Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-01-24
denlx.awnkened senscs.

denly-awalsened senses.
A binding fash OF lightning crossed
nv vision, dark clouds OF vapor we're
around me, l seemed TO be borne along
with terrific velocity on the roaring,
whistling gale, while below me beheld
the CLEAN Of the frigate's battle Ian
terms, by which could see nimble forms
hurrying to and fro, far beneath my con-
fused gazo, hauling on ropes, putting
extra lashing about tho launch, careful
ly securing the guns, while the hoarsa
voices Of the boatswain and his mates,
together with the shouts OF the officer
Of the deck through his trumpet, were
blended With answering crios from the
topmen and others aloft, who were furl-
ing and reehng the heavier canyas-the
lighter sails, evidently, having already
been taken in.
All these sights and noises, together
with the din Of the tempest, the roar OF
the ocean, the lurching and rolling Of
the huge black hull as 1t was hurled
along like mere wisp through the
angry waters, surprised and puzzled
me; and In the half-dazed condition
OF my suddenly awakened brain, scarce
ly realizing my precarious situation
there aloft, my hold of the stay, round
which, whom asleep, had still kept my
arm, became loosencd by violent pitch
Of the ship, and away l went, falling
headlong from my position.
Downtown, with horrible, sicken
Ing sensation in my breast, and even at
this dreadful moment with sort Of
consciousness that my impending doom
was the result OF neglect Of duty, / shot
through space toward the dimly-lighted
deck, which, before my distorted vision,
seemed springing up to meet me and
thus hasten my fnto Of being dashed 10
death. Wildly throwing out my arms
and clutching at the air the instant
fell, something the next moment
touched one OF my hands. II was, as
afterward learned, dangling rope
the foreto'-gallant studding sail
halliard = which had previously
been accidentally loosened from
tho belaying-pin below. and around this
rope my fingers closed with q convulsive
grasp, while my other hand was quickly
used 70 add TO the force Of my grip.
Alasl my descent had been TOO swift 10
snablc me TO retain my hold. As my
body "righted" my hands kept to the
rope but for few seconds, my fingers
slid away from the strands, and my de.
scent through the air continued. In some
degree my grasp Of the limo had checked
tho forue Of my fall, but had as yet de-
scended only about thirty feet, and the
frightful distance Of nearly seventy feet
OF space yet lntcrvened between mo and
the deck, whom, TO my surprise, my fur
ther downward course was suddenly
stopped with jerk that nearly took the
breath from my body, and found my
self swaying like pendulum in mid
air, with a ropo securely tied about my
breast beneath the arms.
II is perhaps needless to state that this
rope had been made fast TO me, while ]
was asleep, though by whom could not
imagine at the time. II had proved 10
be the means of saving my life, but had
not my fall been previously checked by
my clutchinZ the studding-sail halliard,
as have mentioned, think ! would
have been somewhat injured by the jerk
OF the ropc whom my swift descent was
SO suddenly stopped.
Now as swung inward toward the
shrouds, clutchcd them, and shaking
like leaf. still feeling faint and dizzy,
had braced myself against the rigging,
while stood on the ratlines, whom, do
spite the dense gloom, imagined / saw,
directly ahead OF the frigate, the dim
outline OF n small partly-dismasted ves-
sci looming up, not four ships lengths
of, her hull and portion of her shat
tered jib-boom lighted by the phosphor-
escent CLEAN Of the raging, foaming wa
ters.
'Sail OF right ahead!'' cried, as loud
ly as could, and my cry was repeated
by the sailing-master and ono of the
iookouts on the forecastle, the master
calling out, an instant after, to the Lieu
tenant, In voice Of thunder:
"IIard-a-port, sir. hard-a-port, or we
will be a-foul OF her!"
"Hard-a-port, quartcrmaster" roared
the officer Of tho dock.
"Hard-a-port ii ia, sir!'' bawled the
quartermaster, but II was evident that
no human power could now save US from
running into the craft ahead.
my God, sir, she is doomed" shouted
the sailing-mastcr TO me. why did
you not sing out before9"
A choking sensation in my throat pre-
vented my answering. One of the oc-
casional flashes OF lightning that ac-
companied this tempest had just plainly
revealed to mo the fated craft ahead,
and that brief glimpse had shown me
that she was the brig, our tender, which
was commanded by my father.
We would run her down-this could
not, 1t was plain, be now avoided-and
IL was all my fault. Had not gone to
sleep--bad held strict watch, as
Lieutenant Diddle had ordered me to do
Il would, from my lofty position, have
seen the craft soon enough to have en-
ablcd US TO keep the ship of and away
from her.
Now, although iAc two men at the
helm jammed the wheel hard over, the
great frigato, in that gallo, with nearly
every stitch of canvass stcwed, was
SLOW W husWtE, anu va oAAo WNHs "tN'&
terrific velocity, until suddenly there
was a tremendous crash, as she struck
the brig amidships with her enormous
bows.
heard the noise Of the splintered
woodwork, tho grinding sound Of the
frigate's keel as she dashed along,
scraping few cracking fragments
under her forefoot; then she went BOOM
ing on, probably leaving behind only .
few shattered pieces Of tho craft she
had destroyed.
Meanwhile I had listened for some
wholesome cry--from the Inflated ves'
sci, and had fancied--though II might
have been the wild shout from one Of
our own crew blending with the din Of
the fierce gale--that had heard yell
OF agony as we won't crashing through
and over the brig,
But whether or not that cry had come
from tho destroyed craft the terrible
sense OF my being TO blame for the loss
Of her crew and Of her captain--fny o'sn
Jather-lay like heavy weight upon my
conscience, and ns now unfastened
1