship had not been kept
upon the course which the captain had
promised, but the helmsman testified
that part of the time her head had been
as far out of the way as east-half-south,
instead of east by north, and upon look
ing at the chart we found that we must
have struck on the extreme northern
point of the bar. Yet Capt. Napton
could not be made to see his error nor
would he abate one whit of his wrath.
ne sent the old pilot below and told
MN not to show his face on deck again.
MIDAS ooeyed without word, though
we could see that his hands were clinch-
ed nervously together and could also
hear the low grating of his teeth
The captain studied over his chart for
some time, and at length made nm his
mind that he would pass between the
two SeIphos, and then run up through
the strait of Silota. The wind hauled a
little to the southwark and blew fresher.
At dark the little island of Kalipoli was
upon the larboard beam, but in half an
hour afterward the wind died away to
dead calm. This state Of things lasted
for about half an hour longer, and then
the stars began to disappear from the
southern heavens and the atmosphere
began to grow dull and oppressive.
81 smell blow" said the mate, walk
ing aft to where the captain and myself
stood.
81 hope it may not be such q one as
we had in the Egina gulf year ago."
said |, shuddering rs my mind ran back
to the gale rode ont in the old sloop-of-
war Fairfield at that time.
This is hard place for storms" said
the captain half interrogatively. and at
the same time, as | thought, exhibiting
little trepidation.