Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-03-19
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
by GEORGE II. HOSEA.

When Is years old was one OF a cre1
OF three that manned the little 2S-to
schooner Ornament. which lay moore
in Monhegan harbor-a deep, mario,
strait between the islands of Monhega
and Manana, Maine. The entrance i
from the south, and is unobstructeC
while to the north the passage Is barre
by rocky islet called Smutty NOSE
This is separated from Alanandby a mai
raw passage on the westerly side caIle'
"Drunken Gut" The harbor is fairl,
good shelter, except when the wind i
from the southeast.
At daylight on the morning after on
arrival at Monhegan there was stiff
breeze. with rain from the southeast
and by noon It had risen to a hcav,
gale. All day coasters, traders ant
fishing vessels ran in till about 20 sal
were in harbor when night fell.
They were anchored as near together
as they could be, and yet swing clear o
each other. This compact gathering
would be well enough in smooth har
Dor; but on little Monhegan, exposed
10 the increasing gale, with night com
ing on and the probability of n heavy
yea running into the strait, the prospect
looked serious. Should a vessel part
her cables or drag her anchors, collision
with those to leeward of her would be
inevitable, and the result of collision
might be disastrous.
When darkness came the gales fury
increased. The unobstructed sea rolled
into the narrow harbor in huge pillows
that dashed against Manana or Smutty
Nose, or ragged as breakers on the reefs
about Drunken Gut. The vessels, ham,
pered by their anchors and unable to
rise freely on the surges, strained at
their cables, plunging and rolling Wild
ly. while nearly every wave toppled its
crest upon their decks or swept them
from stem to stern.
About nine o'clock, when the gale
seemed at its height, little craft that
had been anchored all day just on our
port bow dragged her anchors Her
crew. like some others, had sought
safety on shore long before night.
Swinging to our broadside, she began
to pound against us and to break into
pieces.
Her bowsprit snapped, her bulwarks
crushed in fore and aft, her masts went
over her taffrail. At last, plunglng
from the top of big sea, we crashed
down upon her forward deck. Her
gave way, and OIL she
went, broadside to the wind, till she was
lost in the gloom and rain.
Anxiously we crouched by the wind
lass, the captains hand almost con-
stantly upon either one cable or the
other, that he might detect the first
motion, indicating that the
anchors were being dragged over the
rocky bottom. But they seemed to hold
securely. Our danger was of another
sort.
was crouching in the lee Of the fore
mast to shelter myself from the wind
md spray. when | heard the captain
shout:
up, up with you, boys, quick
There's coaster adrift, coming right
Tor us.
Through the drivingrain,sure enough.
,ame a big schooner stern first, wildly
swinging to and fro, now topping ON
! crest, now walowing down in the
hollow depths. Her gunwales almost
oiled under. and her mainboom, free
rom its lashing, swayed madly from
tide to side.
Just as we were receding from roll
NO swell she crashed into us and
mapped our bowsprit. Then she hung
ouare across our bow
"Quick! quick! Give me the ax!"
ried the captain.
In a moment he severed both cables
I the windlass, and we were drifting
With the gale. No vessel lay directly
stern Of lis. The captains hope was
hat we might not only go clear of the
caster, but drive upon a small, sandy
each at the end of Smutty Nose. But
he heave of the sea and the slant of the
Wind drove us to one side, and we went
pom the rocks instead.
There was a shock, grinding crash
S she struck. Then we seemed to stop;
nd now the sea broke over us in fury.
ITO the dory. boysl The schooner
iill go to piecesl" shouted the captain.
Without much difficulty we got the
DRY into the water to leeward. Jack,
~ shipmate, flung his clothes bag into
he stern Of the boat, while ] threw
oil Of small rope into her ere ! tum-
lad In ,rveolf Tbara ,,-,s h,+ ona ro;r