The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-06
CRUISE OF THE ISAAC AND

But nothin' is 8 eternal mean
As wen it's at zero.
CRUISE OF THE "ISAAC AND =.
In the list of vessels published this year
in Lloyd's Register is one bearing the Pc
culiar and abrupt title of Isaac and
She is two masted schooner. halls from
New-Bedford, and is owned and COM
manded by Capt. Isaac johnson. But the
Register is silent as to the reasons that in
duced Capt. johnson to christen his vessel
BY 80 strange name: neither does it make
mention of an extraordinary voyage which
the same vessel has recently finished.
Capt. johnson, who was one OF race of
hardy mariners, found himself at the age
of forty in possession of snug little for
tune. This he concluded to invest in a
schooner and at the same time he thought
of marriage, and his choice fell upon a
comely damsel Of New-Bedford who bore
the not unpleasinR name of Priscilla.
To Priscilla, therefore, the captain made
love, and she, not unwilling, consented,
and day by day they watched the vessel as
she was shaped and fashioned BY the work
mems skillful hands. Finally she was fin
ished, and one morning as she gracefully
glided down the ways, Priscilla, sweet and
blushing, broke upon the schooner's figure
head bottle of wine, at the same time cry
ing ~ n.n,. .hao ~. - .,a pr;..;,,. ~
Across the vessels stern this name shone
out in gilded splendor, and as the captain
watched the letters sparkling in the sun
light he felt that his happiness was COM
plete. The work of fitting out was soon
done. To the captain it was labor of
love, for the Isaac and Priscilla" was to
bear his bride and sail upon his honey
moon.
But one day, one cold and dreary day,
they came and told him that she whom he
had loved and trusted had deceived him,
heart and trembling hand. he wrenched the
false ones name from where he had 80 low
ingly placed 1t, and sailed away from the
scene of his grief and woe.
Years ago was this, and since that day the
Isaac and" has breasted the waters of
old and dim and the captains heart has
healed, yet abe still bears that half-inter-
rogatory, half-exclamatory legend across
her stern.
Many wild story of storm and disaster
and many a curious story of foreign lands
has the captain brought back from sea, but
of all the voyages that the Isaac and
has made the last is the most extraordi-
nary.
II was in March of the present year. Yes
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were low: so the captain concluded that a
small speculation on his own account would
be of some profit, and. loading his vessel
4 with lumber, he set sail from Norfolk on
the 23d of March and laid his course for the
island of Jamaica. Now, the captain was
H several dollars on a chart of the Atlantic
ocean, he consulted Capt. Sharp IA retired
n shipmaster) rs to the course he should
Esteer and the probable time he would 10 in
making the passage to Jamaica. Capt.
Sharp assured him that it was one of the
pleasantest of cruises, that he himself had
made it many times, and that all Capt.
johnson would have to do after getting
clear of the land was to let his ship go
south little easterly and that in about
ten days he would be sure of making the
island.
With this information Capt. johnson
weighed anchor and, with liget wind
blowing from the. westward, let her 20
south little easterly.. All that day, and
/ for many succeeding days, the Isaac and
-" speeded on her way, the wind light from
the westward and her course always south
little easterly. The weather, unfortunately,
remained cloudy, SO that the captain was
unable to take any sights for position, but
Sharp, he day after day kept on the course
of south little easterly and borrowed no
trouble for the morrow.
A surprising fact, and one which at first |
caused the captain some uneasiness, was |
that the weather, instead of becoming |
lily cooler. But after consultation with |
the mate. who was more or less of q scholar, |
he concluded that this change in climate |
was entirely due to the enormous destruc- |
ton OF forests then going on in the United
States.
At early dawn of the tenth day land was
reported by the lookout at the masthead,
and in few hours the island of Jamaica
was plainly seen from deck, and at sun
down the Isaac and -" was safely an
fathoms of water. ConRratulating himself
upon the successful voyage, and upon the
money he had saved in not buying chart,
the captain made preparations for landing
at daybreak. Before retiring he gave orders
to his steward to lay out his white trousers
and alpaca coat, that he might lose no time |
in the morning.
In the course of the night the captain
was several times awakened by feeling of |
chilliness. but gave the matter no particu-
lar attention and simply struggled closer
prise, then, upon looking out Of his cabin
the next morning to see the snowfakes fall |
ing thick and fast. But thinking that it |
was only passing squall and that soon the |
tropical sun would come out in all it's |
splendor. he shiveringly arrayed himself in |
his white trousers, alpaca coat and straw
hat. and jumping into his boat alongside |
pulled for the shore. As he neared the
beach and could make out objects more
clearly, how different they all were from
what he had pictured. El
Instead of the luxuriant forests. few
scrubby pines; plantations of sugar cane
had given place to thin and stundSd corn
stalks. and the matched huts of thS native.
shaded by the stately palms, had changed
into few weather. beaten houses. Save q
man clad in fur coat, who was hard at
work shoveling the snow away from the
front of his house, not q solitary being was
visible ON the island.
Toward him for information the CAPTAIN
took his way. The man in the coat creeted
him az he approached, and Capt. johnson
told his story-where he, was from. how
long he had been on his journey, and what
his cargo was.
.pm afraid it's not much use,' said the
native, when the captain had finished his
tale. Nobody wants to buy any lumber
around here, Ruess.'
"l'm very much surprised said the can
tain, "for understood before I left Nor
folk that there was quite a demand for lum-
Der in jamaica
.Jamaicay' queried the stranger.
YES" replied the captain. .'This is Ja-
Jamaica be d-dr' cried the goddess, in ,
habitant. cts Block Island"
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