Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-29
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
q Mutiny at Sea-
sY W. CLARK RUSSELL.

WAFER ~ great pace Inc TOhI-
Ing Of the wind on high, the
breaking Of the spars, the clanking
and grinding OF the chain-shcets, the
squeh OF shcaves working on rusty
pins, the Kissing and splitting Of the
seething foam, and ever and anon tho
sullen thunder Of sea striking the
ship, filed the ear with wonderful
volume Of sound. The captain was
cracking on 10 make up for the lost
time, and he was on deck when j went
below at ten o'clock TO get some rest
before relieving Duckling ut midnight
There were then two hands at tho
wheel, and couple on the lookout;
our lamps were burning bravcly, but
we had long ago outrun all sight OF
shore and Of lights ashore.
slept soundly, and Mt eight bells
Duckling reused me up. had
four hours before mo when / went
ON deck, and may perhaps have
wished myself ashore In n quiet bed.
The captain stood near the wheel 1t
was blowing very fresh indeed. the
wind about east-sOuth-east, with a
strong following sea. The yards had
been braccd farther aft, but no other
alteration had been made since had
gone below. II had thought that the
vessel was carrying too much sail then,
certainly thought that sho was carry
ing great deal too much sail now.
The press Of canvas was burying her.
Well aft us the wind was, tho vessel
lay over Ia starboard under II. and she
was dragging her heavy channels
sluicing and foaning through the
water.
mustered the watch and u couple
~ them went to relieve their mates ut
the forccastlc. walked aft to see how
she was steering aud found she was
doing very well though the rush Of
some OF the seas under her counter
might have bcwildcrcd u two-lhOusand-
ton ship. She rose. too. better than
thought she would, though she was
sluggish enough, for SEINE Of the seas
ran past her with their crcsts curling
above her leo bulwarks, and she had
received one sOuscr near the galley;
but her decks to windward were dry.
CoXOn was smoking big Dutch
pipe, holding IL with one hand and the
rail with the other. lie had hair cap
on with flaps over his cars. aud sea.
boots, and all that he was doing was
first to blow cloud and then look up
Mt the sails, and then blow another
cloud and then look up again. This
would appear to have been going on
since nine o'clock. thought he must
be- pretty tired of his diversion by this
time.
"Shc bears her canvas well, sir"
said |.
yes he answered, gruilly, 81 have
a. finn / 20
have been clear Of the Channel by
this"
"She Is fast vessel. sir. We are
doing good twelve, should say"
lie east his eyes over the stern, then
looked up alofl. but made no answer
| was moving away when he ex-
claimed:
"Go forward and tell tho mon TO
keep n bright lookout. And keep your
weather-cyc hitting yourself, sir"
did as he babe me, and got upon
the forc-castle. found tho two men,
who were indstinguishable from the
poop, wrapped In oil-skins leaning
against tho fore-castle rail. IL blew
harder here than II did aft, for power
Of wind rushed slanting from the fore
tOp-mast staysail and whirlcd up from
under the foot Of tho forosail.
had been on deck threo-quarters Of
an hour when, feeling the wind very
cold, Owed into my cabin for II shawl
10 wrap round my neck.
had hardly left the cuddy door To
return, when / heard loud cry from
the fore-castle. and both hands roarod
out simultaneously: "A sail right
ahcadm
CoXon walked quickly forward TO
the pooprail to try TO see the vessel 10
windward; then he went over to the
other side and peered under tho main
sail; after which he snid II SEQ moth
ing Where Is sheP"
shouted through my hands: ION
which bow Is shoP"
Fright ahead" came the reply.
There was short pause, and then
Ono Of the men roured out; lizard
over! we're upon hertz She's cutter
rugged. She's u smack"
Hard a-portl hard a-portl' bawled
CoNOn.
saw the spokcs Of the wheel fly
round, but almost Mt the same moment
| felt q sudden shock an odd kind Of
thud. tho effect Of which upon my
senses was 10 produce the impression
Of n sudden lull In the wind.
Great Heayensr' beloved voice,
''we've run her down."
In Il second | had bounded to the
weather-sido Of the poop and looked
over, and what | saw sliding rapidly
past was u mast and dark-colorcd
sail which in the daylight would prob.
ably be red, stretched Hat upon the
wiluernnsa ~ foam which our shin "a M
sweeping OF hor sides. Upon this
CHASTITY white ground sail and mast
were distinctly outlined-for brief
moment only; they vanished even rs !
ws'ohad, swallowed no In the seethin0
water. And then overhead the sHlIs al
the ship began tn thunder, and the
rigging quivered andand ierked ~ though
II must snap.
"lIard Over! hard OVER beloved
CoNon.
away one Of the men and pull the
spOkes over with all his force. The
vessel answered splendldy. swervcd
nObly round like creature of instinct
and was again. rushing headlong with
full sail over the sea.
This was close shave. At the
speed at which she was travelling she
had obeyed the rudder IN the first In
stance so promptly ~ to come round
close to the wind. A few moments
more aud she would have been taken
back: and this, taking into consldera-
non the amount VI canvas sno " 40
carrying, must infallibly have meant
the loss Of most. II not Of all, her
spars.
Horrified nv the thouphLs of livino,