Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-24
THE LAST PLANK.


an assorted cargo of great value The
captain, Rabbit by name, was an oddity
in every way. He always struck for new
courses, took all 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 shfp-monarch of it and
AN aboard. So, sailing with stiff nor
wester on our quarter, we sped swiftly on,
passing all the dangers of the coast sue
cessiyely, such as Barnegat, Hatteras, etc,
and found ourselves on a morning sud
denly becalmed off Cape Florida, close in
with the land, but soon drifting northward
despite the captains "southerly current"
1t was very clear-not a 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
the captain to me, land see if it is shoal
enough to get an anchor to hold"
sounded and forty fathoms were given.
Bend your hawsers together and drop
our heaviest kedge," was his next order.
Then close fur1 every sail but the fore
storm staysail and balance reefed spanker,
send down all the light spars from a1oft,
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 now ready for a storm, but /,
old as / 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 J. "the sky is as clear as
my loves dear eyes, and the water is as
smooth as mill pond. | see no sign of
wind"
wait about two hours, and you'll sing
another tune" he replied. give 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
will be under our lee. If we bump our
heads there it will be the last of the old
Triumph, and us too"
l made no reply, for l thought it only
one Of his fancies, and leaving the second
mate in charge of the deck, went below to
take a 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 a 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
ahoyr' brought me out of sleep and to my
feet in an instant. | hurried on deck
Never can forget the change of scene, OF
sky and sea, from the calm beauty in
which / had left it when | 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-nevel
mind the spanker," shouted the captain
you two mates take the helm; men, lasl
yourselves to the rigging; it will wash u.
fore and aft before we get headway." Ant
Selling 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 in huge white breaker toward us
The next instant the wind struck us, anC
for a moment thought all was over, fol
the ship heeled until her lower yardarml
were in the water.
Hard up-hard 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 beer
anticipated.
just then away went our mizzenmas
close by the deck, and that alone saved us
for now her head paid off before the wine
and the ship righted. Then the staysai
filed and away the old craft shot, like al
arrow sped from well strung bow. Al
we got out into the gulf the sea rose liter
ally so hard that the foam was scattered il
cloudy mists through the air.
How does she headY" asked the captain
who stood forward of the wheel.
"Sou'-sou'west, sir" replied IN a shout
for the gale drowned all common tones.
of she goes at this rate and holds thai
course we will strike Cuban rock inside Of
ten hoursl' he cried.
"Why not try to heave her tor" | asked.
'In such sea and gale we would be bot
tom up in a minute were we to try it. AL
our nope Is III cDdlige Ol Wlhu Ut u Iul
which will let us put the mainsail on her.
'This looks rough, but what is to be viii
be- There is no rubbing that out" / re
piled, and then did my best to steer q
nicely rs / could, so that no broaching Il
should hasten our fate.
On, on-once passing hapless vesse
drifting bottom up, with her sails AM
spars alongside of her-we swept until tn
night was upon u.s. Then the captain ant
good seaman relieved us from the helm
and / had time to think. l went below
and looked at the chart. | made an esti
mate of our speed, and to my horror saw
we could not be over twenty or, at th
most, thirty miles to windward of tn
rockiest part of the Cuban coast.
went on deck sick at heart, for sea ant
gale seemed higher than ever, l told thu
captain how near the last peril was, but hi
did not seem to heed me. He stood will
his shoulder to the wheel, and the shit
flew madly on. Never had she saHed will
such speed before.
/ went forward, and while | looked a
the phosphoric fame flashing from be
meath the bow thought of home, of m.
own loved Ella-and | groaned in bite
agony. never before had feared death
but now-now so near, it was terriblei
An hour, maybe more, and then / hear