Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-01-20

windf
STEADY, north by east,,sir.D
We sat down and finished our gror, which
tasted better from havisg been out w the
bitter air on deck.
had the morning watclv-the first mates
to keep next day.
was toe restless to sleep after 1t, so KEPT
on deck the whole of the day.
Even that did not satisfy me. / was con-
tinually running up the ratlines into the
maintop with my glass, but every time
came down disappointed
No ship or wreck was In sight; for that
was what / had brought myself to believe
would be the ultimate outcome of the strange
direction, "Steer N. W."
The captain was as unqulet as myself.
The captain plainly expected something to
happen; but as to what it was to be ne made
no open conjecture.
The second officer, Mr.. Sornberger, be-
heve, frnly believed us both crazy; indeed,
l often wondered myself at the state l
was in.
Evening came, and nothing had turned up
The night was bright, and the captain was
determined to lay on under easy sail till
morning.
Morning came, and with the first gray
light was on deck
IL was bitterly cold.
Those oaly who have seen them under SINH
lar circumstances can form any adequate iden
Of the delicate and beautiful tints of the
morning skies in thoss northern ATTITUDES
The beauty Of the scene was simply ravish-
ing. But was in no humor to appreciate
any Of these marvellous beauties of nature.
I had something else Of more vital import
anoe to think of just then.
There was mist and thick frosty haze of
a deep white hanging low down on the hori-
zon. waited impatiently for it TO lift. 1t
lifted soon, and / could not be mistaken-be-
yond it could dimly sec the glimmer of the
ice field.
sent below to call the captain, who came
on deck directly.
at is no use, Mr.. Stowell, he said, ..''you
must put her about"
"Wait one moment" l said, ''wait one mo-
ment. the mist is lifting more, it will be
quite clear directly"
The mist was indeed lifting rapidly. Far
to the north and west we could see the ice
stretching away, as far as the eye could
reach, in one unbroken field.
was trying to see whether there appeared
any break in the ice to the west, when the
captain, seizing my arm with one hand and
pointing straight ahead with the other, ex-
claimed:
"My Godl there is ship therern
The mist had risen like a curtain, and
there, sure enough, about three miles ahead
was a ship seemingly firmly packed in the
ice.
We stood looking at it in silence.
There was some meaning, after all, in that
mysterious warning, was the first thought
that Hoehad fj.rouoh NV mind
"She's nipped bad, sir" said old Capen,
who, with the rest of our crew, was anxious
ly watching our new discovery.
was trying hard to make her out through
my glass, when the flash of a gun, quickly
followed by the dull report. proved that she
had seen us
Up went the flag, union down.
We needed no signal TO know her distress.
The captain ordered the second officer, Mr..
Sornberger, off in one of the quarter boats.
watched him as he made his way over the
fee, with a few of the men, towards the
wrecked ship, while the rest Of the boats
crew rowed "off and onn TO await his return.
They soon returned with eight Of the ships
crew.
1t was a dismal account they gave Of their
situation.
They might have sawed their way out
through the ice, but the ship was so strained
and injured that she would not have hoated
an hour.
The largest of their boats had been stove
in by contact with an iceberg, while none Of
the others were really seaworthy.
They were preparing, however, to take to
them as last precarious resort, when the
welcome arrival of the Edna-our ship-pui
an end to their fears.
Another detachment was soon brought of,
and the captain, with the remainder Of his
crew, was TO follow Immediately.
/ went down to my cabin and tried &c
think over the singular fate that had made
US the preservers of this ships crew.
/ could not divest myself of the idea that
some occult or supernatural agency was con
nected with that piece Of paper in the cap
tains desk, and trembled at the thought Of
what might have been the consequence if We
had neglected the warning.
The boat coming alongside interrupted my
reverie.
In few seconds was on deck.
found the captain talking to a fine ole
sailor like looking man, whom he introduced
to me as Capt Squiers
Capt Squiers shook hands with me, and ",
continued talking for some time.
could not take my eyes OF his face; / haC
a conviction that had seen him somewher,
where, could not tell
Every now and then l seemed to catch a
some clew, which vanished as soon a
touched.
At last be turned around to speak to SOM
Of his men.
could not be mistaben-there was TIL
same long, white hair, the same brown coat
He was the man had seen writing in tn
captains cabinl
That evening / and the captain told tn
strange story Of the written paper to Capt
Squiers, who gravely and in silence lstene'
to our conjectures.
He was too devoutly thankful for his escap
out Of such an imminent and terrible peril Z
question the means by which it had bee
brought about.
At the captains request he wrote, "Stee
N.W.n
We compared it with the original writing
There could be no doubt Of it.
1t was in the same odd, cramped hand
Fred. Lucca Squiersin New Orleans Picayuns
1
Speed of Fishes
The flight of birds can be easily measured
but it is very difficult to gauge the speed G
fishes. AS a general rule, the fast fishes ar