Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-08
men struggling and straining at the

Ing nail the nOrlZ0n, WOulQ snut my
eyes and wait for it to engulf us. Then
I would feel the noble little vessel meet
it, rise on to its crest and next moment
be sinking again, down, down, down
into the trough. Then once more I
would draw breath and open my eyes
just in time to see another rise and meet
her forrard, to break with a roar upon
the forecastle head, carrying away q
dozen feet Of bulwark and one Of the
boats as if both were built Of 30 much
paper.
Toward the middle of the afternoon
the strength of the gale began some
what to abate, the sea lost its greater
fury, and the barometer in measure
recovered its stability. 1t seemed in
credible that the Lone Star could have
come through it so safely, for, with
the exception Of one man washed over
board, another who had three Of his ribs
smashed in by marauding sea, por-
tion of the port bulwark and boat car
ried away as above described, and an
other crashed to atoms on the davits, we
had experienced no casualties worth
mentioning.
BY the time darkness fell the sea was
almost it's old calm, placid self again,
so quickly do these terrible typhoons
spring up and die away. AS soon as we
were certain all danger was past the
yacht was returned to her course, and
we once more proceeded on our way.
How wonderful and inscrutable is the
mighty deepl Next day the weather was
as peaceful as ever had seen it-bright
sunshine, gentle breezes and a sea as
smooth as polished silver. After break
fast the awning, which on account Of
the storm had been unshipped the day
before, was rigged again, and, drawing
deck chair aft, settled myself down
to read beneath its shade. A few min
utes later Allie and her companion join
ed me. brought them seats, and then
for the first time I saw the Beautiful
White Devil-for must sometimes call
her by her picturesque Chinese oogno-
men-engaged in needlework. Why l
should have found anything extraor-
dinary in such circumstance I cannot
say. Possibly it may have been because
had never imagined that there could
be sufficient leisure in her life for suca
q homely occupation. At any rate, l
know that to watch her bent head, with
it's glorious wealth Of hair; to see those
beautiful white fingers, unadorned by
jewelry'o of any sort, twisting and twin
ing among her silks, and to make out
one little foot peeping beneath her snow
white dress sent thrill through me
that made me tingle from top to toe.
Suddenly one of the hands engaged
upon some work in the fore rigging ut
tered cry in the native. Allie and her
companion sprang to their feet, and
though did not understand what had
happened l followed their example. We
ran to the starboard bulwark, but moth
ing was to be seen there. Not being
able to make it out, asked what had
occasioned the alarm.
Zone of the hands reports a boat
away to starboard." said Allie.
She turned to one of the younger off,
GERS, who was standing near, and order.
ed him aloft to take the boats bearing.
AS soon as this was discovered the yacht
was put over on tack that would bring
us close up with it, and after that there
was nothing for it but to wait patiently
for the result
For some time we could not see any
thing; then small black speck made its
appearance about two points off our star
board bow and gradually grew palmer.
keep her as she goes, " said Allie to
the man at the wheel, while we strain
ed our eyes toward the tiny dot.
Little by little it became more dis
tinct until we were sufficiently near to
make out with glass that it was a
man-of-war's gig pulled by two men
and containing three Others Ten min
utes later the yacht was hove to, and
Patterson clambered on to the rail of
the bulwarks.
"Are you strong enough to bring her
alongside, do you think, " he beloved,
cor shall we send boat to tow your
The man steering, who was evidently
an officer, funneled his mouth with his
hands and shouted back that they
thought they could manage it, Then,
as if to prove his words, the men who
had been rowing, but had now stopped,
kla; 10
by bit the tiny craft crept over the oily
surface toward US until she was close
enough for US to see with our naked
eyes all that she contained.
AS she came alongside our gangway
was lowered, and within an hour from
the time of our first sighting her the
boats crew stood upon our deck. In
spite of their man-of- war dress more
miserable, woebegone appearance could
not have been imagined than the party
presented. 1t consisted of one lieuten-
ant, midshipman and three able sea-
men, and out Of curiosity glanced at
the cap OF the man standing nearest me.
It bore the name H. M. s. Asiatic. Then
I looked round for Allie, only to discover
that she had mysteriously disappeared.
1t was left for Patterson to welcome the
poor fellows to the yacht, and this he
accordingly did with hearty kind
ness that should hardly have expected
from him.
"Before you tell me anything about
Yourselves" he said, "let me arrange
for the comfort of your men," Then,
calling a hand to him, he continued,
pointing to the three Jacks who stood
sheepishly by: "Take these men forrard
and tell the cook to give them all they
want. You can supply them with ham,