Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-01-13
AHAUNTEDSCHOONER

hailed from Gloucester. Mass She was
one Of tho prettiest and sweetest looking
schooners that ever crossed harbor bar
bound 70 the banks for fish or safely
wcathered wintry sea She had lines
like yacht. and many time ! have
seen her sail past gaudy pleasure craft
and leave hsr sssern rs though she were
acclaimed. She had sheer that was de-
hghtful 10 look upon and n sancy rake
10 her masts that gave her q coquettish
appearance.
Her history was remarkable. She had
been picked up deserted In the Spanish.
Main by a Gloucester brig engaged In
carrying salt fish to the West Indies
She was rolling IN the trough Of the sea
with only the stump Of her mainmast
standing The skipper OF the brig low
sred boat and went aboard OF her
She was a. tight as bottle. and why
her crew should have abandoned her
was one OF those inexplicable mysteries
Of the ocean upon which not even faint
light is shed
There was nothing on board 10 give
any ciew to her history or nationality
She had been left in hurry. a. was
shown by unmistakable signs, but her
commander had taken all his documents
with him. a. well as his nautical instru-
menfs and chronometers She carried
two long brass carronades. and there
was y stack of fifty muskets and the
same number Of cutlasses In the between
aa.,k~-aft hsevhl., ss,xo ouf,va ,f rsrar.r
The hammocks OF the crew were swing
ing 70 the beams. and the bags and
chests OF the sailors were left behind In
her lower hold was q quantity Of pig
Iron used for ballast, but no trace Of
treasure or cargo was 10 be found Her
boats were gone and the davit falls were
trailing In the water, while two big
tackles with which the long boat had
been lowered into the sea hung from
the wrcckage of the rigging
Old Billy Cuddington. the skipper OF
the brig. rubbed his horny hands with
glee II WASH I often that he found him
self playing in such luck He took all
his crew but two aboard the schooner
and all worked with a will and soon
rugged Jurymasts. That night he took
her in tow and at daybreak next morn
ing all hands got to work again and got
her in shipshape order There was
spare foresail In her sail locker, which
was bent as mainsail. while a storm
trysail did duty rs forcsail The bow
spirit was uninjured. and after setting up
the forestry small jib vas bent TO 1t.
There were casks OF salt beef and pork
down below. three tanks full Of fresh
water and any amount Of bareback, -four
and rice. Tho skipper put the mate and
four sailors in charge. with orders 10
keep him In sight and steer for Glouces-
ter Mass The brig was in good sailing
trim. having q quantity Of rum and mo
lasses IN her lower hold. while the tween
decks were full Of green cocoanuts
Captain Cuddington. who was
thrifty New Highlander that did not be-
hsve In giving anything away. opened
his heart on this occasion. He filed a
ten gallon keg with rum and broke out
9Oo or 300 cocoanuts and sent them
aboard the schooner, with instructions
TO the mate 70 take his nip regularly and
always 70 remember TO mix ii with
Cocohuub gut1|s WhtCu h<tu Au0 1uCSt VI
mellowing II and making 1t less heady.
There waa n lovely WHOLESALE breeze
when the mate and his men made sail on
the prize After they got the foresail.
mainsail and jib on her she began to
scoof through the water like steam.
boat The mate, seeing what clipper
he had under him, thought he would
play a practical joke on old Billy Oud.
dington- The wind was on the star.
board beam and both vessels were head
ing about N. NJ W. The schooner was
moving about three feet TO the briggs
one Calculating his distance very
neatly the mate tackled the schooner and
ran down 70 the brig to leeward OF her
with lifted sheets aud beliying sails.
Then iufiing sharp under her stern he
went on the other tack and bianketed
her. Then he hailed the brig.
-Goodby captain he yelled. I'm
tell the Gloucester girls you're coming
| guess III get there three weeks before
you Your burned old hooker can't get
out Of her own way
tell you old Billy Cuddington was
madden than March hare. de always
had thought his brig was hummer.
and 20 see this schooner. with her jury
rig and meager sail spread, walk away
like witch was too much for hun. de
hailed the schooner and ordered the
mate TO neave to. but that worthy was
a. full OF mischief as a wagon load OF
monkeys. 90 he only laughed at the old
man An hour later he set = sort OF
apology for q spinnaker II seemed 10
have the pulling power of several dray
horses. and under It's influence the
schooner forged ahead and by uightfall
was out of sight. much to the surprise
and disgust Of Captain Cuddington. who
put no faith In humanity and was not
sure that his mate would not put into
some southern port and sell the craft
and run away with the money.
That's what Cuddington would have
done II he bad been In the mates sea
boots. but the mate was constructed on
different and fairer lines The sailors
on the brig had hard time Of Il the
rest Of the voyage. II was clew mp and
hoist up continually The old man gave
the boat no rest. but cracked on canvas
In the hope OF catching up with the
schooner. making sail between the
squalls with no regard for his scanty
crew The sailors said he was like
Portuguese devil. when he was good he
was too good. but when he WA bad he
was id tad
tine night not 20 very long ...ter Cape
Ann light was sighted and at dawn the
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