The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-01-07
CLARENCE HERseRr nEM..
,,e,. by J. q. L,pplncott Col

Pepe was pretty decent old cnap,
as orderlies go, and seemed to have
taken fancy to me for reasons of his
own-possibly my habit of giving him
cigars now and then. He had been in
the islands long enough to be some
thing Of weather prophet, and In
sisted upon bringing down an extra
supply of provisions in case the wind
should fail when was too far out. He
also cautioned me against losing sight
of the mountain, as otherwise might
steer clear of it and never be able to
find my way back. I assured him that
I would be careful, and felt easier at
this indication that my knowledge Of
navigation was unsupported. The
study had always been fascinating
one, and in my voyages between Frisco
and Yokohama l had improved the op-
portunities to know all could of 1t.
Without the aid of nautical almanac
it might have been difficult for me to
fix ships position accurately at sea,
burt Halstead had coached me on the
voyage from Manila until felt rca-
sonably confident.
1t was all idealmornirgf for the exper-
iment. The breeze was Just fresh
enough to send the proa scudding be-
fore 1t, and the sky was clear blue from
horizon to horizon. Mcpherson had
made for me slot, from two pieces of
copper, riveted to strip of fiat iron,
to hold the log register; and this
secured, by lasl'ng, to the aftermost
outrigger while | was running from
Agana to Point Orote, steering with
long, flat-bladed paddle which held
between my knees. When a sufficient
distance from the shore, 1 took out the
compass and placed vt between my
feet. Fortunately, the gobernador
had got it into his head that my lug
gage contained delicate scientific in
struments, SO lie had given strict or
ders that it should be handled care
fully in transit from the steamer.
AS the catamaran approached Orote
took out the log, slipped the register
into its slot, and coiled up the line so
that it could be instantly eased away,
then steered within hundred yards
of the rocks SO as to get an exact bear
ing. When near enough let the bow
fall OFF little until the proa was head
ing exactly Is degrees and ~ minutes
to the westward of south-the odd
three minutes being an allowance
thought best to make for leeway. My
compass being but six inches in diam
keep it exactly on hair-line between
is and 16 degrees when the proa was
crossing long swell; but by keeping
it somewhere between the south by
west quarter west and the south by
west half west points felt sure of
holding on IL fairly true course.
When Orote rock was precisely I'M
der the third northerly spur of Mount
Tiniquio, 1 knew the bearing they
formed was exactly at right angles
with an airline to the reef, and, drop
ping the log screw overheard, COM
menced paying out the line, being care
full that 1T shouldn't fall low enough to
foul the rocks. Then, with the great
sail Swimming over the water like an
albatross, the proa flew straight for
the open sea.
For over an hour scarcely lifted
my eyes from the compass; and the
way that frail catamaran held to her
course would have shamed many
decp-keeled steamer. Looking back
toward the island the peak of Tiniquio
was the only thing visible above the
horizon. Twenty minutes more, and
there was nothing in sight but sky and
water. the log dial indicating 80 miles;
SO that in a little while might expect
to be near the reef. For several min
utes more looked atnothing, thought
of nothing, but the compass and log.
Forty miles-45 milcs-50 miles, with
scarcely deviation from my 1917, de-
grees. Fifty-onc miles; I was trembling
little with excitement now. Fifty-two
miles; held the paddle between my
knees while got outthe sounding line
and placed it by my side. Fifty three
miles; the water certainly seemed
flatter, just ahead. Fifty-four miles;
hauled in my log line and screw. lest
they should catch on the rocks and be
lost Two minutes more; I lowered
away the sail until there was just
enough pulling TO give the proa a gen.
tie Roadway. Over WENT the lead: my
heart was in my mouth as I watched
the line disappear. At IL feet the two
leather strips went under, then the
three strips; then there was a jerk,
series of gentle taps as the lead
dragged along the rock, and knew
that at last 1 had found the Santa
Rosa shoal. 1 was absolutely alone
upon the broad expanse of ocean not
even a gull in sight. There was moth
ing to Indicate that the ocean bottom
was any nearer to me than the three
mile depth over which had just
! sailed. and could have tossed pebble
into that from where 1 sat. Yet had
actually found and under the impene-
trable mask of these long, CLASSY
waves was touching, through the lead
line. q mystery of the sea which for
nearly century and q half had baf-
fled all investigation. The fact
seemed SO wonderful that for some
time sat there letting 1t soak in
where my mind could grasp it.
According to Halstead's figures, my
my position was then about twelve
thirty-three, north by one-forty-four,
twenty-five, east. The figures in Fray
Ignacio's document had been IL de-
grees 80 minutes 80 seconds north by
144 degrees 20 minutes no seconds
east. So the approximate position Of
| the wreck was one mile farther east,
and two and half miles to the
! s'uth'ard, from where was. From the