The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-04-14

trade winds.
But all this had to be seen in glimpses
by the men, and recognized by the Off
GERS only as it came up in the course of
official routine, for no sooner did day
dawn than the seamen were told off in
messes, water was distilled by means of
an old boiler, two boats crews were de-
tailed to travel between the wreck and
shore to save whatever they could, an
exploring party was sent out to do the
island, and charts were eagerly examined
by the officers.
The wind was squalling in gustily
from a flying sea, the rain added its
quota to the discomfort of all hands, and
just as Black Care was solidly mounted
on every mans shoulder, Talbot stepped
out on the beach, and with as cheerful
an air as if he were proposing a lark
ashore volunteered to take one of the
ships boats, and attempt the trip to the
Hawaiian islands.
Think of it.
But believe if you give sailor sim
gle plank he will see material for a
hotilla, and so, after pause of few
minutes-a tribute to discipline the
young officer was almost lost in the
him, asking, urging, pleading to go with
him, although every man jack of them
knew it was almost certain death he
volunteered for. And then, when the
choice fell on the coxswain Halford and
Muir and Francis, the others almost
fought about it.
The crew picked, Talbot passed in re-
e L. l. L \
the wreck, selecting the whale boat.
which was raised on rude stocls-made
from the Saginaw's drift-and work be-
gan on her that very day.
The seals and offers, sole occupants of
the island for several peaceful years,
made off in dismay before the swarm of
two legged intruders, who brought such
active life and intolerable sounds to their
tranquil retreat; for not only did the
hammers and caulker's mallets play on
the whale boat, but Sicard, to hearten up
the men, set them to building schooner
of the Saginaw's planks and beams in
which to sail to safety if Talbot's efforts
failed.
Through days of dreary weather the
work was pushed, and on the 18th of
November the whale boat was ready for
her venture. She was well prepared as
far as the limited supplies of the ship
wrecked permitted, but, compared with
the elemental forces against which she
must battle, and considering the season
of the year, it seemed as though she could
not outlive the first day.
The gunwales were raised eight inches
and she was decked over; two masts
were shipped and a bowsprit mounted:
she had a full set of new sails and oars
from the ships stores was stocked
with canned goods.
In the choice of these latter they had
to be guided by guesswork entirely, for
all the labels had washed off in the
wreck, and although the best looking
and the largest were selected, and the
supply was lavish, the contents of many
of them proved SO unsuitable for such n
journey that they not only jeopardized
it's success, but actually precipitated the
disaster.
On the morning of the 18th of No
for the first time since the YES
sells loss, the sun shone on the cast
aways, lifting up their hearts and filing
both parting crew and those left behind
with an almost unreasonable joy and
hope.
The first hours Of the day were occu-
pied IN giving the last touches to the
boat, and then Talbot stepped aside with
the captain to receive his final instruc-
tions. These were:
BEAT up against the Trades, through
the Belt of Gains and the Variables, to
"a given) latitude east of the Hawaiian
and thence run west with the
Trades"
This route was advised not only be-
cause it was in the track of ships, but
also because the islands cover an area of
about hundred miles, which greatly in
creased the chances of their being sight
ed, no matter how the calculations
faulted, and that they would fault was
for in small boat the mo-
ton is SO very lively that an accurate
is almost impossible Then,
too, the mountain peaks are lofty, and
the smoke of the twin volcanoes can be
seen long before the islands themselves
are raised.
A tracing of the chart and some navi-
cation instruments were given him, and
then, in the sparkling light of full noon,
the little craft put out through the open
ing of the reef and danced joyously off
on her mission.
A deep throated cheer followed them.
and as its echoes pealed over the lonely
waters an answer came drifting back
reedy and thin with distance, but keyed
TO the same exultant note of confidence.
That days sunshine was like the rose
thrown to the martyr in the arena-the
last token of friendship from the skies:
for, beginning with the next morning,
the little boat battled with storms until
the end came. The fifth day out the
waves, which had been swapping and
at her heels since the second
lay, rolled into mountains under the
ierce wind; the deck began to leak, the
cooking apparatus was washed over