Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-12-30


the deck"
This threat, so unusual in one SO
good-natured, together with the bel
lowing of the wind, the tapping OF the
wetted canvas, the rattle OF the blocks
and cordage. and the laboring OF the
brig. which was so deeply laden that
every timber groaned, all gave such
indications OF rough night that |
sprang from my berth and proceeded
/ TO dress again in haste.
To my establishment, at that mo-
ment ] heard the hoarse rattle Of the
\ chain cable, as It rushed with roar
ing sound through the iron mouth of
the hawse hole; then | was sensible OF
q violent shock, which made the brig
stagger. and tumbled me headlong
against the paneled bulkhead which
separated the cabin from the after
hold.
Hislop. who had been doing on the
chbin-locker in his storm jacket, start
ed mp with alarm in his face.
Have we come to anchor?" l asked.
Anchor in more than three hundred
fathoms of water" he exclaimed, as
he rushed on deck. whittier followed,
and found that a very strange incident
had occurred.
In the murky obscurity OF the stormy
night large Dutch lugger, in ballast
apparently. and running right before
the wind. with steering canvas set,
came suddenly athwart US, and hooked
the anchor from the cathead on our
larboard bow-by some unwonted neg
iect IL was not yet on board, nor had
the cable been unbent-with her star
board fore-rigging, and thus bore away
, with Il. until the chain came to bear
when there was tremendous shock.
Several feet OF our bulwark were torn
! away. and two seamen, Tattooed Tom
and an old man-o'-war's man named
: Roberts. were nearly swept into the
sea, where. IN such night. and amid
, the confusion OF such an incident. they
would inevitably have persisted un.
, aided.
r Then we heard a shout, mingled with
a crash upon the believing wind, al
the Dutchman's foremost snapped b,
D the board. and then. fortunately, oui
: anchor tumbled from his side into thu
e sea, where II swung at the whol'
4 length of the chain cable.
: We manned both windlass and cap
stan-Fot the anchor. which was drift
n Ing. reused to the cathead. hoisted 1
r on board. unbent the cable, and stower
y Il iLi the tier: but long ere all this wa
done we had lost sight of our lubherl.
A friend, who, when last seen, was toss
ing about like log in the darkness
' and drifting far astern of us. But 70
4 some defect IN the pawls and notche
n Of the wlndlass collar, | am doubtful
~ II the chain would have run out so free
iy: but as to this cannot say.
:. We had hard squalls and a sea tina
: ran high until dayhreak; there wa
lightning. too; red and dusky; 1t seem
cd at times to ill the whole horizon
We could see for an instant the blae
,e submits Of the waves as they rose an
fell between us and the glare; an
ar when II passed away. all again woul
Is be ebseurity and gloom.
is more canvas must be taken of II
n brig, SIR" suggested Hislop, iookin
,s aloft and then over the side. where tt
~ foam-necked sea whirled past us.
At We'll. In with the trysall foretol
sail. and maintopsail," ordered Westo
N As the light of dawn stole over IL
% angry sea, through clouds of mingls
A mist and rain. the gale abated, ar
all but the watch went below.
j. Calm weather and heavy rains SUI
!, ceeded the gale: but the Eugene stea
- ilv kept her course. and two days afte
- when spanking along before fine to
~ gallant breeze. we picked up bottl
- which was described by the waite
~ floating and bobbing in the water
81 few fathoms distant from the brig. 81
Nv was at once hove in the wind, and Hi
!, lop went in the stern boat to bring q
:, bottle on board.
u AS the most trivial incident becom
as ot interest on board of ship, where Il
80 daily occurrences are so few, and &
circle OF society so limited, conside
ne able concern was excited by the a
n; nearance of this bottle. which SEEM
se 10 have been freshly corked; and on
beinp broken, we found a scrap of p
he per-torn apparently from notebo'
,r- -whereupon hurried and agitat
he hand had penciled this brief motto
lid "The Mary, clipper ship, of Bosto
TO goth Nov, 1861, momentarily expect
in TO 20 down--pumps worn out, and {
"a. leaks gaining-Captain and first ma
with all the boats, washed away-G
help usf'
"The 20th OF November? 1t was
'b- that night we encountered the hea
IN gale" said Weston.
N We had been on the skirt OF the tel
W. nest us Hislop maintained, while t
- Yankee ship had probably suffered
" the fury of It. From the main-cro'
Nv trees Capt. Weston swept the sea WI
=, his telescope, in vain, for any trace
~. ~. her: SO IL that melancholy scrap OF
%, per told truth, all was doubtless ov
~ long since with the Mary and her ere
In the cabin that night convers
:. .,on on the probabilities OF her
u us' struction or escape led to recurrer