The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-02-27

a.. s'o tne Volt TO the last man off
inns threat, so unusual in one so
good-natured, together with the hal
rowing OF the wind, the flaming Of the
VISITED canvas, the rattle of the blocks
anu cordage, and the laboring of the
Drls' which was so deeply laden that
eVery timber groaned, all gave such
inolcstlons of a rough night that I
sprang from my berth and proceeded
10 dress again in haste.
TO my establishment at that mo-
ment heard the hoarse rattle Of the
chsln cable, as it rushed with a roar
Ing sound through the iron mouth of
the hawse hole; then l was sensible of
violent shock, which made the brig
stasser, and tumbled me headlong
against the paneled bulkhead which
separated the cabin from the after
hold.
hislop' who had been doing on the
caoin-locker in his storm jacket, start
cd up with alarm in his face.
Have we come to anchor?" I asked.
Anchor in more than three hundred
fathoms Of water!' he exclaimed. as
he rushed on deck, whittier followed.
and found that very strange incident
had occurred.
In the murky obscurity Of the stormy
night large Dutch lugger. in ballast
apparently, and running right before
the wind, with steering canvas set.
came suddenly athwart us, and hooked
the anchor from the cathead on our
larboard bow-by some unwonted neg
iect it was not yet on board nor had
the cable been unbent-with her star
board fore-rigging, and thus bore away
with it, until the chain came to bear.
when there was tremendous shock.
Several feet Of our bulwark were torn
away, and two seamen, Tsttooed Tom,
and an old man-o'-war's man named
Roberts. were nearly swept into the
sea, where. in such a night, and amid
the confusion of such an incident, they
would inevitably have persisted I'M
aided.
Then we heard a shout, mingled with
q VI ach dBOh AlN bNAl0W A46 " lnQg IS
the Dutchman's foremost snapped by
the board, and then, fortunately, our
anchor tumbled from his side into the
sea, where 1t swung at the whole
length Of the chain cable.
We manned both windlass and cap
etan-got the anchor, which was drift
ing, reused to the cathead, hoisted it
on board unbent the cable, and slowed
it in the tier; but long ere all this was
done we had lost sight of our lubberly
friend, who, when last seen, was toss
ing about like a log in the darkness
and drifting far astern Of us. But for
come defect in the pawls and notches
Of the windlass collar, 1 am doubtful
if the chain would have run out so free
ly; but as to this I cannot say.
We had hard squalls and a sea that
ran high until daybreak; there was
lightning. too; red and dusky; it seem
ed at times to fill the whole horizon
We could zee for an instant the blscl
SUBMITS Of the waves as they rose and
fell between US and the glare; and
when it passed away. all again would
be obscurity and gloom.
More canvas must be taken off tbs
brig, sir" suggested Hislop, looking
aloft and then over the side. where tho
foam-fecked sea whirlea past us.
well, IN with the trysail, feretop'
sail. and maintcpsail." ordered Weston
AS the light Of dawn stole over th'
angry sea, through clouds Of mingled
mist and rain, the gale abated, and
all but the watch went below.
Calm weather and heavy rains sue
ceeded the gale: but the Eugene stead
ilv kept her course, and two days after
when spanking along before fna top
gallant breeze, We picked up a bottle
which was described by the watch
coating and bobbing in the water ,
few fathoms distant from the brig, Sh'
was at once hove in the wind, and His
Ion went in the stern boat TO bring thu
bottle on board.
AS the most trivial incident becomes
of interest on board Of ship, where the
daily occurrences are so few, and th'
circle of society so limited. consider
|, able concern was excited by the ap
nearance of this bottle, which seenlet
n have been freshly corked; and on it,
being broken. we found scrap of pa
ner-torn apparently from notebook
-whereupon a hurried and agitateC
hand had penciled this brief notice
"The Mary, clipper ship, of Boston
Goth Nov, 1861, momentarily expected
10 20 down-pumps worn out, and thu
leaks gaining-Captain and first mate
with all the boats, washed away-GoC
help us!'
"The 2Oth of November? 1t was or
that night we encountered the heavy
gale" said Weston.
We had been on the skirt of the tenn
nest. as Hislop maintained, while the
Yankee ship had probably suffered al
tbe fury of it. From the main-cross-
trees Can't. Weston swept the sea with
his telescope, in vain, for any trace oil
her. so If that melancholy scrap OF pa
nor told truth. all was doubtless over
long since with the Mary and her crew
Tn the cabin that night conversa-
zion on the probabilities of her de-
struction or escape led to recurrence
20 the miraculous manner in which the
" - r,,,tcb scbooner had noated Sc