Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-06-22
PERIL OF THE SEA.

stoS o'clock Ia tll0 o''iii''5' ''A,' '-'o
~" 90 the bark Beatrice were gathered
fine main deck, indulging in that
1 w. nleasing pastime of sailors, yarn
/ ginning ,..,, -, s....
Mo Iapeiro after very prosperous voy-
age, ,,,,,.,,,,1,;,,,, nc +l,o .c,;oe
I scr rose to his feet and cast a search
look about the horizon. When his
2 roamed toward the west they rest
for some moments ON small bank
g leaden clouds which seemed TO be
4 rorling up from the water.
"Ab. we'll have a change of wind be-
/ sore midnight, and, if | make no mis-
/ ,sk. it will bring nasty weather with
it."
,We're nearing Cape Hatteras and
INST begin TO look ont for squalls. You
/ sight clew up and furl the light sails so
4 that we will be prepared for whatever
comes If it looks too bad give me
Il call I'm going below
The second mate with his men sought
their hunks 10 have a few hours needed
rest while the chief officer, with his
] nortion Of the crew. took charge.
The seaman who came aft to relieve
/ the wheel was mere lad in years, but
/ as skillfrll a mariner as any on board
| and 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 10 get taken aback."
aye, aye, sir, was the respectful re-
/ ply of the boy as he laid his hands on
] Inc spokes of the wheel.
Copper hued, feather shaped clouds
now began 10 chase each other across
the starry canopy of heaven.
As the gaze of the helmsnan alter
mated between the compass. the sails
and the horizon. he WAS alarmed 10 see
away upon the start GARD bow some
thing that appeared like a heavy black
/ shaft. reaching up from the water, III
/ the shape of tunnel. until it met an
other similar in formation which seemed
todrop from the skies.
"There's a spout, sir he said to the
mate
ave. aye. Eve been looking at it. It's
81 aheavv one too. AS they always work
Il owind'ard. I'm afraid she'll come I'M
comfortably near, Keep the vessel ;
head norwest for awhile and I'll speak
to the skipper. I'D rather he'd be ON
deck when those fellows are about"
Obeving the order Harry threw the
wheel over. and the bark swung off
l . -.
seemed to be a little forward or amid
ships
n Mr.. Gorham. the officer, hurried TO
/ the companion way and called:
A Captain Bruce there's heavy water
II spout making down upon us. Perhaps
/ you'd like to take look at her"
L AYE, aye came voice from the
I cabin, and the next instant the master
L was ON deck
L He took one hasty glance at the dan
L ger impending another at the compass
{ before he said quickly, Let her go
west" then shouted: Check III the
[ yards about four points to port, We
I must work out of its course. | will get
my rife; if it comes too near | will try
/ to break it, and with that he hurried
L below.
1 The wind, which up to tins moment
had been reasonably strong, now died
1 out to a stark calm"
| The sails We're trimmed, but the head
1 way of the vessel was slackening, for
she had lost her propelling power,
q The speed of the terrible volume of
water power which was approaching
them was not checked, and when the
captain reappeared on deck with rife i'll
hand the heavy black clouds hung over
the vessel like pail. and the whirl OF
the angry, seething element was borne
70 the ears of the frightened and horri-
ned seamen as they watched the out
coming of the merciess circling shaft!
L Quickly the weapon of the commander
was brought to his shoulder, and was
instantly followed by flash and re-
L port. Then came the deluge
Tons upon tons of water, mingled
E with sand, fell upon the deck, which
L threatened To submerge the vessel ana
crowd her down into the fnghtful vor-
Z lex which yawned close under the stern
/ sails and spars hung a wreck from
L Sioft, while skylights and bulwarKs
were crushed like eggshells in the grasp
Of giant.
Z This latter calamity, however, proved
10 be blessing, as it allowed the vast
volume Of water to flow freely off into
the sea.
Harry had been knocked senseless
over the wheel and there lay more dead
I than alive.
+ But the captain! Where was he: His
voice was silent.
The second mate, who with his watch
mad been below. rnshed affrighted from