Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-02

moorlnga II WONDER" remarked our captain
| why they don't get under way"
Said j: Perhaps they are like the captain
that father told us about, who was always
! among the last Of the feet to get under way
wnen asked, Captain. are you going to try its'
the invariable answer would be, I guess / will
hang on awhile and see if the wind is going 10
! stand Ours was not q fair wind, rather Q
slant, IN fact quite close haul for those Of the
feet bound northward. By this time We we're
well nigh across the "capea" ! saw that our
skipper wassomewhAt restless, and must say
ielt little uneasy myself. especially when he
| remarked, Il think we have missedi IT,"
The wind kept heading us of and brisking
up rapidly till we were trimmed close aft. The
easterly roll heaving in soon settled the ques-
ton beyond doubt that there was bad weather
| offshore. The bank to the east that we had
been cycling now began to define its meaning
No time was to be lost Our topsails and the
outer jib were taken in and furled, the foresail
settled and reefed. This done the mainsail was
close reefed and bonnet taken out Of jib.
BAD WEATHER AND POUNDING THE ROCKS
Even under this canvas the Jane WINS making
bad weather Of it. We we're by this time about
fifteen miles south Of Abescom. Dark and
stormy, with . northeast gale square in our
teeth to beat TO windward, our course to Sandy
Hook was thing simply impossible for rs TO
on our starboard tack We were being washed fore
and aft The only alternative was to keep her
off and run before it with the chances Of reach
ing the harbor that we had left again. Driving
dead before the wind, with Q heavy sea run
ming, our vessel deeply laden and under the
canvas we dared to show, made her steer badly
at the best To keep within point or 90 Of
| our course was thing not easy to do. We
aimed, as we supposed, full well to windward 10
| sufficiently allow for leeway. By this time
Cape May light was dirnly seen In the dis.
! lance, Just Rbaft our lee Cape Henlopen sighted
and a faint glimpse of the beacon light obtained
! Alas, all was shut out from our view; dense
darkness prevailed. In dread suspense Of the
] fate awaiting We continued, the lookout fail
Ing to see anything save the mountainous white
caps and hear the howlings of the pillows
Alternately the captain and myself had the helm
as onward We plunged our way. Twas nearing
midnight. Judging from our speed before such q
gale We knew that we must be nearing the
breakwster. had just retired from the vince
and assembled the main rigging in eager watch
fuiness some light to discern or object to OBJ
| serve to guide our entrance into the harbol
we we're seeking. But nothing save &
huge object of darkness, looming up JUS
| under Our lee, could be seen. In an in
slant l shouted, Let her huff" but, alas, toe
late. An instant later and the crash came
We struck head on the rugged ice breaker
Our vessel bllged and beat on the reef, whilt
the elements wrought bitter vengeance OF
| their prey. In the meantime the crew took t.
our boat, and from the lee Of our stranded
vessel cut loose just as Q huge sea picked M
| boat and all and landed us high on the ice
! covered rocks. Making our way to the ligh
house we reached there almost persisted, Ions
ere daylight dawned. Nothing save few
| spintered spars and tangled rigging was lef
| OF our craft Jane, while the crew to a mai
was minus all save just what we stood in as ou
vessel went from under our feet