The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-09
A ASKIPPER In SKIRTS
MRS. CROSS SHIVERs HER
TIMBER ON BOARD THE
OREGON.
Tn. Woman sea Captain Gives
aJournal Reporter an Ac-
count of Her Experience.
New York Journal.1

Il " sa@A &<1IftAAG
New York Journal
"The greatest storm / ever en-
countered was of Cape Hatteras,
The wind was blowing direct across
the bow and the Oregon was taking
in water by the barrel. II was an ex
citing night, | can tell Jou.''
II was Captain Della Cross, com
mander of the schooner Oregon, who
spoke. Captain Cross is pretty
young married woman who last week
applied to Collector Erhardt for d
commission.
The woman mariner was found al
her modest home IN Sullivan street,
Brooklyn, yes erdav. She bad a full
and w,ll.knit figure.
Il have SO trained NJ voice." Cap
tain Cross said, while her fingers
were busy mending tarpaulin hat
much the worse for wear, shat
make myself heard in lhs heaviest
gale. Twas about to tell you Of The
storm Of Cape Hatteras.
II he wind was blowing nor,heast.
and the sea was very high. The first
mate, that's my husband. came aft
AID said that unless the wind and sea
sbated and we took in less water we
would have to take TO the boats"
Here Capt. Cross described the con-
dition Of the Oregon. Her hold was
rapidly filing with water, and every
thing portable had been washed of
the deck.
Il was standing on the poop deck, !"
the little woman continued, dressed
10 my tsrpaulin coat and hat, when a
wave higher than the others was seen
approaching us. II was a terrible
moment OF suspense. IL the Oregon
breasts this she may live. / thought. :"
"ClutchiDg the guard-rail, 1 set
my teeth and waited. As the wave
came nearer ! saw 1t was larger than
any other wave 1 bad ever seen. The
water struck the vessel with terri-
fic crash and | had only time TO mur.
mur. May God save us
The Oregon shivered from stem TO
stern, trembled like q wounded bind,
and then slowly righted herself. 1t
was q moment of intense excitement
for Captain Gross and her gallant
crew. The little vessel righted hers
self, however, and the words Of Cap
tain Cross proved true.
The big wave was the tail end Of
the storm. Soon the wind subsidized
and the Oregon was safe.
Il ordered the steward TO serve up
extra grog all around, said Captain
Gross Us she finished her story, aand
We all thanked our stars ior our de-
liverance.
AT this point a message was re.
ceived from the Oregon stating that
the presence Of Captain Cross was
wanted at the vessels d OK,
Hastily throwing aside the light
sack she wore, she donned q thicker
one She then took tarpaulin hat
and coat from rack, and beckoninZ
q Journal reporter 20 follow her,
she walked rapidly in the direction
Of the dock ut the foot Of Sullivan
street.
Mate Cross, Capt. Cross husband,
was busily engaged 10 coiling ropes.
docs my wife know shipi" he
said, repeating the reporters ques.
ton. "Well, guess sha does. I'LL
match her against any captain in the
merchant service"
And here Mate Cross looked atfsc.
tionately at his wife, the commander
ofthe good ship Oregon.
The Oregon Is taking on Q cargo,
and will soon sail for Norfolk, Va.
She il a stsu1ch little craft and able
to breast the heaviest gale.
la