Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-15
A PERIL OF THE SEA.

10 was tho second dog wntch, from
O 30 o'clock In tho evening, and the
crew Of the bark Beatrice were gathered
upon tho main deck. indulging In that
ever pleasing pastime OF sailors. yarn
spinning.
The vessel wns homeward bound from
Rio Janeiro after n very prosperous voy-
ago.
Darkness was approaching as tho chief
officer rose To his feet aud cast a search
ing look about tho horizon. When his
eyes roamod toward tho west they rest
ed for some moments on n small bank
Of leaden clouds which seemed 10 DO
working up from tho water.
"Ah, we'll have q change OF wind be-
fore midnight, and. II ! make no mis-
take. it will bring nasty weather with
it,
"We'ro nearing Cape Hatteras aud
must begin TO look out FOR squalls. You
might clew up and furl the light sails SO
that we will be prepared for whatever
comes. II II looks too bad give rne a
call, I'm going below
Tho second Inato with his men sought
their bunbs 10 have a few hours needed
rest, while tho chief officer, with his
portion Of tho crew. took charge
The seaman who camo AT 10 relisvo
tho wheel wcss q nero lad In years, but
AZ skillful a mariner as any on board
and priuse favorito with all. az could
be seen by tho Kindly tone Of tho mates
voice ss be addressed the youth.
Watch her close. Harry. my son. n
we have shift Of wind itil come quick,
AMI we don't want 10 get taken sback."
"Aye. aye. sir," was tho respectful re
ply of tho boy as be laid his hands on
the spolzes OF the wheel.
Copper hued. feather shaped clUuds
DOW began 10 chase each other across
the starry canopy Of heaven.
As tho gaze OF tho helmsman alter-
mated between tho compass. tho sails
and tho horizon, he was alarmed TO SEQ
away upon tho starbosrd bow some
thing that appeared hke hoavy black
shaft. reaching up from tfse water, IN
the shayo Of tllnnel, until y met an
other similar ~ formation which seemed
to drop from tho ski9d
~rheroS spout. SIR hO said 10 tho
matn
"Ayo. aye. I've been looking ut H. Ies
q heavy ono too Az thay aiways work
to whd'ard, Pm afraid shs7l come un-
comfortably near. Keep tho vessels
head nor'west for awhile oud Pll speak
TO tho skipper. I'd rather bed 10 on
deck when those fellows nro about"
Obeying tho order, Harry throw the
wheel over, and the bark swung of
until tho dangerous column Of water
seemed 10 10 little forward or amid
ships.
Mr.. Gorham, tho officer, hurried TO
the companion way and called:
Captain Bruce, there's heavy water
spout making down upon us. Perhaps
you'd Ike 10 take look at her"
"Ayo, ayo," come O voice from the
cabin, and the next instant the master
was on deck.
He took one hasty glance at the dan
ger impending, another ut tho compass,
before he said quickly. "Let her go
west" then shouted. ''Check Ia the
yardsv about four points 10 port. We
must work out Of its course. will get
my rife; IL 10 comes too near will try
10 break It," and with that he hurried
below.
Tho wind. which up 10 this momen,
bad been reasonably strong, now died
out to stark calm"
The sails were trimmed, but tho head.
way Of tho vessel was slackening, for
she had lost her propelling power.
The speed Of the terrible volume Of
water power which was approaching
them WAS not checked, and when the
captain reappoared on deck with rife IN
hand tho heavy black clouds hung over
the vessel like . pail. and tho whirl oi
tho angry. seething element was borne
to tho ears Of the frightened and herri
fed seanea as they watched tho out
coming Of tho merciless circling shaft
Quickly the weapon Of tho conmandes
was brought TO bis shoulder. and was
instantly followed by Q fash and 70.
port. TbeD camo tho deluge.
Tons upon tons oS watcr, mingled
with Sand, fell upon tho deck, which
threatened TO submergc tho vessel and
crowd her down into tho frightful vor.
tex which yawned close under tho stern.
Sails and epars hung q wreck from
aloft, whilo skylights and bulwarhs
were crushed like oggshells IN tho grast
u giant
| This latter calamity, however. proved
10 DO blessing, as II allowed the vas,
volume OF woter 10 Aow freely of into
tho sea
Harry bad been knocked sonecLSs
over tho wheel and thero lay moro doo.l
than alive
But tho captatni Where was ho2 HI
voico was SILENT
| The second mate. who with his watci
had been below, rushed affrightel frur
The cabin through tho after companion
way.
~For Gods sake, what hoe happened?
he exclaimed "Ilavo wo been In col
lisionY~
But no received no answcr, fr ther,
was no ono to reply.
BY tho feeble light d tho stars, wbicl
now began ~ twinkle forth. tho o(fioe,
observed tho boy wbero he had fallen
aud costing n hasty glance ne tho pallij
features Of the lad was convinced tha
he wac past all hope Of recovory.
| The second mate, thcn cruwlIns aIoos
the etarboard rail 10 tho '.tsooh Of sb.
poop looked down upon tho main deck