Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-01-28


indication of danger in the clear sky
and the light breeze which famed the
surface of the Indian ocean.
About o'clock in the afternoon the
sky to windward showed signs of
gathering storm. Professional pride
told me 10 crowd on all sail SO long as
the wind continued fair, but experience
whispered that the lives of the
ships crew, my wife and Miss Burlin
game depended to a great extent upon
my seamanship and good judgment. /
considered the matter a few minutes,
and then, summoning the chief mate,
said:
"Mr. Everson. call all hands, take in
the light sail. send down the studding-
sail-vards and booms, skysail, royal and
top-galant yards fore and ait, and close
reef the top-sails and courses"
The mate, whose hair and beard were
whitened by the ocean blast of 40 years,
regarded me in surprise for moment,
then touched his cap and returned to
the waist. [ could see that the old salt
doubted the ACCESSIBILITY of the course |
was pursuing.
The orders for shortening sail were
rapidly executed, and in less than TWEEN
ty minutes the Norseman was all snug
fore and aft. In the meantime the
horizon had become overcast with a
heavy bank of cOpper-cOlored clouds:
in the thirty years have followed the
sea | have never seen the elements ar
rayed in more terrific line of battle
than they were at $3.50 of the afternoon
of Sept. 10, 1869.
The matches were carefully battened
down and the watch sent below to secure
what rest they might, while | paced the
quarter deck, restless and uneasy.
The breeze gradually died out and
dead calm ensued.
The ladies came on deck and chaffed
me for shortening sail.
The barometer continued falling, and
| again ordered all hands called A line
Of foam was approaching on the star
board beam.
s'Hard a port, sir p responded the
| seized the trumpet and gave my
orders.
"Haul up the courses"
The command was promptly executed,
and the men started alolt to furl They
were too late.
"Down for your lives! Down p
The tidal wave struck us on our port
quarter, breaking over the poop deck,
accompanied by fearful gust of wind.
Away went our courses, and the top
sails we're literally blown from the bolt
ropes.
| looked for the ladies', who had been
standing on the quarter deck. Merci-
full heavens they had been washed
overheard, and | saw their agonized
faces half a ships lenght to leeward.
With a yell to lower away the star
board boat l plunged into the sea. AS
| rose to the surface heard cooi
voice beside me:
"Cheer up, Cap, We'll save them
sure"
L glanced over my shoulder and saw
the carpenters mate.
1t seemed as though Providence had
interviewed in our behalf. for after the
first terrible gust the wind subsidized.
We reached the ladies and looked
around for the boat. 1t was coming,
the crew pulling like demons, while in
the sheets sat Everson, urging them to
greater eXertlon.
BY the time we returned to the ship
the cyclone had broken upon us in all
its fury, and for three days we driited
at the mercy of the storm.
On the morning of the fourth day the
wind and sea went down, the damage
to the Norseman was quickly repaired
and we stood away for Melbourne.
Upon our arrival Kenneth Gardener
asked for his discharge, which [ could
not well refuse him. After the papers
had been filled out 1 took occasion to
thank the young man warmly in
behalf of Mr.. Burlingame, and intipat-
ed that it would be to his advantage to
return to Liverpool as soon as possible,
giving him st the same time a letter of
introduction TO my employer, which
contained detailed description of the
gallant conduct of Gardener in saving
Miss Evelyn's life.
The ladies were ashore, stopping at
this very hotel, and [ was to join them
later in the day. / appeared about 5
o'clock. Mrs. Thornton was suffering
from a headache and Mis-. Burliagame
had gone for drive.
The yo ny lady came IN half an hour
after, ACCOMPANIED bv Kenneth Gard
ner. After exchanging greetings, the
latter placed in my hands a document.
| opened it and was taken fiat aback at
the contents. 1t was certificate signed
by leading clergyman of Melbourne,
stating that Hiram Holdsworth and
Evelyn Burlingame had that day been
united in marriage.
Of course | gave them my blessing |
couldn't help it. | believe L kissed
the bride several times, and would
have continued had not my wife OBJ
iected.
The next thing was to inform Mr.
Burlinga1ne of the condition of affairs,
and as gently as possible I broke the
news that his discharged clerk had
rather played it on the old man. l re-
ceived his answer at San Francisco in the
person of Capt. Gregson, who had been
sent out to relieve me of the command
of the Norseman. but the agents of
Gurlingame & Co. were instructed to pay
me d full years salary.
Burlingame died Of apoplexy, and as
Evelyn was the only heir she inherited
all of his vast wealth. To-day the firm
of Hiram Holdsworth & Co. owns more
tonnage than any other in the United
Kingdom.