Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-08-25
A PERIL OF THE SEA.

AItOAA NAAI mann hNSAf III Nn0t
ever pleasing pastime of sailors, yarn
spinning.
The vessel was homeward bound from
Rio Janeiro after very prosperous yoy-
age.
Darkness was approaching as the chief
officer rose to his feet and cast q search.
ing look about the horizon. When his
eyes roamed toward the west they rest
ed for some moments on a small bank
of leaden clouds which seemed to be
working up from the water.
"Ah, we'll have change of wind be-
fore midnight, and, if l make no mis-.
take, it will bring nasty weather with
it."
"We're nearing Cape Hatteras and
must begin to look out for squalls. You
might clew up and furl the light sails so
that we will be prepared for whatever
comes. If it looks too bad give me a
call, I'm going below"
The second mate with his men sought
their hunks to have few hours needed
rest, while the chief officer, with his
portion of the crew, took charge.
The seaman who came aft to relieve
the wheel was mere lad in years, but
as skillful mariner as any on board
and a prime favorite with all, as could
be seen by the kindly tone of the mates
voice as he addressed the youth.
"Watch her close, Harry, my son. II
we have shift of wind it'll come quick,
and we don't want to get taken aback.
"Aye, aye, sir, was the respectful re-
ply of the boy as he laid his hands on
the spokes of the wheel.
Copper hued, feather shaped clouds
now began to chase each other across
the starry canopy of heaven.
AS the gaze of the helmsman alter.
mated between the compass, the sails
and the horizon, he was alarmed to see
away upon the starboard bow some.
thing that appeared like heavy black
shaft, reaching up from the water, in
the shape of a tunnel, until it met an.
other similar in formation which seemed
to drop from the skies.
"There's spout. SIR" he said to the
mate.
"Aye, aye. I've been looking at it. Its
a heavy one too. As they always work
to wind ard, I'm afraid she'll come un
comfortably near. Keep the vessels
head nor'west for awhile and I'll SPEAK
to the skipper. I'd rather he'd be OF
deck when those fellows are about"
Obeying the order, Harry threw tht
wheel over, and the bark swung of
until the dangerous column of watel
seemed to be a little forward or amid
ships.
Mr.. Gorham, the officer, hurried tt
the companion way and called:
Captain Bruce, there's heavy water
spout making down upon us. Perhap
you'd like to take look at herr"
"Aye, aye" came a voice from tn,
cabin, and the next instant the master
was on deck.
He took one hasty glance at the dan
ger impending, another at the compass
before he said quickly, "Let her g.
west" then shouted: "Check in tn,
yards about four points to port. W,
must work out of its course. / will ge
my rifle; if it comes too near l will tr.
to break it." and with that he hurrie,
below.
The wind, which up to this momen
had been reasonably strong, now diet
out to 'tstark calm"
The sails were trimmed, but the head
way of the vessel was slackening, fo
she had lost her propelling power.
The speed of the terrible volume o
water power which was approaching
them was not checked, and when tn
captain reappeared on deck with rife il
hand the heavy black clouds hung owe
the vessel like a pail, and the whirl O
the angry, seething element was born
to the ears of the frightened and herri
fed seamen as they watched the out
coming of the merciless circling shaft!
Quickly the weapon of the commando
was brought to his shoulder, and wa
instantly followed by fash and re
port. Then came the deluge.
Tons upon tons of water, mingle,
with sand, fell upon the deck, whicl
threatened to submerge the vessel an
crowd her down into the frightful Vol
tex which yawned close under the stern
Sails and spars hung wreck iron
aloft, while skylights and bulwark
were crushed like eggshells in the gras
of a giant.
This latter calamity, however, prove
to be a blessing, as it allowed the vas
volume of water to flow freely off int
| the sea.
Harry had been knocked senseles
over the wheel and there lay more dea
than alive.
But the captaint Where was he? Hi
voice was silent.
The second mate, who with his watc
had been below, rushed affrighted fror
the cabin through the after companion
way.
"For Gods sake, what has happened
he exclaimed. ''Have we been in CO.
lision?"
But he received no answer, for ther
was no one to reply.
By the feeble light of the stars, whic
now began to twinkle forth, the Office
observed the boy where he had faller
and casting hasty glance at the palli
features Of the lad was convinced tina
he was past all hope of recovery.
The second mate, then crawling alon
the starboard rail to the 1'break of tn
poop" looked down upon the main decl
and to his horror, saw several bodie
washing back and forth among tn
wreckage, to be swept, one after az
other, out through the riffs in the bu
warks.
care you all dead" he at lengt
found voice to exclaim. Gam I lei
| =