Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-26
Twas halfway to the deck we wersiaid over
to larboard in manner that for asmoment

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prevented my further progress. A mighty
gush of damp wind struck my face as /
hung on to the rail, and before could grip
my way hand over hand up the ladder the the
schooner righted and hung on an even keel,
trembling like suddenly affrighted animal.
In an instant l was at the wheel. As
quickly as the squall came it passed, but
knew the weight that must be behind it.
Well it was that had reduced sail and let
go the sheet, for in such sudden blast we
would have been thrown so low that the
cargo would have shifted and the end come
in the twinkling of an eye.
As near as could guess the first rush of
air had been from out thesoutheast, but The
whole gale that followed struck US fairly on
the boy. and, in spite of my jamming the
helm hard over, think for space the
schooner made direct sternway. Without
sail drawing, the din of the thrashing canvas
drowned all other noises, and in this fashion
we hung in irons until it appeared that the
mainmast would be shaken out Of the yes
sci. could not man the wheel and staysail
sheet together, and the former 1 dared not
leave; but the wind settled my dilemma, for
after time, and when was getting des-
perate, it whipped point to larboard, and
in the half glimmer that now came from the
sea, which looked like dish of froth, j saw
the foot of the staysail streaming over the
starboard bow
How dashed the wheel with the helm up
and got forward, hardly know. / Iemem-
Der it was like dragging against stone wall
to get the sheet half way in, but did It, and
ran back again before we were fairly paid
off. Now dashed the helm down and put
my weight on the main sheet, but twas past
my power to move it foot. As had no
wish to lose time by running toward South
America, I bawled to the doctor to come up.
He did SO in hurry, but demurred when /
told him to lay hold of the line and haul
The sudden tongue flashing gave him and
sight Of my face in the light which poured
from the cabin made him think betterof his
manner, for he gripped the sheet and fell
back with it like born sailor. It was an
almighty tug as best, but grew easier as we
hauled into the wind, and when the line was
Delayed commanded him to take the wheel
while sheeted home the staysail.
The veriest duffer cannot follow the sea
for year in and out without learning some
thing Of the handling of ships, and, though
McCary had probably never laid hand on
spoke from necessity, he may have done so
for pleasure, as he seemed to know how to
hold the Phantom somewhere near the
winds eye. There was no difficulty, then,
in getting proper trim to the head cloth,
and by the time the sheet was Delayed and
schooner was well under way, her bows smit-
ing the seas, which had risen like magic, in
a way that threw curtain of solid water
into the air, which, catching the wind, blew
in and came aboard deluge. was wet to
the skin before, but it was a dry wet as com
pared to the way the water shot through my
clothing, the drops singing my face like a
discharge of small shot. Even under scant
canvas and pointing as close as the schooner
would go, she lay down to the blast until at
times the brine gurgled in the lee scuppers
The channels sheared through the black seas
and turned up smother of froth as they
tore along, while the noise of the roaring
wind and water was enough to deafen one.
Knowing that all now unsafe must be left
unsafe, turned to get aft, when be-
thought me of the men in the forecastle
During the past hour they had not entered
my mind, for I had felt that / had them Re-
cure. With the light they possessed, to.
gether with the rations knew had been
supplied them, they were better off regard
ing comfort than Though they had been
free seamen on duty. Other matters had
taken my attention, but now that was for
ward would give, a look to the hatch fas.
tening. It was right enough, and laid my
ear over the crack below the slide that
might hear if anght was amiss Ay, there
was. A clear sound Of rasping and splinter
ing wood greeted me as stopped the other
ear with my hand to keep out the surround
ing racket, and had hit the spot on which
knife was at work.
Drawing my cutlass, with its hilt / smote
the woodwork. The sound instantly ceased.
Unfastening the slide, drew it back an
inch or more and sang out through the open,
ing:
Keep at it. my lads, and when yeihaye
the hole the size of pistoi.s barrel, I'll put
one there and giveiye Quick trip to Dayy
Jones. Mayhap ye have heard 81 Donald
Thorndyke Well, am he. Now mind
yourselves!"
And now settled myself for night of it,
putting aside all matters save the ships
safety. l was lucky to have doctor in the
cabin to care for my sick; as for myself ]
needed none. So long as was holding east,
cared little for the blow if nothing carried
away. had hopes that the suddenness Of
the storm bespoke its shortness, but never
did dream it was affecting my destiny.
Beyond the elements had now little to
fear, and, as / knew my own boat as q
mother knows her child, felt there was but
small danger of her inability to weather the |
gale.
But the tempest was not of usual temper.
Its approach, its violence andduration were |
beyond common rules, and had it held aloof
but day longer it would have doubtless al.
tered the history of the colonies, and per-
haps have put o period to my own career.
One has but to turn to history for the truth |
of this. The great storm which suddenly |
sprang on te coast the night Of August IL, |
l778, and which lasted for more thanthree
days, was of such nature that it has been |
set apart by historians as worthy of espe.
cial mention, both from its results and its
more than fendish force.
As have said, the absence of the bulk of
Lord Howe's feet had enabled the Phan-
tom to drift through the fog and from the
bay in comparative safety, and this absence
was due to an attack planned against the
French who were besieging Newport by
water, as the patriots under Sullivan were
doing by land. Tho British General Pieot