The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-09

observations. the latitude agreed and the
longitude was very little out, and as near
as could be expected from simply working
from courses and distances sailed.
The difference IN the figures for the past
few days had worried the "Old Man" and
his confidence In his chronometer was only
partly restored by the days work, which
agreed so closely with his now that al
lOwance had been made for the flow or
setback of this mighty river" of the
ocean.
A few days later, about sunset a steam
or was sighted astern, bound west. We
ran up signals asking for their longitude.
Presently the steamer changed IT'S course
and headed for the H. As she approach
ed we saw signals flying, but instead of
the longitude IL proved to be that our
signal had not been understood, which
explained why she ran down on us. She
proved TO be one of the big German liners,
and as she ran under our stern and pass
cd close 20, our captain hailed asking Ior
the steamers longitude. The rail or the
big liner was black with passengers. and
just as the German captain formed
trumpet of his hands and gave his longi-
tude, the big crowd of passengers, not
understanding what was going on, gave
long, loud shout and swung their arms
and hats. The captains reply was lost,
and the same result followed his next at
tempt. Our ''Old Man" was furious, but
ran the length of the ship and hailed once
more: by this time the distance was so
great that only q faint reply came to our
ship, while the big steamer forged ahead
and was soon lost in the coming night.
the German captains reply, but as his
figure did not agree with ours, the cap
tain became anxious and again doubted
his chronometer. The uncertainty as to
the ships longitude increased still more
when we spoke, a few days later, French
liner, bound west. She gave her longi-
tude as Ga degrees, or over two degrees
further west than our figures, much to
the CONSERVATION of our anxious captain.
A long discussion with the mate followed,
during which he happened to think that
from Paris. On looking up the difference
between Paris and Greenwich, IL was
found to be just about the difference be-
tween our longitude and that given by the
French steamer Although somewhat re-
lieved our captain could not help feeling
anxious still
the ship close up to Nantucket South
ShoaI but, the weather not being clear,
nothing could be seen to verify our po-
sition, and rather than run any closer, the
shin was put about and headed to the
south. Soon after daybreak the next day
we had a slant of wind from the east,
was overcast at noon, thus hindering a
good sight at the sun, but from the fig
ures the ship was 108 miles from Cape
Nav light During the afternoon a brig
outward hound PASSED and our captain did
not lose this chance TO verify his position,
and difference of only few miles was
the result.
All the afternoon the breeze freshened
that made the sailors say She has gotten
a Whit of the land" Some Of the men
laughed at the signs overhead Of coming
storm, saying, Wen be in the bay in the
morning so let her blow"
By D. m. we were reeling off the knots
at such a rate that our cautious and anx-
ious captain ordered all light sails furled
BY 10 we had reeled off twenty knots more,
and some of the heavier sails were low
cred, but not furled Even this did not
seem to check the speed of the ship, as
the log registered twenty knots more by
midnight.
Not wishing to make the land before
daylight some of the larger sails were
lowered but fifteen knots more were feel
ed off by a. m. As it seemed almost i'm
possible to check the ship she was now
hove to.
Daylight came and with II a fresh gale
from the northeast accompanied by heavy
rain. Now we had our hands full, furling
sail after sail, not to be flowed up the
river" as we hoped, but to ride out
northeaster.
TO keep off a lee shore the ship was
headed about southeast and hove to, and
then we could only walt for the gale to
let up. Soon after a. m. the wind and
sea suddenly Gained down and as the
weather cleared up a little we saw schoon-
ers all around US in the distance.
At noon we We're close enough to speak
one and found that they had left the
Breaswater at 10 p. m. the night before.