The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-09-13

bunkers, and 1t was put into bags and
stored upon the spar deck-thus putting
the ship lower In the water by several
feet than she had ever been before. We
had scarcely gotten well out of sight of
land, when the barometer indicated that
we were approaching rough weather, in
other words, we We're in for typhoon,
or possibly cyclone; this latter term
may be more appropriate. as the wind
moved around IN circles. Every atten-
ton was at once paid to getting things
ship-shape for the expected blow. Extra
back stays were rugged to strengthen the
masts. The heavy bow anchors more
securely lashed our boats more firmly
fastened TO the davits, and the storm
matches were put up for the first time
during our cruise; showing that the wise
heads on board thought things were to
be worse before they would be better"
Each day the wind seemed to increase
in strength; onward our old ship plough
ed the waves, creaking at every joint
Our old salts (and we had a good many
weather-beaten jack-tars on board
looked very grave. There seemed Ito be
constant communication between the
captains cabin and the officer-of-the-
deck. Every change of the wind and
movement of that wonderful weather re-
corder, the barometer, were at once re-
corded.
The night of October 6th was sleep
less one for all on board My good faith
er and l sat hand in hand nearly all
night in his stateroom, and as each heavy
sea came smashing against the ships
sides. with the roar of a cannon, my
heart seemed away up in my throat, and
in those hours of darkness everything.
whether good or bad, that had occurred
during my short but somewhat eventful
life, came wildly before me. At day.
light on the morning of the 7th, we
crawled or hauled ourselves on deck.
As we stood under what was called the
poop deck, just outside the captains cab
in, father, who was never given to exag-
geration, said: well, my boy, I fear 1t
is going to be worse and my frightened
looks must have shown him that I
thought it was not getting better, and /
devoutly prayed for del:verance. Crash,
Grassland away flew pieces of wood in
every direction, and we were nearly
blinded by the spray which stung our
faces so fercely did the wind drive 1t
against us. In a moment one of the
boatswain's mates, Horatio Nelson by
name Che always declared he was rela-
tive of England's great admiraD rushed
aft and reported to Lieutenant William
A. Webb, who was officer of the deck
tidI the 1OEWdTU SIaTDCarQ 0uiWaTkS
were all stove IN, that one of our large
forecastle guns Git carried a solid shot
weighing no pounds) had capsized, max
ing a hole in the deck large enough to
put your head in. This almost took, our
breath away. Could the old ship stand
1t much longer? ''The port whale boats
carried away, SIR shouts old Angus
Johnson, the captain of the forecastle
This unfortunate announcement was fol-
lowed by THE dingey's gone, SIR" and
away fioated the little boat which had
SO often carried me to and from the
shore, and which, could it speak. would
unfold many strange tales of venture
some youth. We were destined, however
10 have Ii a little worse" At about
seven bells III 80 a. m.) father and I had
just eaten little hard tack Ships BIS
cuiD, the only thing we had tasted that
morning, when we found ourselves almost