The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-07-10

Account Of 4 Thrilling Adventure In
the lrisi, Channel.

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Account Of 4 Thrilling Adventure In
the Irish Channel.
We were running across the end
pf the Irish channel, making our
way through the fog and rain into
the British channel. It must have
been ten o'clock OF night, and the
thickness OF the fog was something
trightful Tho Hooper was 500 feet
long, and carried 800 live oxen,
1000 sheep, and several thousand
tons Of cargo. Her crew consisted
Of 1875 men, and there was one pas
sengcr myself. Another so sec
onds Ind passed, and, standing on
the bridge, was in the act Of pull
Ing 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 off TO starboard came q
thin, squeaky whistle. 1t sounded
like q feeble child not ten feet away.
Chen 1t came again, only louder.
The captain sprang TO the engine
room telegraph, and III moment
the 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 cchoing
around in the fog, we heard the toot
flour friends Oft abreast OF US, and
then q little later far nstern. 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 the 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 VIC whistled. An
other, ind we blew again. A third,
and then. But at the fourth
loud, long blast blew off abreast of
us il, about the same direction, so
near that it seemed we must sec
something. a moment later high
above us, three ghostly masts up
peared nearly in line.
Capt. Murrcll sprang to the tele-
graph, and almost instantly could
feel the culver rnn through the ship,
telling that The engines were being
reversed at full speed. Half II 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 amidships,"
said Mr. Costello, close at my ear.
Then the captain cried out to her:
Port your helm! You 60 full speed
ahead We're full speed astern!"
Nota sound in reply.
y No, she'll catch US right abaft
the cathead,n whispered Mr.. Cos
tello
grasped the rail Of the bridget
WITH both; hands, from an innneSidaas
that the shock might throw me
down Then I distinctly remember
laughing, heaven knows whyl 1 did
mot pass over all the events Of my
life. ] did not think at all. / simply
gurgled and watched her crawl up
on US.
''sWell catch her on the starboard
bow" murmured Mr.. Costello, as
the long craft pulled across our
bows. No, right amidshipsl God
help her
s'All-l-l-l's clear by fiv-v-v-ve feet"
came a voice out of the fog from
for'ard.
The chief officer turned to the
captain, who was wiping his fore
head. "A close shave, sir!"
TT was the mercy OF God, Cos
ltello" said the captain.
Instantly the crews of both vessels
began to Shrek curses at each other,
and l turned round at sound to see
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 head bare.
To save my life l could not help