Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-09

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blew straight from the snow-clad An
des. AS we reached the deck hail
squall swept down upon us, and as we
stood shivering at our stations waiting
for it to pass over, pelted by the ley
bullets and showered now and then by
sheets of spray, as a sea struck the side
of the ship, we had sample of Cape
Horn weather. My chum was making
his first voyage around the Horn, and
as he shivered at his station and tried
to shelter himself from the hail and fly
ing spray, heard him say:
IF this is a sample Of Cape Horn I've
had enough, and if ever reach Frisco
I'll never round the Horn again."
This sample was but foretaste Of
fully three weeks Of real Cape Horn
weather but the ship succeeded in
forcing her way to the westward and
dinally reached port.
Here my chum left and went to work
ashore, but having Indifferent success
and becoming tired of California, he
decided to return East, so when his old
ship arrived in San Francisco, over a
year later, he seized the opportunity
to return in her and shipped for the
return voyage.
AS he sailed out through the Golden
Gate one bright midwinter day, bound
for home, little did he think of his re-
marks made so many months before
about rounding the stormy old cape
again.
Fine trade winds sped us on our way
to the south, and, as we were home
ward bound, all hands were in good
spirits, little dreaming what the hour
had in store for us. After crossing the
equator our good fortune deserted us,
and the ship made slow progress.
Early in March we crossed 40 degrees
south latitude and entered far to the
westward of Cape Horn what sailors
call the roaring forties. With the pre-
vailing westerly wind Of this region
we began running down our casting.
A hail squall swept down over the
ocean now and then, but the old man
held on to all sail as long as he dared,
and the good ship raced along before
the big pillows at an increasing rate
of speed. AS is usually the case, we
were all anxious to turn the corner"
as soon as possible, as Cape Horn in
March is not very lamblike, and, as the
ship rapidly lessened the distance our
hopes rose.
On the 10th, when still 1900 miles to
the west and north of the cape, we ex-
perienced our first heavy gale, and it
was one long to be remembered. All
night the wind had been blowing in fit
full squalls with hail and snow, but by
daylight it had settled into q strong
breeze, which increased steadily. Over
head the sky was wild and windy-look-
ing, the dull clouds being piled up in
ridges with sharply defined outlines.
One by one the lighter sails had been
furled, and just before noon the big
main to'gallant sail was lowered and
the watch sent aloft to furl it. The
ship was rolling heavily in an ugly cross
sea, which was becoming worse all the
time. I had my hands full at the
wheel, but as glanced at the men 60
ing aloft saw several shake their fists
at me, which meant that l was
Jonah for giving them so much work
to do. OF course l was not to blame.
but such is the custom among sailors
to blame the man at the wheel. On reach
ing the yard the sailors found the sail
blowing out forward like big balloon.
Over and over again they tried to break
down the rounded surface of the sail
without success; finally several of them
clinging to the lifts, or supports of the
yard, climbed over on the hard balloon
like sail, and jumped it down by sheer
weight. After a sharp fight the sail
was muzzled and the sailors swung
themselves into the rigging to return
to the deck.
Suddenly a shrek rent the air, and,
on glancing up, 1 saw two dark objects
come sailing down and strike the deck
with sickening thuds. The unusual
noise reused the watch below, and they
rushed ont only bQlf dressed, while