The morning call., 1892-02-22
C0ALLYG 4 7oRPEB0-B0AT At SEA.

them. and so rather enjoyed this one as
novelty. On the evening Of the second day
a strong breeze spTaDg up, and tie ID Is
taing informed Us that the barometer was
falling rapidly, and that We might prepare
for q heavy blow during the night, and blow
it did. Ny watch was from S 20 y o'clock,
and when ! took It we had fallen ln with
heavy sea. While the D'Estaing groaued
at every roll, our little craft b0bbed up
and down like an ludia-rub5er ball, her
deck being washed by the sea constantly.
j man expects to get wet on torpedo
boat, and comforts himself with the thought
of being able to change his clothes aud
keep dry in his cabin after bis watch IS
over By 10 o'clock the breeze had in
creased 10 q gale. Up and up We climbed
over the billOwy mountains and reaching
the foam-crOWned tops Of the waves we
zigzagged down IN jerks. Once in a bile
the pale moon would break through the
clouds, revealing a bOtt0mless abyss from
which I never thought 10 emerge. Sud
denly there was a short, sharp shock. Like
a rearing horse the little craft raised her
bows high IN the air. only 10 come down
with a dull sound on tie waves a moment
later. The hawseT had broken, and the
waves seemed 90 keep the vessel in their
cold embrace. WIN she ever rise again?
For a moment I felt as If the boat was sink
ing deeper and deeper, and drops Of cold
peTspiraliOn ran down my face. at last
she rose; but how long would she be able
10 keep afl at if the storm did not abate?
Who can tell?
There were three men on deck, and,
may add, every one of them prepared for
the worst. Everything on deck was smashed
that could be, including the dingy. and
stanchiOn after stanChion had parted. To
be safe from being washed overheard / had
life-liues fastened to the deck and also
placed a couple Of canvas screens to protect
myself and the man at the wheel against
the combined force Of storm and water.
IL was out Of the question to 10 K for
any help from the D'Estaing, and all we
could do was to keep the tiny little boat
"head to sea" and to follow as closely as
possible Ia the wake OF the DE ,taing. Il
was a little after six bells when the hawser
had broken, and the captain Of the cruiser,
realizing out plight, poured about sixty
gallons Of oil on the uprOariOus sea. What
q blessing that oil proved The effect was
marvellous. ! am convinced now, as ! was
then, that had IL not been for this Drecau-
tiOnary measure we would never have been
able to go head to sea-" and once broad
sided, our sinking would have been newt
able. At eight bells my watch was over,
and my brother officer craWled over the
deck 10 relieve me. Mon Dieu, quel
temps quiz fait" was all he said. The
poor fellow, ike the rest of US, suffered
terribly from seasickneSs. Still feeling the
effect Of seasickuesS myself, l decided TO
remain Oh deck. A Tie dawn the violence
Of tie storm had somewhat abated, and l
went down to my cabin, where l found
everything smashed and soaked with water
IS above. Though the wind did not blow
very strongly h the morning. the sea was
nevertheless running mountain high, and
the managing Of the boat was extremely diff
cult. Tired as / was, it had been imp0s-
sibe for ire or anybody else to sleep. With
great difficulty / managed to get some
breakfast, consisting Of some conseTves, n
slice Of ham and some bread. Cooking and
cleaning On a torpedo-b0at In bad weather
are out Of the question, so eight bells being
near again / went OH deck to take my