The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-21
THE LAST PLANK.

an assorted cargo of great value. The
captain, Rabbit by name, was an oddly
IN every way. he always struck for new
| courses, took ell tracks but those pre-
scribed by custom, and thought nobody
knew anything but himself.
For instance, he insisted that counter
current ran southwark inside the Gulf
stream. and that the only way to make a
quick voyage to New Orleans was to hug
close in on the shore side of it all the way
out, despite the danger of capes, rocks and
reefs, the whereabouts of which he said he
knew too well not to avoid them.
Who could gainsay him? He was cap
tain of his own ship-monarch of it and
AN aboard. So, sailing with a stiff nor
wester on our quarter, we sped swiftly on,
passing all the dangers Of the coast sue
cessively, such as Barnegat, Hatteras, etc,
and found ourselves on morning sud
denly becalmed off Cape Florida close in
with the land but soon drifting northward
despite the captains 'ssoutherly current"
1t was very clear-not cloud in sight
warm and close, though it was September
and the time for an equinoctial gale to be
upon us.
"Heave the deep sea lead, Mr.. R." said
enough to get an anchor to hold"
l sounded and forty fathoms were given.
Bend your hawsers together and drop
cur heaviest kedge," was his next order.
"Then close fupl every sail but the fore
storm staysail and balance reefed spanker,
send down all the light spars from aloft,
and get ready to house topmasts and Sc
cure lower yards; get up preventer braces,
and see all secure below and aloft."
"Ay, ay, sir" And it, was done.
We were row ready for storm, but I,
old as I am in sea matters, could see no
token of it anywhere.
"We're going to have tough time of it,
Mr.. r." said Captain Rabbit to me.
"Why, sir" said |, "rhe sky is as clear as
smooth as mill pond. I see no sign of
wind"
''Wait about two hours, and you'll sing
another tune" be replied. ''I've been in
these ATTITUDES before The worst of this
will be that it will come dead off shore,
and if we must scud, Cuba and her reefs
viii be under our lee. If we bump our
heads there, it viii be the last of the old
Triumph, and us too"
l made no reply, for I thought it only
one of his fancies, and leaving the second
mate in charge Of the deck, went below to
take nap, for I'd had the mid watch and
felt rather snoozish. went to my state
room and threw myself on my bunk, and
soon was dreaming Of d blue eyed angel
ashore, whom hoped to be spliced to at a
not far distant time. A heavy tramping
overhead and the shout Of 'all hands
ahoyi" brought me out of sleep and to my
feet in an instant. | hurried on deck
Never can l forget the change Of scene, of
sky and sea, from the calm beauty in
which l had left it when l went below.
Now, black clouds were rolling up to the
northward, coming on in great blOtchy
waves, like cragS Of ebon mountains over
hanging and about to fall upon US. The
sea was black under the shadowy wing OF
the storm, and the roar OF the tempest,
like hOarse, angry voice, came to our
ears from distance.
up with the forestorm staysail-never
mind the spanker," shouted the captain.
You two mates take the helm; men, lash
yourselves to the rigging; it viii wash Us
fore and aft before we get Roadway" And
seizing an ak from the beckett, he bounded
forward and cut away the hawser which
held us at anchor.
AS he did this looked off on our star
board beam, and saw the water apparently
rolling i'll huge white breaker toward u.s.
The next instant the wind struck US, and
for moment l thought all was over, for
the ship heeled until her lower yardarms
were in the water.
Hard up-nard up the helmr' shouted
the captain in my ear.
l could but just hear him, and pointing
to the wheel he saw that his order had been
anticipated.
Just then away went our miZzeDmast
close by the deck, and that alone saved Us,
for now her head paid or before the wind
and the ship riGhted. Then the stayssil
filed and away the old craft shot, like an
arrow sped from a well strung bow. as
we got out Into the gulf the sea rose liter
ally so hard that the foam was scattered IN
cloudy mists through the air.
How does she he&dy" asked the captain.
who stood forward of the wheel
''Sou'sou west, sir, I replied in q shout,
for the gale drownes. all common tones.
IF she goes at this rate and holds that
course we Will strike Cuban rock inside of
ten hours!" he cried.
Why not try to heave her tor / asked.
an such sea and gale Sc would bc bot
tom up II minute were we 10 Try It. AL
our hope is IN 4 change Of wind or q lGiI
which viii let Us put the Iaairsai OH her"
This looks rough, but what IS 10 DC viii
be. There : no rubbing chat out" | re
Piled, ard then did my hest 70 steer as
nicely as I coaid, 80 that 10 bfo2clIns to
should hasten cur tate
On, o2--once passing a hag,ess vessel
drifting bottom NJ, wisn her SKIS ard
spars alon Eside OF Eer-we swept Cn,il he
night was apon US Then tLe captain and
a good seaman relieved Is from lEe hetu.,
ami I had time 70 think. we2t below
ami looked Il the chart. ! made al esrl-
mate OF or speed, and 70 zuy horror s1gv
we could uot be ever twenty or at the
most. thirty mics 70 v!Bdva-t OF the
rock is-. tart cf the c.. c2zI
went On -iecA ,.CS Is Eeart, for sea ard
gale seems. higher tGaz ever told tbe
captain how near l!.c LAST peril was, bit e
dld not seem u lccd ne He stood wstn
his shoulder 70 the heel. and the ship
fca r,iatly on Never had Sue saEed with
such speed before
Went forward, and while looked st
tie P.losPhoFic laIur flashing from -
meath tGe box ] thought - acrle, OF ny
Own Iovg-I Ella-and 4,roaued il bitter
agony I never leioTe AAi feared death,
buJ now-Row 50 De@r. i wus terrible.
An hour, maybe more, sud thea heard
eli TOO plain. even above the Wild roar cf
Tia storm. the sound 30 sul-sn AID cee3