The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-12-30
LEGEND OF SANDY HOOK.
Being an DER True Tale of the Great
Race between the Yachts Co
Iumbia and Shamrock.

Standing in the PROV Of the Sham
rock Sir Thomas looked out over thu
sea. The sails had long since crurnbled
away, the ropes were dust. He had
0rizzled hair, deep furrows Of sorrow
lined his face, his spare, attenuated
form told of the awful priyation which
he had endured for years. The SHOWS
Of the winter had just departed. Daily
the skipper OF the Columbia shouted
across the bay:
''Sir Thomas!"
The hoarse, thin voice sounded
strange through the megaphone.
Breeze freshening, Sir Thomas!"
But after the fifth year the Irishman
had no heart left to answer.
A sort Of superstition had arisen.
fore the wind the salt sea spray leapt
over their bulwarlks; but the breeze
never reached the sails Of the fated
boats.
"Three bells!" Whistling time; the
emaciated men stood up. Sir Thomas
gave the signal; the lips of the crew
moved, they strained every nerve, but
no sound emanated.
The mate stepped out.
"It is no good,' he'said, sulkily; "a go
of grog.v
"Haye some tea," said the owner,
sternly.
"Neverl" shouted the men, in unison.
"Jam?" suggested the owner.
With marlinspike, mainbrace and
loaded jibbooms they advanced upon
him. They climbed over the hatch
ways. Already the foremost man was
rapidly scaling the spinnaker, but Sir
Thomas never fiinched. Rolling up one
of the wrappers which he always car
ried with him, ne threw it at the as
sassin. The seveu-pound weight caught
the wretched man full in the forehead.
He fell; the planBs of the deck were
stained with his blood. The Thing
rolled over the side into the water. The
whirling eddies raced round it as it
sank. A slight shock.
1T has reached the bed of the ocean,"
murmurecf Sir Thomas, when he re-
gained his balance The rebellion !
quelled, ,he turned his attention to the
Columbia. "Ahoy, ahoy, there!" he |
shouted, using all the little strength |
which remained to him.
Base villainsl They are showing
their boat"
Too truel Under cover of the slight
fog the crew of the Columbia had
slipped over the leeward bow. Swim
ming noiselessly to the stern, they
formed into phalanx.
"Heave!" shouted the captain. Their
legs shot out simultaneously.
"She moves!" shouted Sir Thomas;
"she moves!" Indeed, she had advanced
three inches BY night full four feet
had been covered.
Winter gave place to spring; spring
into summer.
"We have only three men left" said
the first mate, crawling to the feet of
the owner.
81 will navigate the boat myself" re-
Piled the brave man, hitching his trou-
sers.
''To think that cannot raise the wind
with Lipton's!"
But was that breath of air, ripple
a catspaw, a swell? Far away in the
west the whistling of the wind came
over the sea. At lastl At lastl With
marvellous activity the men sprang to
their posts, the great Atlantic rollers
approached irresistible, awful in their
strength. The driving rain beat upon
the fated bar1s, flash of lightning
silhouetted their spars against the wa
ter, the crash Of thunder which fol-
lowed shook their vitals.
"Hoist the pinnacle, unfurl the bow
spanker!" But the ancient timbers
could not bear the strain. The great
waves washed them into sections.
Slowly they settled down. One pitch,
one toss, and all was over.
The full, white moon, the cold, metal
lie stars, gazed upon the sea. A black
expanse of water, shrieking seabird
rode upon the waves.
Where the Shamrock had lain for half
4 century nothing was visible but one
white wrapper, which cleaned in the
,old light.-St. James Gazette.
An Old-T1mer.
A crowd Of young men were seated IN +
M. of The Steamboat Offices in the CITY