The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-05-02
AN OLD-TIME SEAFARER.


New Orleans, and In eight or ten days
anchored on the Bahama Banks, near
Georges Island. 1t was on Sunday.
The weather was perfectly calm, and
so remained until about six o'clock in
the evening, when a light breeze sprung
up from the eastward The schooner
got under way. Before eight O'Clock
the breeze had increased to a gale and,
before twelve, to hurricane. A great
number of vessels were lost in 1T. For
three days the schooner lay to under
short canvas, until her position became
SO uncertain that it was impossible to
tell on which side of the Bahama Chan
mel she was lying. Suddenly she found
herself in white water. From the best
observation the captain could make, he
concluded he must be on the western
side of the channel. 1t was now about
eleven O'Clock at night. The captain
crowded on the canvas, steering north
ward and eastward-the wind being
southeast-when, owing to the heavy
sea, the fastening which secured the
bowsprit started. The bowsprit was
Immediately secured as well as it could
be done. heavy sea in the meantime
striking the stern boat and Staving it.
With great difficulty she was got Oh
deck.
At daylight, after carrying press of
canvas through the night, it was dis
covered that, instead of being on the
western side Of the channel, as had
been supposed the vessel had been on
the eastern side and that she was then
crossing the northwestern side of the
Great Bahama Banks.
The hurricane continued with tire
mendous and undated force. All hope
of reaching their port was abandoned.
The captain concluded to bear up for
Charleston i'll order TO repair. He pro-
ceeded down the coast along the edge
of the Little Bahama Rock Bank. At
four in the afternoon the schooner was
opposite Sail Rock, at which time it
was discovered that there was a severe
leak by which three or four feet of
water had been made in the hold, of
which those Oh board had, until then,
been ignorant.
The gale continued The schooner
was under close-reefed topsails, and
was manifestly sinking. From Sail
Rock. for a distance of four miles. the
sea was a perfect ledge of breakers
Hands were put at the pumps, aud
hands to repair the small yaWl-bOat,
fourteen feet long, which was the only
refuge left in case the vessel could not
be kept afioat. The plan of the captain
was to run down this ledge of forty
miles long and then head to windWard.
III order to anchor imShoal water on the
northern side of the Little Bahama
Tie distance was run, and. at eight III
the evening. an effort was made to haul
upon the wind for the purpose of get
ting 0n the bank. as we have stated:
but the schooner was completely water
logged, and would no longer obey her
helm. The captain. without moments
hesitation ordered the mastS to be cut
away in order to lignten her, and, if
possible, keep her atloat until morning
The night was dark and terrific The
masts fell over, and the schooner wore
to leeward of them: they broke the
force of the sea- and kept her in smooth
water.
AT this time all hands were nearly ex-
hausted The small boat was prepared
on the deck, and everything requisite
for desperate effort to save their lives
was put into her; among other articles
all the oil that was on board: for, as we
have shown on a previous page, the
captain had before experienced its Won
derful efficacy i'll preventing sea from
breaking and boarding.
All the preparations having been con-
cluded, the captain went below for the
purpose of dressing himself for the last
time. The water in the cabin was about
three feet deep. Being exhausted with
fatigue, he called upon the mate to
assist him i'll dressing.
The mate was a young Englishman
about twenty years of age, possessing
some ability, and an exceedingly kind
and atfectionate disposition. He look
ed up in the captains face anxiously,
and asked, ''Do you think there is any
hope. SIR The captain answered,
''There is not: no boat can live in such
a sea as this. When the schooner sinks,
we must. if we remain, sink with her;
and if we take to the boat, she must
founder in this sea. We have done all
that can be done: our labOrS are over
For myself | can meet death with per
sorrow: YOU are Young, but as you
have done your duty up to this point
with credit to Yourself, so end your
life that no reproach may rest upon
you.
A sudden CLEAN lighted up the young
mans countenance. The bitterness Of
death was past. He became instantly
cheerful, and with great alacrity, as
sisted the captain to dress.
We sought an explanation of course
of conduct marked by a fancy which
seemed to US so extraordinary, and we
held with Mr.. Pilsbury a conversation,
of which we preserved the following
minutes:
How much stranger than fiction"
we said, truth is, What could have
put such an idea into your head? Did
you emulate the death-scene of Cleo
patra?"
ooh, no." was the reply, 81 never
thought of her.
Did you know how tradition said she
died?"
L did: but it never occurred to me to
take pattern by her"
Account, them he said, ''for your
fancy
1T was, replied Mr.. Pilsbury, an in
stinct of human nature. God Almighty
has implanted it. | have seen many
sorrows, and believed | might as well go
into the Valley of the Shadow of Death
then as at any time. But | fervently
believe it to be a great principle, gov
erning all organized matter, that, in
passing through any grand solemnity-
of life OF of death-of marriage or of
victory or anything of a momentous
characteristic first and most natural
desire of the heart is that the person