The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-07-04
AMONG THE BREAKERS,

AJ PHEASANT Ianlly reunion IN NEW
York the sons and daughters of an old
commodore of the navy were aesembl-
ed at the house of well known citizen
to celebrate domestic anniversary.
The table had been cleared, cigars
lighted, and the vet ran, being urged
by the young ladies to spin them a sea
yarn, related the following story:
IL occurred, he said, soon after | en-.
tered the service, now more than forty
years ago. We were just about to
leave Hampton Roads on cruise,
when. the captaiu's gig dashed along
side, and with the old skipper came a
slight, girlish, fair haired boy, appar-
emily a mere child, but dressed in the
uniform at that time worn by the mid
shipmen of our navy.
The little fellow had been sent to
sea to learn an honorable profession,
because his father, since his bankrupt
cy, could not educate his son at home
in a manner becoming his former
station. He stood uncertain for
while on the quarter deck, alone, neg
leotcd, abashed, until the captain, sud
denly recolectiug himself, turned round
aud introducing him TO us ended by
committing Harry Broughton, as l
shall call him, to my oversight, as the
Oldest midshipman on board.
We were soon on intimate terms,
and he was 50 frank, generous and win
ming in his manners that you could not
for the life of you, escape loving the
little fellow. Even the rugged old tars
would do anything to please him, and
the severity of the first lieutenant him
self often relaxed itself when little
Harry, as we all called him, had often
ded against some paltry rule of disci-
pline. Always the first to turn out in
gale, never TO be found skulking like
some of our other youngsters from his
watch, and at all times eager TO volun-
teer on any extra duty, he gradually
wound himself into the hearts of every
one on board, from the landlubbers in
the waist to the captain in his after
| cabin. If we went on shore Harry
was sure to be one of our company, for
he was such favorte with strangers
on account of his youth and beauty
that we were always better welcomed
if he was along.
We had been out nearly three years,
cruising on the Pacific station, when
we were ordered home, and right glad
we all were to hear the news. The
long, beautiful moonlights came and
went like the sound of music, and a
hundred gallant fellows danced away
the evening watches to the lively notes
of the violin.
We reached the Philippine Islands,
passed the strait and at last entered
the Bay of Bengal. We were all
heartily tired of close confinement on
shipDoard, and resolved to run up the
bay and visit few ofthe chief stations
on the coast. 1t was a glorious day
when we first caught sight of Madras
with the sunlight playing full on it'
walls aud minarets, the long, low
beach of white sand crowned with tn,
walls of the fort above, and a trem end
ous surf rolling aud laundering il
ahead. Every heart beat high will
pleasure, and it was not difficult m At
ter to obtain permission to land. I
party of officers, among whom wer
Harry and myself, resolved to max
an excursion into the town.
| / should have mentioned that ther
is no port for vessels within twent
miles of st. Georges fort, and as ou
frigate would be compelled to stretc
out and in until our return we had bu
little time for our adventure. We la
intended when we started to leave tn
boats outside the surf and to land i
flats which were used for passing th
breakers, and which, being sewed tt
gether and without keels, are admir-
ably fitted to resist the jerking of tn
suf and cannot without great difficult
be overturned. But when we neare
| the shore we saw that none of thes
native boats were at hand, an1 as "
had but little time to loose we lay upo
our oars Just out the breakers and cal
cd council to determine what to d.
"What say you, Frank, to making
: dash, a nd passing it at once? 1t wi
be something to talk of-eh!"
shook my head in disapprobatic
as l pointed to the huge billows tn
raced by US, and curling over cable
length ahead broke with noise lii
thunder on the beach, while the shive
ed wave boiled and foamed in the vc
$ tex below.
"Give way, my sea dogs, give way
shouted the third lieutenant, comi
up abreast in gallent style; "shall '
dash IN, Mr.. Tlller?'
j., at looks like venture where o
cast is death, and the other is duckin
but what say you, ,Broughton"
"Oh, sir" replied the little fello
his eyes kindling as he spoke, 9Th
say an English man of-war's boat pa
ed it few years ago, and I'm sure
can do it, too. Besides, sir, we c
s. try it with one boat first. 1t isn't su
a high surf, after all, and look the
. sir, they're watching US from the for
True enough, the officers of t
garrison were quizzing us already W
their glasses.
still, however, objected, FEELING
" strange kind of presentiment that so
dreadful accident would occur If
vntured in the surf. But the natio
pride of our men had been touch
and, the lieutenant, seeing it, wavel
81 no longer, and shouting the order
81 "Give way" our crew broke into
os cheer and dashed rapidly up to
20 gigantic breakers.
7dI The aspect of the surf as we apI
70 aohed it was terrible. Enormous
90 ows rolled in, one after another 7
,3 like monsters, paused a moment "
=. their white crests oombing before h
- descended and then hurled their m
of water down into the abyss bel
with the noise of a mighty cataract.
Hitherto all had been careless
board, and jests had been flying pie
fully about, but every man now
G. that crisis was at hand, and acco
ingly the deepest silence prevail
broken only by the noise of the {
the and uniek ordara nf tho iantaoao.