Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-10

gales | ever encountered in the Allan
tie. After trying to hold her on hel
course for some hours, had to give il
up as Il bad job, and let her drive. We
ran away before the wind for the bes,
part OF two days in 4 nor'westerly di
rection.
when the gale slackcncd u bit,
got the vessel round, and commenced tt
beat back to our former course. 1t was
still blowing fresh enough, the sea
running high, and the clouds showing
signs of more wind, so we had TO he
sparing with our canvas. One night
Just as l was about to 90 below and
turn in, the man in the bows suddenly
sang out:
Breakers aheadr
My first impression was that the fel
low had got hold of rum cask, anG
had been imbibing pretty freely.
took no notice of the warning, but as
stood there, the man turned and shout.
ed in more startling tones:
breakers ahead, sir.
"Now if he had said: The sca-sc,
pent ahcad' or "a mermaid ahead !
lnightn't have been so surprised, bu
breakers ahcad'-in mid-ocean, min,
you-fairly took my breath away.
rushed forward As l stood in til,
bows, peering out over the tossing wa
tiers, | could distinctly hear the roar o
breakers somewhere in front.
ssfT'ba ,,,cp,, o,,+
the broken clouds, and just then J
caught sight of n dark spot straigh'
ahead, round which the water swirle,
ard tossed. had barely time to hol
loa out: Hard a-portr to the helms
men, i'll order to clear it. Without any
mistake il was rock. l could see it,
black top appear for second or two
and then it was covered in a cloud
foam. Sometimes big wave swep'
right over it, bat generally the
smashed with roar that can tell vol
would have struck terror to you
heart"
A dead silence followed tilis cxtraor
binary story. 1t had been told in sue!
way as to convince rs that there wa
something in it. Even Capt. Lortol
appeared TO ponder over the facts.
After long pause Moxly said:
Il remember once hearing an ole
skipper from Dundee tell pretty mucl
the same story
1t was plain to be seen that Link,
later's strange yarn had made & deer
impression upon every man present.
After that last remark 10 one spoke
Perhaps if it had been told under diff
fcrcnt circumstances it might not have
taken such hold upon is; but some,
how the pounding Of the pillows on tht
beach, the rumble Of shinglc and the
furious gusts of wind that sent thu
rain dashing against the window
seemed to deepen the effect.
what do you think Of all this, Capt
George l said, at length, turning to
wards him.
Il think 6apt. Linl,latcr is right,
he answered.
'You believe in this mysterious rock,
thcn?'
Il have seen it,
"Wcll, if that Scotch skipper could be
found, three of us could bear witness t.
the fact, at any rate" remarked Link
later
1T may be as you say. OF coarse
said Capt. Lorton, doubtfully, >but how
is il, If such rock really exists, 1t Ia;
remained so long unknown"
Il have my own theory as to that
replied Capt. George.
"Would you mind giving Us the bcne
lit of it?"
My belief is this: that rock appear:
and disappears at intervals"
''Irnpossiblc!'
''Why so? How can you or / teD
what goes on in the bed of the ocean,
It IS Il sealed book to u.s. We are tolc
there are hills and valleys there, just
the same as on land. How do we know
what forces are 81 work in these sub
marine tracts? In Soath America, ard
other parts. an earthquake viii change
the whole face of a district in half an
hour. If such an alteration can take
place On land, who dare venture to say
it cannot occur at the bottom of the
sea?"
II should be slow to believe it." said
the surveyor.
Look at the Pacific continued
Capt. George, who appeared strangely
interested in this question. There
YOU will find that not only rock, but
a whole island, win come to the surface
in a single week. II you 90 to look for
it month later, most likely It viii
have vanished. What is to prevent q
thing of this kind happening nearer
home? Why. only the other day the
hull OF brig which had been burnt
at sea fifty years ago, was thrown up
off the Farce islands and towed into
Galveston harbor. How do you ac-
count for that??"
The question led to q pretty lively
discussion. and it was eight o'clock be-
fore the party broke up. BY that time
tl,e rain had ceased, and the wind was