Middletown transcript., 1892-12-15
A SILENT SEA.

LuC AGPC WAtAiOdV 1OSeAAAes eAA0
ing, and had picked up the southeast
trades much sooner than we expected
Everything had so far been in our favor
and it was only when we got into the
latitude where we ought to have picked
up the northeast trades that, instead Of
the usual breeze, we came in for moth
ing but succession of light winds and
variables. With these we gradually
worked along until we got into abou;
90 degs. north latitude, when we had q
calm for two days.
Shortly before midnight on the second
day light breeze sprang up from the
southwark. There was only enough
wind to keep the sails full, and we
glided along at about two knots an hour
with lazy little bobs to d swell that
came up from the eastward. All that
day the breeze continued light. The
sun beat down with tremendous power,
and toward noon the breeze died almost
entirely away, though the swell con-
tinued with long, low, regular undula-
tions. Away on our port bow heavy
clouds began to appear on the edge of
the horizon, and the glass was falling
rapidly.
] was at the wheel in the first dog
watch. We lay heading all round the
compass, the ship having no steering
way, and watched the bank of clouds
gathering ominously on our port quar-
ter. The sun seemed to set in perfect
atmosphere of sulphur, leaving some
angry looking streaks of red and gold
that CLEANED like flashes of lightning
suddenly arrested. The skipper paced
the quarter deck, occasionally diving
below to look at the glass, and each time
returning with more anxious counte-
nance, and saying to the mate that he
had never seen the glass so low since he
had been to sea.
well reef her right down at four
bells, Mr.. Jarvis" he said, ''for there's
everything good, bad and Indifferent
mixed up in those clouds, like an Irish
gtew."
As soon as the watch came on deck
sail after sail was clewed up and furlcd,
until we had nothing on her but the two
lower topsails, foremast ,staysail and
storm staysail. The ship, now denuded
of her sails, stood out like skeleton
against the background of copper colored
clouds. The men began to get some
what depressed, as with a sky and at
mosphere like that we knew that it was
no ordinary blow that we had to expect,
and I could hear the shrill voice of
little siiiiFeled up seaman named Lester
creahing more than was his wont, and
calling to lnind& the time when he was
ii lie China sees 6ane thirty years ago,
how tie clouds lla gathered up in the
same way, aud how The ship foundered,
and all hands were lost except himself.
"Rere. cut that yarn!' said one of the
rlcn. You're regular old Jonahr'
The watch below turned in at eight
.Lells, having been cautioned to be ready
for a rouse oct. 7 Traced the deck for
some time. The S4kain and the mate
were discussing the airty appearance of
the weather. Tie ship looked absolutely
desolate, with her long, bare masts t.
L1r:ng away into the darkness.
Il don't Ike the way that stuff hangs
Rbe at" saLl.tLe skipper; "when it does
come it Will come with rum" Here
AID there u star would faintly show it.
self, and lie sea Eiittered with phos
piCrcscent lights. Hour after hour we
lily under the shadow of those dense
clouds waiting for the storm to ourst.
The wasch dragged wearily on till close
On midnight, when suddenly bright
Gslsh of Lightning seemed to part the
clouds asuntler; then others followed in
quick succcssio4l-
well catch it directly" piped the
s,irill voice of Lester, and he was right.
Ec;ircely were the words uttered when
@e heard a roaring sound in the dis
lance, which increased into a whirling
Ehriek. lii an instant it was upon US.
Fortunately it struck us on the quarter.
..'he ship for d moment plunged forward
l-r3i..g her bows Ill the sea- At tt.
l me instant there was terrific bang as
LIE tops,lils We're blown clear out of the
bolt ropes; there was not stitch of cam
Vas left on her, and we scudded under
are poles, the sea bubbling around US
mass of seething foam. 1t was impos-
slble to stand upright, and We had to
crawl about - best we could.
We were thankful when daylight
calIe, as the horrors Of the storm had
been much intensified by the pitchy
darkness. When the sun rose, sea and
b-y presented a wild and grand sight.
1ne scud was flying above US, and the
fi.am below. Everything was rushing
nlitdly before the hurricane; there, alone
on this wild and desolate world Of
waters, was our gallant ship. staggering
before the niShty blast aud fighting the
waves like living tiring.
For two Whole days and nights we
drove along. accompanied only by the
Inc ct ~r~ Of he storm. On the
third night the ship seemed to lose nc,
buoyancy, and by the heavy deadened
way she rose and fell we thought she
had sprung leak, for her motion was
now more like that of an old water
logged Quebeccar than Of an East Indian
clipper. About midnight we sounded
the well, but she was dry as bone. The
sea also became much smoother, and we
seemed to be simply rising and falling ON
huge swell, instead of going through a
heavy sea.
As the night wore on the force OF the
wind greatly abated, insomuch that We
were able to get new topsails from below
and make them ready to bend. 1t was
intensely dark, and as the hurricane
went down an awful stiffness prevailed.
1t seemed as if the continued shrie,,siii:.
of the storm for the last three days ha,i
affected our sense of hearing, or else
there was something strange, as no one
could hear the swish of the sea, and no
water came aboard. We simply rolled
about III absolute silence.
The wind gradually died away until
1t was dead calm. We lay aloft and
bent the new topsails, and by the time
we were ready to hoist the yards the
morning was beginning to break.
As daylight came on we were aston
ished to find that instead of being in d
clear, open sea we seemed to be in a
huge green meadow land. As far as til.
Z ,iss.ss f& Tti IL q * as5sH6s