Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-04


Gain upon my heart must leave the tow
forever l was soon on board of m,
yacht and quickly double reefed the main
sail. 1t was an awful night to put to sea
but l little cared if my frail craft wer
down In the storm. Taking a hatchet
went forward and with one blow severed
the stout cable.
In moment she felt the force of tn,
blast and sped outward into the darkness
| knew the harbor we'll and held my course
true for the open sea Twenty minute.
passed and | was flying past the gloomy
headiand where the tragedy of death had
been played not two hours before 1t was
necessary to pass close to this and the sea
was running dangerously high Suddenly
I huge wave lowered right across my path
1t flashed up alongside and saw a sight
that caused me to sink into the bottom of
the boat and cry out in anguish Amidst
tangle of wreckage | caught glimp e
for moment of the man had murdered.
The body had probably caught in it when
thrown from the cliff and the ebbing tide
had borne it seaward. Somehow managed
to regain the wheel and my gallant craft
rode the sea in safety.
When sufficient offlng had been gained
hove to. and shook out one reef. She
fairly reeled under the extra pressure of
canvas. The cold spray dashed in nv
face, but my head was hot and felt as If
| in rapiDO 7
that night, with the spectre of that face
rising out Of the sea to reproach me, and
not go mad, heaven only knows, On,
still on, before the gale flew. and when
| morning dawned dark and somhre over the
ocean, there was nothing In sight but wa
ter on every hand. | had grown calmer
| with the approach of dawn.
! Perhaps my feelings were somewhat
blupted by my extreme fatigue. Sleep
must have at any cost for could scarce
| ly retain my hold upon the spokes of the
wheel. When. therefore, it was fully
light. carefully scanned the horizon on
| every quarter, and seeing no sail in sight
which thought would pass near me,
lowered the sail and going into the culdy
lay down upon the comfortable cushions
/ and Immediately fell into sound sleep.
1t was two O'Clock in thu afternoon when
awoke. The gale had subsidized to a gentle
breeze. To my alarm large brig under
full canvas was close at hand. | busted
myself getting out the reef mentally won
dering what should say if questioned by
the stranger. The beautiful fabric, with
her white sails towering aloft, and gently
leaning to the breeze, was now within fifty |
yards. group of sailors were leaning |
idly over the rail and an officer, either the !
captain or mate, paced leisurely up and /
down the quarter deck Presently he |
paused In his walk and hailed. 'Ho, the /
yacht ahoy, What yacht is that:' The |
of New York answered What are |
you doing of here, sails furled and no one |
in sight? Any trouble on board?' No trou-
ble.' | replied, three fellows out on a
cruise, got blowed of last night, all of US
dog-tired and taking nap before heading
for home Whether he was satisfied or
not cannot tell, for he resumed his wall
.iuh, Iur ,iia iIos Caic ~ DC quce Ioncd
The heavy mainsail was soon set by first
hoisting at the throat and then the peak
halyards. The wind had now sunk to a
gentle breeze about W. by S. and the sea
was fast becoming smooth. After passing
Block Island at midnight my general
course had been S. f. / calculated that
n F. course would give Nantucket wide
berth, and having made all sail headed in
that direction, for | had determined to
make for the coast of Maine. The days
and nights which now followed had the
effect of tranquilizng my mind. If you
are harassed by doubts of whatever ma
ture, if your business perplexes or disturbs
you, if you are bowed by grief, if fate has
crushed you as 1t had me, go out upon the
ocean and feel the littleness of it all !
Must confess it: as l grew calmer, as ! i
passed nights with the stars blinking upon
me and the shadows seeming tangible
things and days when the blue above was
mirrored in the blue below, my mind ex-
perienced a revulsion of feeling. | had |
not even thought of murder. but he was
dead and somehow l could not help feel
ing fiercely satisfied can imagine how |
Divine love might forgive a repentant
siuner; | can imagine the fearful face of |
mercy pleading for the shortcomings OF
weak human nature. but / have no place !
in my pity for Judas
The course | intended to pursue was
| now clear before me. | might never be
connected with his mysterious disappear
ance, but if | were the fact of having put
to sea alone on such night would be a
sufficient death warrant. On the rugged
coast of Maine l would hide myself and
drag out the rest of my miserable exist
ence. The weather continued fine and
moderate, else do not see how l could
! have managed. | steered as long as pos
| sible, then would heave the boat to and
sleep, any extra tapping of the sails being
sure to arouse me at once. Provisions |
always had on board sufficient for several
days. On the third day ont picked up a
small dory adrift 1t had probably been
washed from the deck of some fisherman
and took it in tow.
At sundown on the seventh day the high
hills and rocky shores of Maine were in
sight. At eleven O'Clock the coast was
only half mile distant. Going into the
cuddy brought up an auger and bored a
hole in each side of my boat well below
the water line. l then got into the dory
and pulled of a short distance. The brave
little craft that had borne me over leagues
of ocean sank lower and lower as the wa
ter gushed through the holes in her side
and as the pennant at the topmast head
} dipped gentle courtesy and disappeared
from sight bowed my head upon the
oars and cried in my utter desolation.
There remains but little to be told.
rowed ashore and at the remote fishing
hamlet next day presented myself as a
runaway from q fishing schooner on board
of which had been ill-treated. My hag-
. gard and rusty appearance helped to carry
out my deception when some of the people
, in the village cast rather searching glances
| upon my dress. However, no one made
| auv iuouiries and fished du urjnp the Snm-