The National tribune., 1890-03-20

1t meant 10 rig sheers and purchase over The
hatch forward, aud hoist the huge, unwieldy
wheel to the deck; then TO transport 1t along
the deck TO the propeller well at the stern
where the sheers and tackle must be rugged
again, and the propeller lowered away until il
met in place, where it must be fitted to the shaft
and the couplings made. This, too, in hurri
cane, while the ship was rolling Sc deeply that
life.lines were rigged all along the decks fol
all hands TO hold secure by, and the sea drench
ing the ship rs each huge wave reared its crest
above the nettings. Mind you, there was nC
adjunct of steam to aid in that dreadful and
perious work, for there was no donkey engine
on board, but all must be done by muscular
eXertion, while every man must hold hard al
the same time TO keep from being swept over
board.
Ii was while work on the propeller was
under way that the close reefed foretopsail was
carried away with report like that of firing
heavy ordnance, and half the crew was called
away 10 set other canvas TO help hold her steady
An officer on board told the writer that the
foretopsail and other square sails carried away
during that storm left the bOlt-ropes as clean as
il cut away by the sailmaker's trimming knife
More than $4,000 worth of canvas was carried
away during the four and half days the gale
continued.
The order for the propeller brought heavy
and dangerous work for the Engineers and
the propeller-shaft so that the huge wheel
would settle in its place, and they must fit and
make fast the couplings. Chief Engineer
Newell was In bad health, and unable 10 per-
form the required work. so that IL fell upon the
shoulders of Mr.. Melville, his Chief Assistant
1t was n dreadful labor to do at any time,
even in the quiet of port anchorage. for the
shait-allcy is naturally confined in space and all
the space in the Cngiue.rooms of man of war
iAn 41,nt
is left to work in. But Melville went below
with his forco-not rs efficient unfortunately.
as il should have been, and not alone directed
the work, but put his own hand TO IL. An
officer tells me that early in the morning Ot
that night at the time call hands were called
TO be ready in case Of emergency, he was thrown
10y a heavy sen against the rail of the engine
room hatch, where he could see the men below
in the dim glare of the smoky lanterns, aud
that Melville was stripped 10 the buff and
working with hammer and wrenches rs if he
had been one of his own machnists
At last the huge driving-wheel of the ship
was in its cradle and coupled fast, with all the
shaft and engine connections on, and then there
was waiting for the necessary order to start
fires. 1t was then nearly o'clock in the morn
ing, and the gale showed no sign yet Of abatng,
while each cast of the lead showed less and less
water.
No order came. Why? No one knew, and
no one yet knows ii that ship had been COM
manded by a man like Admiral Ammcn, or Ad-
miral Tom Stevens, or Amy, or the late Ad-
miral Beaumont, he would have marched
straight to tho Admiral's cabin, and taking tho
rcins in his teeth. remarked:
- am responsible sir, for the safety Of this
ship and for the lives of the ship's company.
aud ! intend 10 take such action, sir, rs will
preserve both. lg you attempt 10 interfere with
my action, will slap you into double irons.
Good morning, sir" Then the Engineer force
would have been at work in about 40 seconds
starting the fires. But Capt. Trenchard, al
though an able and gallant officer was not of
that stuff, and so he waited augrily until at
last at 6 a. IN, Lauman sent the order for fires
Lord, hOw the small wood went into the fur.
mace and the cotton aud oil waste, and the
old pork and tar and rosin aud pitch-bsrr
and the paiut-kcgs - anything that would
make a big Ere, as quick as a Texas man wants
a revolver when he does want one
On deck the lead was goiog constantly; and a
little At d time. the casts showed that the great
ship was drifting rapidly in.shorc at fully the
rate calculated by Mr.. Mccormick. Long be-
fore day the laundering Of the breakers could
be heard plainly, and when day dawnrd there
was the line Of leaping. tossing. cnrling and
serpcntlik waves breaking in the shoa water
not more than two miles away, aud the iron
ribbed clins were distant but little more than
four miles.
The huge waves tumblei in giant swings all
about the ship. yellow as a muddy pool in which
swine had waliowed, aud so thick with mud
and gravel torn from the bottom that the deck
and sides were covered with the dirt ard the
gravel had been 50 packed By the waves into the
cmbTasures OF the headlights below, that not a
CLEAN Of day could be seen on tho beril-deck
or IN the ward room.
All not engaged below or with the soundinrs,
grouped in the best shelter they could 6nd aud
giOomily watched the nearing limo Of breakers
they could hardly hope 90 escape.
Would tie hrcs never make steam enough 20
turn the whcel2 The remaining canvas held,
but the ship would not answer her helm In tho
force Of the gale. The lead-line showed 10
fathOns At q o clock Then Q: then s then
again. Was size paying Off? No. Six fathoms
were reported, and every face grew cravcr, and
only little later the man in the chains sang
out: Blythe fi-v-c"-fathOms
Great God the ship drew 10 feet aft and here
was only ! feet between an even keel and tho
bottom. while the waves Tan nearly 20 feet
high That meant that II wave and keel sank
together, the blow against tho bottom would
carry away every mast aud spar, aud leave the
ship 10 be rolled over aud over 10 the breakers
10 be pounded 20 pieces in few minutes
Bat Just then faint shiyor ran through the
ship, and every mans heart stood still. Tho
shiycr grew stronger. bat Oh so slowly, il
seemed, and then. with a sigh like "A tired man
turning IN bed, the propeller made its first
turn over the center" Steam was on at last
aud II was just q. M.
Over went the wheel again with n louder
sigh, and then, quicker and quicker, until the
great blades were thrusting the muddy water
astern IN the battle against the storm.
Finally the watchers noticed slight shiver
OF the fore gtaysIii. and then it iluttered. The
ship WAS getting her stcerageway Five
minutcs more the sail was hauled over, and rs
the ship paid of by the head tho speed increased,
and iu 90 minutes the Lancaster WAS fairly
showing her heels 20 the line of breakers and
speeding into the teeth OF the storm 70 reach
deep water.
There was no stinting in the way the coal
went into the furnaces then. Tho fires were
fed as a good mother feeds hungry boy who
has been hard at play ali day.
Tie ship was kept straight out 10 sea until
tie deep-sea line showed 90 fatb0ms, aud then,
as the sky cleared and good sights were obtained
for position latitude and longitude, course
was laid straight for M0nteVideo, which port
was safely reached March II without further
incident Of importance.
lie vas Tired OF Protesting.
lDefroH free Press