Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-12-07
A SILENT SEA.

Some yearsego 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 1t 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 a succession of light winds and
variables. With these we gradually
worked along until we got into about
20 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 bobs to q 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 fall ng
rapidly.
j. I 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
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.
"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
stew"
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, 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 sky and at
mosphere like that we knew that it was
no ordinary blow that we had to expect,
and l could hear the shrill voice of a
little shriveled up seaman named Lester
croaking more than was his wont, 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 Jonahp'
The watch below turned in at eight
bells, having been cautioned to be ready
for rouse out. I paced the deck fol-
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.
81 don't like the way that stuff hangs
about" said the skipper; "when it does
come it will come with a. run" Here
and there 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 wea1ily on till close
fash of lightning seemed to part the
clouds asunder; then others followed in
quick succession.
"We'll catch it directly" piped the
shrill voice Of Lester, and he was right
Scarcely were the words uttered when
we heard a roaring sound in the dis
tance, which increased into whirline
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 q terrific bang as
the topsails were blown clear out of the
bolt ropes; there was not a stitch of can
vas left on her, and we scudded under
bare poles, the sea bubbling around us
mass Of seething foam. 1t was impos
sible 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
ky 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 tht
dncessant" roar of the storm. On th'
third night the ship seemed to lose he1
buoyancy, and by the heavy deadened
way she rose and fell we thought she
had sprung a 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 OF
huge swell, instead of going through {
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 shriebins
of the storm for the last three days hat
affected our sense of hearing, or elst
there was something strange. as no ont
cnuid near Lna Swish or the SEA. ana nj