The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-26
A SILENT SEA.

Some years ago was homeward bound
from the East Indies. We had rounded
the Cape without getting the usual dress
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
mp 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 about
90 degs north latitude, when we had a
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 hobs to q swell that
came up from the eastward. ALI 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 I 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
aeturning with a more anxious counte-
nauce, and saying to the mate that he
had never seen the glass SO low since he
aad been to sea.
we'll 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
sew"
AS soon as the watch came on deck
sail after sail was clewed up and furled,
until we had nothing on her but the two
lower topsails, foremost staysal 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 sky and at
mosphere like that we knew that 1t was
no ordinary blow that we had to expect,
and I could hear the shrill voice of
little shriveled up seaman named Lester
croaking more than was his won't, and
calling to mind the time when he was
in the China seas some thirty years ago,
how the clouds had gathered up in the
same way, and how the ship foundered,
and all hands were lost except himself.
Here, cut that yarn" said one Of the
men. you're regular old Jonah!''
The watch below turned in at eight
bells, having been cautioned to be ready
for rouse out. I paced the deck for
some time. The captain and the mate
were discussing the dirty appearance Of
the weather. The ship looked absolutely
desolate, with her long, bare masts ta~
pering away into the darkness.
s'I don't like the way that stuff hangs
about, )" said the skipper; "when it does
come it will come with rum" Here
and there a star would family show it.
self, and the sea glittered with phos-
phorescent lights. Hour after hour we
lay under the shadow of those dense
clouds waiting for the storm to burst.
The watch dragged YEARLY on till close
on midnight, when suddenly bright
fash of lightning seemed to part the
clouds asunder; then others followed in
quick succession.
SWELL catch it directly" piped the
shrill voice Of Lester, and he was right.
Scarcely were the words uttered when
we heard q roaring sound in the dis
tance, which increased into a whirling
shrek. In an instant it was upon us.
Fortunately it struck us on the quarter.
The ship for moment plunged forward,
burying her bows in the sea. At the
same instant there was terrific bang as
the topsails were blown clear out of the
bolt ropes; there was not stitch of can
FdS lCAt OA AOl, dAo VIZ cCUOOC0 uh0C1
bare poles, the sea bubbling around us,
3 mass of seething foam. 1t was impos-
yible to stand upright, and we had to
crawl about as best we could.
We were thankful when daylight
came, as the horrors of the storm had
been much intensified by the pitchy
darkness. When the sun rose, sea and
sky presented wild and grand sight.
The scud was flying above us, and the
foam below. Everything was rushing
madly before the hurricane; there, alone
on this wild and desolate world of
waters, was our gallant ship, staggering
before the mighty blast and fighting the
waves like living thing.
For two whole days and nights we
drove along, accompanied only by the
incessant roar OF the storm. On the