The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-28

on her a foot long. The engineer says his
mill is all to bits, too" Subsequent ex-
perience proved that this description was
by no means exaggerated.
Turning out early next morning I climb
ed to the poop-for the Corona was of the
usual well-deck build-and could see moth
ing but an azure circle above and sweep
of sparkling foam-fecked sea below, piled
into ridges by the fresh trade breeze,
across which the steamer slowly rolled.
One glance at the water. without look
ing at the log dial, was sufficient to show
that she was only going six knots; SO
climbing down the narrow steel-rugged
ladder 1 made my way forward over the
slippery iron deck, lodging the spouts of
water which gushed in through the Soup
pers at every roll to look for the chief
engineer. Passing the engine room door,
the humping and changing that ioated
up were quite enough to tell of worn out
journals and general out-of-linedness to
one who could interpret it. 1 found the
chief in his room, rubbing his hands with
the inevitable ball of waste, and said:
what kind of a mill have you got?"
"Weel," he said-for most marine en-
gineers are Clydesdale men there's may
be waur jobs afoat, but havena seen yin.
Man, do We no hear her clack-clackin' and
a-wheeze-wheezin' There's a third o. the
tubes in the port boiler plugged and a
patch leakin'; forby the fireman Gamma
keep steam wi they dirt O. Goals"
Now a Cyldesdale man is rarely satisfied
with his engine, and would burn gold If
he could get it, so l did not think too much
of this outburst but had only to under
stand that the engine was not what he
would have called an Al MILL
Soon afterward the already strong breeze
began a freshen up, and when the sun
sank, a glowing orb Of copper beneath a
ragged-edged bank of dark clouds, leaving
a brassy yellow glare glowing across
threatening sky and angry water it was
evident we were in for bad weather.
The seas were rapidly growing sleeper
and breaking more sharply, while the
heavy tramp steamer flung herself about,
and rolled as if she would shake the masts
out of her, with water and spray already
flying in all directions.
For some hours l hung about on the
bridge, under the lee of the dodgers" or
canvas screens, chatting with the mate
and trying TO evade the singing spindrlft
which dashed our faces like a whip from
time to time AT last, as the poop dis
appeared to the top of the hand wheel in
q rush of water, the mate, shaking the
water from his sou-wester, said:
"If she jumps any more, the chief will
be slowing her down. He's an awful Cd
heather over that broken-down engine OF
his; the second says he sits and talks to
il I'm bad weather. Anyway, the sooner
we get this hooker home the better"
Sleep that night was difficult for every
now and then, as the steamer lifted her
stern clear OF the sea, the whole poop
shook 10 the heavy vibration Of the whir-
ring propeller until knowing what ship
plates and bad rivets are, l sincerely wish
ed myself out Of 1t.
In the morning ] found the water pour
ing deep over either rail, while all around
stretched a wild. drifting crested sea, the
spiudrift torn off the waves, drifting along
before a hard northeastery gale beneath
low flying scud that swept the mastheads.
Some OF the cargo had shifted. and the
Corona lay down 70 1t and wallowed. as
only a deep tramp can, showing her bows
up to the foremost into the big RIGGS
that rolled down upon her. There were
tons Of water rolling about the decks and
miniature cataracts pouring from bridge
and houses, but she was still going ahead
at least. the engines were, though the
chief said:
"Nian. the aud mills turning half speed.
amt we'r baum back sterrun first. tae Las
Palmas."
Then misfortunes began TO arise: sore
thing got adrft on the forccastle head
and changed about; Il may have been an
unshackled chain or anchor flashing.
Three men. watching their time and cling
ing to Eve run when a heavy sea came on