The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-05-02
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.
One of the Sights Seen at a Great
Port of Entry,

BALTIMORE, Nd, April 3Oth, 1895.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF.-It may be of in
terest to some of your readers to know
OF peculiar instance that attracted nv
attention the other day. Casually stroll
ling along the docks of a large seapor t
town, gazing at the fleet-footed worders
OF the sea, noticed large four-masted
schooner lying at her dock. In general
appearance she resembled all others of
her class, with the exception that her
maInmast was not surmounted by q top
mast.
Immediately l began to picture to
myself dark rising clouds, heaving bill
lows, and dashing spray. Suddenly the
squall had struck her, before the man at
the wheel could bring her head into the
wind sharp splintering crack, and to
my imagination | could see her main
topsail and topmast gone by the board,
and could hear the ringing orders from
the mate to clear away the wreckage
Being OF an inquisitive turn of mind
thought l would go aboard, and see il
the effect of a good Havana would not
loosen the tongue OF the bronzed old
skipper to the extent of giving me a de-
scrption of the storm, which he had evil
IDENTIFY encountered. Immediately after
to take another look at her majesty,
when, much to my surprise, a thin wreath
OF smoke was seen curling upward, d.
rectly from the head of the mast Hast
lily climbing aboard, introduced myself
to the skipper and after q hearty greet
ing for which these old sea-going CAP
tains are noted, | Expressed my surprise
at what had seen and with a wave Of
my hand, looked aloft and to my utter
amazement, a thick column of dense
black smoke was seen issuing from the
masthead. The ship was four-masted,
all OF which looked alike, seemingly
made from timber taken from the forests
OF our sister State but the captain soon
came to my relief and informed me that
the main-mast was hollow, and contained
an iron lining, which formed the smoke
stack OF her engines, which were used for
loading and unloading her cargoes, and
that the spread of her canvas was so
| extraordinarily large that the combined
efforts of many men, could not handle
them with the rapidity that was neces-
| sary on some occasions.
On going below to her engine rooms |
also noticed that she was perfectly
equipped with small propeller, which
was told was used as an auxiliary power
" ueT stilis, 81 tIftU Ill case vi u CttlIu Rue
would lose none of her Roadway. Hav-
ing lived for many years in a seaport
| town, have often seen large steam ships
| fitted out with masts and sails as auxil-
iaries to their power, so that in case of
| accident to their machinery, they could
| make an harbor without much delay |
| shook hands with the old Captain and
| told him that wonders never ceased to
the inquisitive mind, and as clambored
down her side heard the shrill whistle
OF the boat-swain as all hands werepiped
| on deck. Hawsers were soon cast off
| and amid the puff of smoke and the
| rattle of machinery her snow white sails
were spread to the wind, her head swung
| around, and amid the cheers of the crowd
that had suddenly gathered on the wharf,
| she sprung upon her way to some foreign
port, and to again buffet with the cold
| sea waves. JAMES DUNLOP.
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