The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-07-10
CLOSE X !, SHAVE AT SEA.
Account Of Thrilling Adventure IN
< y the irish Channel.


Account Of Thrilling Adventure IN
the irish Channel.
We were running across the end
81! the Irish channel, making our
way through the fog and rain into
the British channel 1t must have
been ten o'clock at night. and the
thickness Of 1.-THE fog was something
irightful. Tho Hooper was 800 feet
long, and carried 800 live oxen,
1000 sheep, and several thousand
tons Of cargo. Her crew consisted
of125me and there was one pas
senger myself. Another 50 Sec
onds had passed, and, standing on
tho bridge, I was in the act Of pull
Ing q whistle:cord to blow the other
ten seconds, US had been doing
every minute for two hours, when
the chief officer grasped my arm and
heldit.
Away of TO starboard came o
thin, squeaky whistle. 1T sounded
like o feeble child not ten feet away.
phen it came again, only louder.
Tho captain sprang to the engine
room telegraph, and in moment
tho thud OF our engine ceased. Every
sailor on board stood Still, too. So
did the oxen and sheep. So did
everything; and we blew again.
After our blast had finished echoino
around in the fog, We heard the toot
ofour friends of abreast OF us, and
then little later far astern. After
that we went on sounding, whist
ling, listening, and giving opinions
only when asked, and then in whis-
pers. So for another hour.
Fifty seconds had just passed, and
I was for the four thousandth time
about to blow, when away off
abreast on tho port side came an-
other high squeak. The time, the
direction, the kind of whistle, were
noted, and we kept ON. One min
ute passed, and We whistled. An
other, and we blew again. A third,
and then. But at the fourth a
loud, long blast blew off abreast of
us in about the same direction, so
near that it seemed we must see
something. a moment later high
above US three ghostly masts APP
peared nearly in line.
Capt. Murrcll sprang to the tele-
graph, and almost instantly could
feel the culver RIM through the ship,
telling that Ike engines were being
reversed at full speed. Half dozen
sharp commands, calling all hands
except the watch aft to clear away
the boats, was all that was said.
Then long hull doomed up out of
the fog.
Shell strike US right amidslips,"
said Mr.. Costello, close at my eur.
Then the captain cried out to her:
Port your helm! Yougo full speed
aheadl We're full speed astern!p
Nota sound in reply.
No, she'll catch us right abaft
the cathead, : whispered Mr.. Cos
tello.
gtaspea the rail Of the bridge
ssith both hand from an; inanelidsaI
tAat the shock might throw me
down Then i distinctly remember
slaugh hing, heaven knows whyl Ibid
mot pass over all the events Of my
life. Lid not think ut all. 1 simply
Igurgled and watched her crawl up
on us.
FssWe'll catch her on the starboard
bow" murmured Mr.. Costello, us
the long craft pulled across our
bows. mo, right amidshipsl God
help her"
sAll-l-l-l's clear by fiv-v-v-vc feet"
came voice out of the fog from
!forard
Tho chief officer turned to the
captain, who was wiping his FORE
head. "a close shave, sir!''
1T was the mercy OF God, Cos
tellon said the captain.
Instantly the crews of both vessels
began to Shrek curses at each other,
and | turned round at sound to sec
the captains wife on her knees on
the bridge in the fog and rain, with
her hands stretched high above her
head, while the quartermaster, who
had turned away from his wheel,
stood facing her with his bead bare.
To save my life | could not help
that same queer, gurgling lauch