The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-03
IA LITTLE STORY OF THE SEA
INTER ESTING TOLD BYTKE STAR
 OF HOPE
Published in Sing Sing Prison and Dee voted to the Interests of the Inmates of New YOrk's Four Stnte Prisons.

| ofN,w YOrk's Four Stntc Prisons. | I made a voyage to the Windward Is-
 lands as second mate of large Halifax
 barque some fifteen years ago. One of the men in my watch Canadian
 named Will Brush, was very intelll- gent fellow. full of jolllty. We became great friends When we were paid off at Halifax after the voyage, he invited me to his parents home, situated in small town on the seaboard. l consent ed to accompany him. I had an enjoy able time for about month, when, thinking that had loafed ashore long enough informed them of my deter imitation to look for a ship. Will was determined to stick to me; so we strolled down to the shipping of the lit- tie seaport town and took a LOOK around, Lying at one of the WharVes was small brigantine nearly ready for a voyage to Martinique After sizing her up we applied for berths at the lit tie fishy- smelling office of the owners.
 Well, after q lot of fuss and feathers, examining of papers, etc., we were finally shipped, Will an an able seaman and as mate There were six men in the forecastle: with captain, mate and steward aft, making nine hands all told
 We put to sea one night at the turn of the food-jide, and I quickly noticed that she was very cranky. That is, she keeled over too much for her canvas
 Her upper gear was very light even for ship of her size The captain was
 
 tery eye and half-scared look about him.
 We had nor'wester, and as our course was about south southwest, we fairly hoofed it, with the wind off the starboard quarter. Everything went smoothly for few days, the old man hardly showing his nose on deck. The only conversations I ever had with him were at the cabin table. His theme then was invariably the same. Don't strain the upper gear, MT. B. he'd say. Be careful with her, sir. Han dle her well, sir, handle her well. She's a little fighty at times, sir but she's all right if you go easy with her" His perpetual harping on the subject used to make me tired, and I'd try to turn the conversatio It was no use; he would shut up like clam the moment I began to speak of other things.
 Will Brush rushed into my cabin during the middle watch on the fourth night out and awakened me with a slap on the stern-sheets.
 Come out on deck, sir!' he shouted. She's running lively an the winds pretty strong. The old man lost his feet to loo-ard an cracked his head agin a belaying pin an he's lying on the cabin floor where carried him."
 All right" I answered, springing out of the bunk, "call the watch'' Jumping into my rubber boots I was put on deck in jiffy
 The wind was still nor'west, but had to a gale. The foreroyal and main- gafftopsail had been slowed, but she was rushing before it under every other stitch. The wake behind was one broad, glistening line of phosphores ,ence. The spray flashed up beyond ner bowsprit like living sparke of lame, the divided seas swirling out )roadwise till they seemed to overlap aach other. took it all in at a glance.
 Don't let her broach-to." roared to | he man at the wheel. Keep her well 1 ,ff!'
 "Ay, ay, sir!'' he answered.
 Running to the foot of the manmast l
 yelled, "Tgallant- -halyards! Down nner and outer jibs! Maintopmast- taysail."
 Down came the tgallant-yard; the 1 ail was clewed up and couple of | nen were aloft and had it slowed in no ime, The other sails were also quick y handled The sky was becoming ,lacker and blacker to wind ard and he wind was increasing in violence ev- ny minute. Onward she rushed, the nan at the wheel with a steady hand nd a clear eye guiding her skilfully.
 Aft here to the mainsail!" shouted. Hand by the peak -downhaul; Look ut she don't gybe!"-this to the man t the wheel.
 "Ay, ay, sir!"
 At the word the falyards were let go, he sail same down, and after some was slowed. Away she flew, tith nothing on her now but the fore ail fore lower and upper topsails
 The wind still increased.
 I slipped down into the cabin to see ow the old man was doing. He was tting on the after locker trying to top the flow of blood from the cut over is left temple. He rudely declined all ffers of assistance, saying he'd be on eek in a few minutes, So I returned ) the deck.
 The seas were beginning to come stern now, and it was becoming dan erous to keep her running. "Clew up le foresail!" I roared.
 The clewlnes buntline were manned nd the sail quickly run up. All hands ent aoft to make it fast. She was ying along now at a terrible rate of oeed, the helmsnan having his hands { Ill to keep her away. Just as the men escended from aoft, the old man lade his appearance on deck with a luffier tied around his head I imme- ately told him that we'd better heave er to. well have one of those seas board g us yet if we keep running much nger!" I shouted. "Oh, we can't heave her to now" he ' iuealed, in his piping voice. : shed beam, sir, she'd beam, sir. be- { ire we got her round!" It wasn't my place to argue with him, ( 1t told him that if we didn't get her I
 before the seas got much higher we ( lould be boarded and preached We car get her to now." I yelled "Tf we wait ,0ur1 lon~or it'll bo to0 ! r