New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-06-29

i
I ~ perience that Dsfsll
go YzsS me in my early
manhood stamped itself indelibly on
my memory, and opened my eyes to
a realization OF the everything power
of a benefcent providence.
II was second mate on whaling
schooner, one of those light-heeled
swimmers of the sea that warns an
old tar's heart, and rouses all that is
best and noblest in young ones ma
ture. Oft, as | stood on deck and
watched the feeting waves roll by,
have felt my breast swell with a
soaring, vital ambition that could
override and laugh all obstacles to
scorn. There is passionate love in
a sailors heart for the old ocean that
surpasses the love ofwoman.
eve were on a whaling cruise off the
banks of Newfoundland, and our we'll
stored hold told Of very prosperous
voyage, but winter was upon us, and
the thin sheet Of ice that had begunto
form on shroud and mast and deck
warned us to turn our faces home
ward. Besides, the changing color OF
the sea and the vivid glow along
the northern horizon that a sailor
never mistakes, indicated the danger
Gus presence of icebergs.
"a stormy night OF mingled sleet
and rain had closed in, and had the
first watch, with an Injunction to
keep sharp lookout ahead. We were
scudding along under bare poles, but
the wind had risen to a wlntry gale,
and it struck me even then that our
progress was rather too speedy for the
uncertainty Of our position. Inky
blackness enveloped US. The heavy
clouds overhead cut off all light from
heaven, and the Pickering flame Of the
bowspirit lantern cleaned weirdly in
the mist and rain. / could hear the
heavy roll of the swell under our
bows, and the kissing OF the rainupo
the vast expanse of waters, broken
nowand again by an icy blast OF wind
that swept the deck and cut my face
like knife.
with my hat dragged down firmly
to protect my head and my coat but
toned around me, | stood endeavor-
ing to pierce the darkness ahead in
vain. AS we'll might one try to peer
through a solid wall as to discern any
thing beyond the lanterns light. It
was one OF those positions, sir, in
which mans own helplessness is
brought home to him and a. realiza-
ton OF his dependence on a divine
hand for guidance
''The midnight hour was drawing
on, when suddenly, from in advance,
my ear caught an ominous sound,
family at first as though beating its
way against the wind, but swelling
with terrible rapidity until in grew to
a muffied roar, deep and hollow. I
could not mistake it, no sailor on
whose ears it has smitten will ever
forget that heavy rumble. like distant
thunder. 1t was the noise OF the
waves breaking upon a rock bound
coast or some neighboring iceberg;
and we were hurrying dead upon the
danger-rushing madly to destruc-
ton!
II am ordinarily acool-headed man,
no danger easily disturbs me, but /
confess that overawing moment near
ly unnamed me. Yet [ managed to
grasp the icy spokes OF the wheel,
changing our course almost instinc-
lively, even as note OF alarm pealed
from my lips. In a moment the men,
half-dressed, came pouring on deck,
for, figuratively speaking, they slept
with one eye open in times OF danger,
and were ready for an instant SUM
mons.
''The hollow roar of the breaking
waves smote our ears with fearful dis
tinctness now. The men Instantly
comprehended the imminence Of the
peril, There was no panic; brave fell
lows like them, Injured to every dan
ger, can be relied upon in an
emergency. We had a captain whom
the men sWore by-a stern man whom
no peril, however sudden, ever found
unprepared-on of those rare charac-
tiers in the world at once utterly self
possessed.
His firm voice rose above the tenn
pest with an unmoved, decisive calm
ness that reduced all to order at once.
The men took their places with pale
faces and set teeth; but no sign OF
cowardly fear escaped them. Then
order upon order rolled from the
trumpet and we worked quickly and
in grim silence. 1t was 70 time for
hesitation; death stared us in the face
and every moment was as precious as
our life blood. All in mortal power.
was done to avert the danger; and as
we struggled the deafening rumble
grew upon US until it seemed to per
wade the air on all sides. Before, be-
hind, to right, TO left, came the shock.
OF the waves upon the ice-''
"Would we escape? VAST too late?
Even as the questions framed them
selves in my mind / saw a wall Of ice
loom up ahead, rejecting back the
light of the lantern ais from myriad
OF sparkling diamonds. It WAS a
glorious but an awful sight, and de
SPAR seized upon me.