Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-17

brig, which hsd not goe into shtP
shape with its spare spars, water caaks
and chain cable loose on deck, adding %
the difficulties Of the situation and the
naosnenlarily increasing dangers. was a.
most unmanag-able.
The crew, though good seamen. no
Doubt. with the exception OF the three
men from the Ssiiors' Home. did not
know each other. and. naturally, did not
work we'll together. and the officers had
no know ledge of the capacities OF theu
men. 81 thai they could not order them
shout with surety.
Law aIoft and double reef the foretop-
sail. shouted the Scotch captain, acting
a, first officer for the pilot. who had now
taken ili.. wheel. fearful lest the brig
s,,n,lIt go on the shore under her lee,
over Which the rollers were laundering
and lea ping scarcely cables length
away
As this order Was given another squall
struck tn. brig. and she heeled over as
if sue wouli certainly capsize. But the
pilot swept her % windward. shivered
her forward and brought her up shaking
and trembling ike a scared bird in the
trough Of the sea. while all hands, cook,
captain. boys and steward, tried TO clew
down the topsail yards, haul out the
reef tackles. and spill the wind out OF
the sails by hauling taut the buntlines.
up. now. men, shouted the captain.
and reef the maintopsail. You can
manage that easiest. Conserving the
foretopsail while it is aback," he shouted
10 the second mate. land haul the head
Of the spanker out to keep her steady.
Efforts, with more or less success,
were made to obey all these orders. But
the foretopsail split as soon as the sheet
WAS started, and the jib. which could
not be pulled down the stay. was in rib
bons.
Still the foretopmast staysaii. the
spanker and the maintopsail held on,
while the brig plunged and labored and
snorted in the sea like terrified horse.
The men mounted TO the topsail yard.
The first man outside the lift to tn
"weather reef earring was Antonio.
..Luff up. and shake her! Light out &c
windw ard!'' he shouted to the deck and
to tile men inside him on the yard. Even
as he spoke the brig "broached to" tn.
heavy sail Tapped. and, as it filled for
ward again with the gale, it tore Antonio
from the yard as he held on to the leach
and hurled him far ahead into the sea.
He disappeared forever.
His requiem was the faint alarm
Man overboard!" unheard on deck, and
the thunderous explosion Of the topsail
itself. which was blown clean out of the
bolt ropes by another squall which struck
the now seemingly doomed vessel.
Come down from aloft! Come down.
shrieked the captain and pilot TO the un
fortunate men OH the topsail yard. which
was being whipped and dashed by the
strips of the torn canvas Of the bursted
sail.
The poor fellows tried to do so. Those
from the weather side succeeded. Only
one Of those on the lee yardarm reached
the deck in safety. Two had been cut
and slashed by the strips Of wet, frozen
canvas and literally beaten off the yard
into the dark, seething waters careerina
70 the Jersey pedch 10" hunuieu NdIuh
away.
These two were Elliott and Reed.
Before 10 O'Clock that night the wind
went down. Next morning the brig
cast anchor in the Horseshoe.
But the three sailors who two nights
before had prayed with. parted and
promised to return with many curios for
the superintendent wife of the Sailors
Home, No. 81 Cherry street, lay fathOms
deep beneath the waters of the lower
bay, drowned in that one days cruise OF
the Ellott.-R. G. NJ. in New York Star.