The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-02-09


prehend my position clearly, saw tina
the third mat, who was standing beside
me preparing a bandage for my head
was the only man in the fo'c'sle. I'M
medlately staggered to my feet and
staggering somewhat, made my way tc
the forecastle ladder and hurried up or
deck, the third mate following. Just as
L emerged from the fo'c'sle into the
| pure air and had received a revivina
blast from the breeze rushing under the
foot of the foresail heard the captain
roar from the starboard gangway:
Keep her as she goes! Stand by
your royal and t'gallantsail halyards!
Look out for your Hedge forrard there
Mr. Porter, and see your line clear!"
GAY, ay, sir!" replied the chief.
| I hurried to the third mate and asked:
"What has happened?"
"Why, the whole blasted thing has
been planned right under our very
noses" he cried. THAT Jack Wilder
was guarding Joe Blake during the first
watch and must have got the irons Off
| him. Bill Blake who was to relieve
Wilder, stood inside the bulkhead door
waiting for you to come, and when you
showed up he smashed you with a
handspike; the three of 'em then rushed
up on deck an over to the lee quarter
boat which Bill Blake must have made
ready to fall during the second dog
watch, and they were unlocked an
afloat afore you could take double
turn round Delaying pin. Some of
the men say they saw Bill Blake put
ting stuff in the boat during the second
dog watch, but they thought nothing of
it. for we often throw a coil of spar rope
or bundle of chatting gear in the boats
to get it out of the way. Porter heard
the falls rafting in the blocks and run
out on deck just as they made clear.
He yelled for the old man. who says
he'll pick 'em up if it takes a week.
We're running down the wind now, and
as they didn't have more'n a few min
utas start, and are sure to go dead to
loo'ard in this breeze, and 1t being a
clear night, we'll run 'em aboard sure.
They've got small Hedge on the To-
c'sle deck, with running line rove,
ready to throw in the boat when they
run her close aboard. You'd better let
me put thir rag round your head, for
your bleeding a.
I declined the offer of the rang and
sprang on to the topgallant fo'c'sle
deck, where the chief and a couple of
seamen were standing by the kedge and
eagerly scanning the water ahead. 1t
was a six-fuked Hedge with twelve feet
of small chain fastened to its rings. At
the inboard end of the chain, the blight
of which was hanging over the side,
was fastened a rope which ran through
a block hooked to a sing-bolt in the
deck forward of the forerlgging, the
idea being to throw the Hedge into the
bow Of the boat as she came close
aboard, keeping a steady strain on the
line with ''strop," so as to prevent the
boats crew from loosening the kedge
until it reached the end which was
fastened to an iron Delaying pin.
There was a spanking mainroyal
breeze and a lively sea running, while
every time she dove into a sea the wa
ter soused up through the hawse- pipes
and swirled around the knightheads
with a roar.
Suddenly a voice from the foretop
yelled: Boat about two points on the
starboard bow
Port a little!" roared the "old man.
to the steersman.
In less than a minute the boat was
plainly discernible. They had stepped
the boats mast, and were running
slowly before the wind, and were hav
ing considerable trouble with the leg
of-mutton" sail; for every time the boat
rose with the sea- the forms of cou
pie of men standing on the thwarts and
Juggling at the fluttering canvas, were
clearly outlined against the sky.
care you all ready forrard there?"
shouted the captain, who was standing
IN the starboard mizzen-chains.
"All ready, sir" replied the chief.
"Roya and t'gallantsail halyards!"
he cold man" roared, and in mo-
ment the said sails, with the fore and |
main courses, We're snugged to the
Yards and the ships speed perceptibly /
The boat was being rapidly over
hauled and was now pretty close /
aboard the shrieking of her occupants
or us not to run them down being |
dearly audible; while the captain, who
lad sprung up half dozen ratlines so
Is to gain a clear view, yelled:
"Stand bv!"
The moment was thrilling. We
ushed down toward her until she sank
the first and second sea ahead
# us, when, as the chief balanced him
elf for the throw, the "old man"
cared:
lizard a-starboardi"
Too late! for the board, being dead
head and to leeward, was blanketed
he moment she came within ships
angth of us, which caused her not only
o lose her speed-a circumstance which
he captain had failed to foresee and
make allowance for in his calculations
but to "hang' with the sea. Before
he ship could answer her helm we were
pom her.
With the upward sweep of the sea the
oat rushed under the dolphin-striker,
yhich crashed through her bottom and
uried her.
A moments ripping and tearing and
rinding of the head-rigging, roar
rom the water swirling over the
as we swung to the trough
f the sea, tangled mass of broken
tays, boat planks and gear under the
obstay, and they had escaped-es-
aped to the Court of Infallibility!- .
tar of Hope, Published in Sing Sing
rison.