The Yale expositor., 1899-05-12
PHANTOM SHIP
The Flying DUtchman.
~>~-W


Krantz, who had been awakened by
the same cause, running up undressed.
Another shock succeeded, and the ship
careened to port. Philip then knew
that the ship was on shore.
The thickness of the night prevented
them from ascertainlng where they
were, but the lead was thrown over
the side and they found that they were
lying on shore on a sand bank, with
not more than fourteen feet of water
on the deepest side, and that they were
broadside on with a strong current
pressing them further up on the bank;
indeed, the current ran like millrace,
and each minute they were swept into
shallow water.
On examination they found that the
ship had dragged her anchor, which,
with the cable, was still taut from the
starboard bow, but this did not appear
to prevent the vessel from being swept
further up on the bank. 1t was sup
posed that the anchor had parted at
the shank, and another anchor was
let go.
Nothing more could be done till day
break, and impatiently did they wait
till the next morning. AS the sun rose
the mist cleared away, and they dis
covered that they were on shore on
sand-bank, a small portion of which
was above water, and round which the
current ran with great impetuosity.
About three miles from them was a
cluster of small islands with cocoa
trees growing on them. but with no
appearance of inhabitants.
II fear we have little chance" OBJ
served Krantz to Philip. "If we tighten
the vessel the anchor may not hold
and we shall be swept further on, and
1t is impossible to lay out an anchor
against the force of this current"
'At all events we must try; but l
grant that our situation Is anything
but satisfactory. Send all the hands
aft"
The men came aft, gloomy and dis
pirited.
MY lads" said Phlli, "why are you
disheartened?"
I'VE are doomed, sir; we knew it
would be so"
81 thought it probable that the ship
would be LOST told you so-but the
loss of the ship does not involve that
of the ships company-nay, it does not
follow that the ship is to be lost, al
though she may be in great difficulty,
as she is at present. What fear is
there for us, my men? The water is
smooth-we have plenty of time before
us; we can make raft and take to
our boats; it never blows among these
islands, and we have land close under
our lee. Let us first try what we can
do with the ship; If we fail, we must
then take care of ourselves"
The men caught at the idea and went
to work willingly; the water casks
were started, the pumps set going, and
everything that could be spared was
thrown over to tighten the ship: but
the anchor still dragged, from the
strength of the current and bad hold
ing ground and Philip and Krantz per-
ceived that they were swept further on
the bank.
Night came on before they quilted
their toll, and then fresh breeze
sprang up and created a swell, which
occasioned the vessel to beat on the
hard sand thus did they continue
until the next morning. At daylight
the men resumed their labors, and the
pumps were again manned to clear the
vessel of the water which had been
started. but after a time they pumped
up sand. This told them that rlank
had started, and that their labors were
useless; the men left their work. but
Philip again encouraged them. and
pointed out that they could easily save
themselves, and all that they had to do
was to construct raft which would
hold provisions for them, and receive
that portion of the crew who could not
be taken into the boats.
After some repose the men again set
to work; the topsails were struck. the
yards lowered down and the raft was
commenced under the lee Of the yes
sci, where the strong current was
checked. Philip, recollecting his former
disaster, took great pains In the con-
struction of this raft, and aware that
as the water and provisions were ex-
pended, there would be no occasion to
tow so heavy mass, he constructed 1t
in two parts, which might easily be
severed, and thus the boats would have
less to tow, as soon as circumstances
would enable them to part with one of
them.