New-York tribune., 1895-12-15
SOME PERILS OF THE SEA
THE ACCOUNT OF A VOYAGE or LONG AGO
ON A BLUFF BOWED SHIP.
FIRST THERE CAME 4 TERRIFIC STORM AND
LATER THERE WAS BAD FIRE IN TIE
HOLD-REsCUING A PLAGUE SHIP
IT Henl0pen .ets you pass
Then look out for Hatterls.


Then look FOR Hatteras.
This qua int coup.et of sea lore was ap;ly quoted
the other day by old slilor, In beginning TO
spin yarn about voyage TO South America.
I'VE et Boston for Buenos Ayres. he said 'in
August. 1855 on the old ship Richmond. There
board the captain his wife and n crew Of
twenty officers and men. The captain and his wife
had been married only about two weeks. and We're
making their bridal tour. They were remark
ably handsome coupe.
For a day or two sailed through sunny
seas, but when in about the latitude Of Cape Hen
lopen we suddenly struck by piping east
erly gale The wind increased so rapidly that by
the time we halfway down to the latitude OF
Cape IIaiteras were compelled TO heave 10.
Fortunately had plenty of searoom The R.ca-
mond of those oa-fashoned buh-boNed I'd
ships built down IN Maine. years before TIE al
vent OF the famous Ca.ifornl clippers. which
sprung into existence when the gold fever % the
Pacific Slope at Its height AS the o.u salts
used to say she built by the rod and sawed CT
square. to order. just drygoods clerk ~ou!d
Gu; off certain number Of yards of muslin straight
across the piece. She steerod with a traro.-
ling wheel # you can cal it being s.celcl for
when before the wind with strong breeze tle
best hemsman the ship coI,d no; compcl her to
keep her course within oss than from tao to three
points either side
SHORTENING SAIL.
While the Old Richmond was not only hard
ship to handle urde. ordinary c'rcun.s. lnces, sne
was ? perfect terror IN such a storm had
run into Hey shrouds. blckstays and braco-pen-
nan;s were old. decayed and untustworihy so
that while II was not oniv necessary to shorten
sail almost quickly lightning. W had to te'
NJ preventer backstays and braces, fore ana aii'
Just as quickly. lose our 5pars. We kept OF
shortening sail till the on.y sail set was new
goose winged mantopsail made of extra heavy
canvas. Meanwhile preventcr steys ana braces re-
lieving tackles the tiNer and iieilneS io:e ana
aft and athwartships had been 50 profusey strung
allow and aloft that it seemed as If the VenefdOe
Richmond was engaged IN game of cats cradle
with the traditionaliy rude ana scaroe,y more an
cient Boreas. VINO not only wnistlel pa' ia.rN
how'od through the rigging.
Wind and sea ominous.y increased and suddenly
before one coud say Jack Robinson that goose
winged ma!ntopsail blown to shre's a!d me
ship began to fail off into the trough OF ne sea
I've heard good many Cd sailors laugh at the
idea Of a goose-winged mantOpsail being carried
away 1t was peculiar accident. and one that
have on.y on that single occasion.
\ FEARFUL BLOW.
When that goose-winged maintopsail was carried
away some of the jumped aft ana set
tarpau.n IN the mizzen rigging. which brought the
ships head again fairy to the wind Others lay
aoft to pick up the remnants of the iopsaA. Inc
wind had then increased a terrific hurricane, the
strength Of which may be imagined from the fact
that those Of the crew who wen: aiof We're com
hald to keep from going alot too fast. Instead OF
pulling upward to assist their ascent OF the ti2-
proydent to take turn of spunyarn arS1nd toi tner
waists ost their oilskn jackeis, "nich n,,ea iOna @
on, with Increasing wind and sea, ana huge waves
dsck was filed with water to The level of her high
monkey rail much of the time spare sparS prGke ,
deck to tho immnent p3ri Of both crew ami crat
buJ fortunately wGre either M secH16d or o .a"heneH
Some hogsheads Of coal broke adrft; and IN wasa,
the deck as thorough.y as 1t coud nave peeh aohe
by the crew of man-of-war. .,
"While the gale at its fercest: about mid
night. heavy sea was shipped, when MED tEe
cabin and kept the captain and steward busy & N
@ MaS tl6ss tcrrncav For seydra hours ihe YES
pected to founder at any moment It was finally
mSst s,avssi The frst mate ana most of the
crew by holding fast to the lif5ines stretched along
the break Of topgallan forec9ste and man the stay
rest Of the crew. remained aft TO shift the hem
at thf proper moment by means OF the Theel ara
Of the crew who were forward could not he seen
by the captain. who was near the wheel. and tn,
Of % most sfrea stentoGn Voices could not not make ives
heard by others. except by using their hands
the very ears Of those with whom they wished 10
eommuncae 1t IVES hecsssaTy dnerGorc b to nave
the mate when TO hoist the staysail and being one
crew ! was selected for that purpose
AT the proper moment. placing his hands his
his order TO run up the staysail put notwthstand,
ing his powerful Hi,. voice IT was barely audible
pulling and hauling myself along by the life
lines. being good part OF the tine under water,
managed to reach the mate and shouted the cap
tain's order into his ear at the same time throw
ns m my sat for h to bo ms he M
les; nc should fall to hear my voice. The sail.
canvas was hoisIed in ify. but no sooner had it
been run UP than II was blown from the bolt
VPrS s%Ted away to ieeward high up in air dsap-
our sight by evil gen
DAY BRINGS RELIEF.
"An unsuccessful attempt was then made to
wear ship with the lee clew OF the foresail. which
was also nearly lost BY this time welcome day
light had dawned. and. what welcome.
the hurricane had begun TO abate, that in
few hours after bending a maintopsa and
foretopmast staysail and repairing other damages,
"A few days later, when we were bowling along
With fair air wnd ssers eh9ad sa l %
Spanish brigantine lmanueia ma M hove to and flying
swering our hail negro, who ] think pas
on the sndng days & on r the s. aa
de Cuba bound for Cadiz. and have yellow fever
oSsrd Se DON nf sno s@a wee For
send us a nayiga tor The only Others. on board
mast hands familiarly known old Mike who
had formerly been mate Of 4 packet-ship. volun-
and sail her into Baltimore. Accordingly the cap
tain gave him his position and course and he
was placed on board in a boat manned by volun-
;eer crew from our ship. each OF whom carried in
his trousers pockets large onions. cut in
halves as a sailors safeguard against yellow
Jack
our boat returned laden with choice. Havana
cigars which captain generously distribut ed
among the crew We all expected to get good
salvage from picking mp the lmanuea. but 'Old
Mike after filing away his little craft and po-
Utelv dofing his greasy old TO skipper, was
never seen by any Of us again. was the little
brig On returning from our voyage IN
formed that Mike safely piloe1 the vessel into
baltimore and was there bamboozled OF his
,nd our ga vage by the Spanish consul.
"'rhe rest Of the voyage 10 the mouth OF the La
Plata was comparatively uneventful.
on FIRE AT SEA
"The most exciting incident after that was the