Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-02-29
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
BY GEORGE III. HOSEA.

When IS years old was one of crew
of three that manned the little 28-ton
schooner Ornament, which lay moored
in Monhegan harbor-a deep, narrow
strait between the islands of Monhegan
and Manana, Maine. The entrance is
from the south, and is unobstructed,
while to the north the passage is barred
Nv rocky islet called Smutty Nose
This is separated from Manana by a mar
raw passage on the westerly side called
Drunken Gut" The harbOr is fairly
good shelter, except when the wind is
from the southeast.
At daylight on the morning after our
arrival at Monhegan there was stiff
breeze, with rain from the southeast,
and by noon it had risen to a heavy
gale. All day coasters, traders and
fishing vessels ran in till about 20 sail
were in harbor when night fell.
They were anchored as near together
rs they could be, and yet swing clear of
each other. This compact gathering
would be well enough in smooth har-
bor; but on little Monhegan, exposed
to the increasing gale, with night COM
ing on and the probability of a heavy
sea running into the strait, the prospect
looked serious. Should 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
4fxy
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 it's 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
ITO 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, plunging
from the top of a big sea, we crashed
- down upon her forward deck. Her
, windlass-bitts gave way, and off 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
Migratory motion, indicating that the
anchors were being dragged over the
rocky bottom. But they seemed to hold
securely. Our danger was of another
sort.
1 was crouching in the lee of the fore
mast to shelter myself from the wind
and spray, when l heard the captain
suddenly shout:
up, up with you, boys, quick!
There's a coaster adrift, coming right
for us!'
Through the driving rain, sure enough.
came big schooner stern first, wildly
swinging to and fro, now topping on
a crest, now wallowing down in the
hollow depths. Her gunwales almost
zrolled under, and her mainboom, free
from it's flashing, swayed madly from
side to side.
Just as we were receding from a roll
ing swell she crashed into us and
snapped our bowsprit. Then she hung
square across our bow.
Quick! quickl Give me the ax!',
cried the captain.
In moment he severed both cables
at the windlass, and we were drifting
with the gale. No vessel lay directly
=astern of us. The captains hope was
that we might not only go clear of the
coaster, but drive upon small. sandy
beach ut the end of Smutty Nose. But
the heave of the sea and the slant of the
wind drove us to one side. and we went
upon the rocks instead.
There was shock. grinding crash
as she struck. Then we seemed to stop:
: and now the sea broke over us in fury.
ITO the dory, boys! The schooner
will so to pieces!" shouted the captain.
Without much difficulty we got the
~~Ciory into the water to leeward Jack,
my shipInate, flung his clothes bag into
the stern of the boat. while / threw
coil of small rope into her ere | tum-
bled in myself. There was but one pair
of oars. These the captain took, and
began to pull toward Manana.
Away from the lee of the schooner we
were exposed to the full fury of the
gale. and the course TO which we wer-
compelled kept us in the trough of tl.c
sea. Every moment it seemed as though
we must be swcmped. and in spite of all