West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-10
NNGWOOD PRESTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA OCTOBER


BOARD was prepared for emergen-
eies. Axes were lashcd within easy
reach OF the halyards. where they
might be seized upon and used at a
moments notice should one OF those
sudden tcmpeSts descend upon them
unawares. Even the topsail halyards
were spliced and led 20 the deck. and
the stayforeSail aud the two ibis were
furled and housed; also. despite the in.
tense heat. they battencd the matches
FOR rough weather and SO had every
thing In readiness for hurricane.
I'VE could take her into LIVERPOOL.
where she belongs. Grad" said the con
hdcnt Norwegian one evening when
they were smoking their pipes on the
after deck. There was not a breath OF
air stirring and had not been for weeks
and already they were more than three
weeks out from Batavia.
We cannot take her three fathoms
without wind" replied Craddock tes-
tily.
"But that viii come after awhile"
laughed Thorgenscn.
AYE. that IL will-too much OF II
when IL does come. | fear. Ralphl The
devil has been In this voyage from the
start. During all the 90 years that we
have shipped together we have never
had such an experience as this one. IL
all comes OF our giving up steam and
taking TO wind jamming again, because
we thought that we could make n for
tune with the Schuylkill and quit the
Sea. The sea will never permit us TO
quit her, Ralph; mind that. We are
under life contract TO her. The burn
Ing Of the bark proved that"
Thorgensen laughed aloud.
TN the doldrums. ell. Grad? Cheer
up, mate; were together, anyhow. We
have plenty to eat and drink. place
TO sleep, the weather is warm, and-I
say. Craddock, when did you take an
observation
II don't remember. A week or more
ago. II Is on the log"
we have drifted some since then"
Naturally. I'll take another tomor-
row."
Well it's your watch on deck. and
I'll turn in"
The Norwegian nodded and. whlstllng
gayly for nothing seemed capable OF
At midnight Craddocl called him and
took his trick i'm the cabin.
The Norwegian nodded at his post.
He threw himself upon coil OF rope
near the wheel. yAwned slceplly and
with one last giaucp NJ the starlH sky
closed his eyes in s.umber lie had
done II night after night What use
was there 10 Keeping watch over that
deserted sea where never n sail nor n
pun OF wind was evident?
Two hours later away OF toward the
southeast. seemingly out OF the sen.
appeared cloud II rose and spread
and grew. becoming dcnser ana blacker
as u SCARED toward the zenith. driving
onward In The direction of the becalm-
ed schooner with .frlghtful rapidity.
muttcr.Dg om.nously like n huge beast
charging upon suddenly discovered
prey
With rush and roar {; descended.
The schooner heeled over on her beam
ends The Norwegian was flung like n
pun ball into the lee scuppers. stunned.
bleeding. scnselcss. There came a snnp-
ping and then crashing like the boom
Ing OF heavy guns. and the three masts.
one after another. went 10y the boards.
Huge seas which had leaped up out OF
the ocean at the call OF the tempest
came tumb!ing and pounding and beat
luz over the III fatcd craft. tearing
away the wrcckage by fortunate cir
cuJlstance and thus permitting the hull
to half right Itself.
Then out through the confused mass
n mi
shrouds loaped CraddOck lie seized
mn ax and felt his way throurl the in
tense darkness from plncr tl place.