The morning call., 1894-01-15

that was to be her destruction several days
laier. and again the grumbling in the fo re-
castle could be heard when the watch be-
low had turned in and gathered about the
dimly lighted mess-table.
The morning OF December 4 came with
whlrl of sleet and squall in quick puffs
from the northwest. 1t was the forerun-
ner of an awful gale, which commenced
early in the morning of that date and
lasted until the vessel drifted ashore at
Point San Diego.
No one could remain on deck during the
day and night of the 9th. for the seas ran
so high and furiOusly that the decks were
constantly filed with water to the rails,
the galley drenched, and even the cabin
flooded.
In years of experience as seamen the
crew of the Italy had never found such
weather Sail was shortened down to a
mere showing of canvas, yet the ship flew
before the wind, her taut rigging num-
ming with an unmuSical sound Ike the
rush of a great wind through forest
Two Gays and nights passed, yet the
storm showed no signs OF abatement. IL
was not until somewhere about the loth
that the tempest-tossed craft ran into a
streak of comparative calm and lay with
her head on TO the waves, wallowlng abd
rolling till her sparS ratified In their steps
and threatened to go by the board. Lower
topsails were set. and under the increased
strain aiOft she wore away 10 the SOUTH
east. with the wind almost dead astern.
But soon the breeze shifted. 1t came Ill
sharp. ierky puffs from all points OF the
compass, flinging the yards around and
JammiDg the fOreyaTd IN mess OF gear
which had tangled up in the forerigging.
On either beam, distance OF hall
mile or more on each side, the gale, seem
ingly split in twain by some strange freak
of nature, bOwled along at seventy-knOt OF
rate tearing the into mass OF
white, chOppy seas, while In the strip oil
water between lay the snip, with only an
occasional breath Of wind which could be
caught in the luff OF a sail.
With roar like cyclone the wind sud
denly bore around to the south, THROWN g
the ship on her beam almost before orders
could be sung out to set the yards for a
change of course.
A succession of heavy surges followed
the blow. every inch of their onward
march contested bitterly by cross fire OF
angry waves that had followed IN the
wake of the north wind.
The voice of the captain was drowned by
the singing of the rigging and the clatter OF
blocks and sharp iRtonatiOns of the flap
ping sails. a cry of warning drltted ait
and was repeated forward. In the
twinkling of an eye the wave broke over
the starbOard side as il the t10O0gates OF
milldam had been suddenly opened on the
=
starbOard boats amidships broke from Its
fastenings and struck the mainmaSt. then
continued its wild race, over the port rail-,
then down into the trough of the sea.
The fOresail blew out OF the ringbolts
with report like the discharge OF piece
of ordnance and followed the direction of
the wind. long string of disheveled can
vas and dangling UODes.
The seamen had little time to give TO
thought of the stOwaways and the ill-luck
which was attendant with their coming,
but during the lulls in the storm sage
prophets of the forecastle dropped un-
canny remarks about the fate of the
Crown of Italy.
Captain Greenbank's children seldom
came on deck. His wife sometimes stood
near the wheel and watched the storm
kings maTshaliug their forces for another
series OF attacks on one of her Majesty s
stanchest merchantmen. She bore up
well and showed the fGrtitude of a brave
and fearless woman that she was.
More hurricanes and a black, bitter
LOOKING sky on the 22d, out of which soft
flakes of snow fell, pOwdering the deck
houses and rails when these were free of
water. Then followed han and cutting,
biting sleet, which stiffened the sails and
decorated the protected parts of the rig
glng with iclces.
Extremely cold weather did not las {
many hours. and even the most supersti-
tious among the sailors began to think