The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-12-12
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:: :: TIE LSALL|E JOHNSON ::
~ kEREE u N Adventurous Voyage to the =
IAA IL Na EHOE SaragQsSa Sea <
=. on,raut u. nv BY FREDERIC VAN
- Fred Va" r. Dw RENSSELAER, DEY -
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SICpACA 0lCSOAJs hJ AAS kAO P~hAAAhS va
the New York Yacht club, was bound
ing through the muddy waters of the
gulf stream on her hazardous voyage.
Everything that could be done to SIM
plify or tighten the task that her own
er and Captain Darlington had under
taken was accomplished. The hydro
graphic office had provided them with
every information it possessed, and
Darlington. in addition to studying
charts and data and examining thor
oughly the documents and tracings in
the possession of Gregory, had imbibed
all the enthusiasm Of his owner con-
cerning the voyage and it's results.
Also, with the thoroughness of an ex-
perienced naval officer, he had exam
ined and experimental with the hy-
draulic apparatus with which the
yacht was provided, and he had con-
yinced himself that Gregory had not
overestimated the possibilities of his
invention. He was satisfied that with
judgment he might venture at least a
little way into the maze Of weeds and
drifting things so dreaded by sailors Of
all classes since the ocean became a
known and Travelled highway.
During the several years since the
Sallie johnson became a derelict her
wanderings had been confined to the
boundaries described by Gregory, and
from the reports from time to time
sent in by the captains who had sighted
her the photographic Office had made
tracings of her voyaging. Copies of
these tracings Darlington possessed,
and during the first month of the
search they followed them in a zigzag
course, hoping that the winds and cur
rents that had Influenced her before
still directed her.
A month was consumed in this man.
ner when the yacht put in at the is
land of Martinique for recoaling, and
then the search was resumed.
Practically the same methods were
pursued, the same zigzag courses were
laid and the same waters searched
with watchful eyes and unceasing Wig
ilance
But without reward. No derelict of
any description was sighted. The ves-
sells that they spoke from time to time
had sighted none and knew of none
and sincerely hoped they never might,
so that at last, after nearly four months
voyaging and three times recoaling,
they found themselves one midday in
latitude 27 degrees north and longitude
40 degrees west, with silent engines,
floating upon the placid, glasslike sur
face of the sea which washes against
the wilderness of weeds so aptly named
Saragossa.
All hope of discovering the derelict
outside that labyrinth Of weeds had
been abandoned, and now they found
themselves confronted by a difficulty
unforeseen. The sailors on board the
yacht positively refused to assist in
taking her into that unknown and
mysterious place and were on the
point of mutiny. Commands, entreat-
les and promises of reward were alike
unavailing. The men refused to go,
and there seemed no help for it but to
abandon the enterprise at the mo-
ment when it seemed nearest to sue
cess and when already thousands Of
dollars had been expended.
Calculating upon the basis of the re-
port made by Captain Graham (the
last concerning the Sallie Johnson) and
estimating the direction and velocity
of the wind blowing at that time, to-
gether with the possible influence ex-
erted upon the floating derelict by the
northeast branch of the gulf stream
| and the suction of the north African
current, the position in which the
yacht now floated was doubtless the
point at which the Sallie johnson had
forced an entrance into the sea of
weeds. If she had glided along the
northern and northeastern margin un-
til she felt the north African current,
1t was probable that she would have
been carried by that through the GUM
ca current and thence into one Of the
two great currents to the south. the
main equatorial or one of the branches
of the southern connecting stream. In
that case years of research might not
accomplish her discovery.
These exigencies of the case had been
thoroughly discussed between the two
ACA, AnC Captain duu NAc CuplldIISt.
They had decided with their hydraulic
apparatus to force their way into the
Saragossa sea at the point where they
believed the derelict bark must have
entered it, if at all, and, IL they could
not find her after doing the best that
could be done to do so, to abandon the
search forever. Now they were held
back by the mutiny of the crew.
Darlington had the men piped aft
and sternly addressed them for the last
time.
"Men," he said, and his voice was
like the ships bell. ringing clear and
true, "there are reasons why do not
blame you for objecting to enter upon
this unknown sea. That you have su-
perstitions concerning it know. /
possessed them myself until / was con-
vinced that this vessel possesses a
| power which can defy its dangers.
With scarcely an exception you have
been in the employ of Mr.. Gregory
since this vessel was launched. Has
she ever been Jonah? Has she ever
| made an unlucky voyage or fallen in