The National tribune., 1893-07-20

ness land how dark it soon gets to beD IL
surely seemed great relief to all.
Early in the night, before darkness had
takep full possession of the ship, the boys
wrapped themselves in their blankets and
lay down everywhere, so many and so
fhickly that il was wellnigh impossible to
move about without stepping upon some OF
them. ! was among the last of all to RE-
tire.n and when / sought TO do so had to
search for a long time TO find vacant place
large enough to hold me while lying down.
But / stumbled down among the boys,
causing now and then an expression more
forcible than pious, till at last came to the
huge sill which supported the walking-beam
on one side Finding this enviable position
unoocupied, threw down my knapsack for
a pillow, wrapped my blanket around me as
best could. and turned in"
But it was a long while before / went to
sleep. ] thought of home, of the loved
ones so far away whom l had not seen for
weeks, and months, and years, and wondered
whether each OF all ever thought of me, or
whether would ever return to greet them
as in days of yore. How true it is that the
intensity with which the soldiers of the war
oftimes longed for home, never was and
never can be realized by anyone else.
The wind was then coming gently from
west-southwest, just hard enough to give
the ship slighdy-rocking motion, and now
and then a solitary star managed to peep
through The haze which canopied the Gulf
silent witness from above of the martial
scene below. As I dropt to sleep the Pea
body was making some 10 miles an hour,
and / expected to make a soldiers toilet in
the morning at Fort Morgan, but this ex-
pectation was never to be realized.
At about 1:30 was aroused to state of
consciousness by the severe plunging of the
ship, which threatened to heave me over
board. All was darkness
EGYPTIAN DARKNESS,
of the highest proof and most hideous pattern.
Not single star could be seen anywhere.
The wind had gradually increased till it now
blew furiously, playing a discordant jargon
with the rigging, which l never can forget.
A cold, drizzling rain soon began to fall,
accompanied with almost constant flashes of
vivid lightning, but the roar of the tenn
pest completely drowned out all sound of
thunder.
Hurriedly / arise to a sitting position,
throw my gum blanket over my shoulders,
brace myself against the huge vertical tim
ber which in part supports the walking
beam, and await results.
am sitting within few feet Of the top
Of an opening that comes up vertically from
the engine-room, which is provided with
stationary ladder. Up this ladder the engi-
neer frequently comes, till his head and
shoulders are above the opening, and tries to
peer out into the darkness beyond. Why
not ask him a question or two about the
storm? / will:
Partner" said I, can you tell me what
kind of a night this is at sea?"
Ii blows a gale, sirip he promptly re-
Piled -
"Can you tell me about how far we are
from Mobile Bay?"
" 1 can't tell you, sir. We are not on our
course. We are hove to, and are trying 10
ride out the gale"
But it is now o'clock a NJ, and the angry
sea runs mountains high" By the aid Of
that fash Of lightning you can see it for an
instant far and near. But you cannot see one
drop of water-nothing but seething foam.
See how it bOilsi Watch its lashing furyl
Behold IFS anger! Harken to the groaning of
the ship! How she rolls, and trembles, and
staggers, and plunges! Surely, it seems, she
must soon make her last diYe-her last
lurch! What then?-what then?
But here comes the commander of The
Peabody. See how sadly stern he looks!
he beckons US to the cabin (for we cannot
distinguish his words to
COUNCIL OF DANGER Or DEATH.
Let us go and hear his warning. Calmly
and deliberately he begins:
%Soldiers, it has now become my duty to
inform you of the situation, but wish to
spread 30 alarm. This is the worst gale
which has swept across the Gulf of Mexico
for 40 years. We are now in great danger.
The ship is top-heavy from her load of
horses and mules, and these must 90 over
board. VIII you lend helping hand?"
We will! We will!n
See the soldiers rally to the horses and
mulesi Watch them heave the poor ami
mails overheard into that awful seat See
how the poor creatures struggle against fate