The Jersey City news., 1902-07-22
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EGaFSx5ENN ~ Wien uUF west gaze uuS
(Ssssg) been on the rampage for
three successive days, lashing the wa
| ter into fury of foam aud turmoil, as
that part of the North sea where it
washes against the western coast of
| the peninsula of Denmark. AT such
times the air is frost laden and be-
numbing, even in midsummer. The
! water itself is of an ominous, leaden
tint, like q battleship with her war
paint on. Even the foam which caps
the waves is not white and faky, as 1t
is in the southern zones, but seems to
| have been adulterated with some ref
use tint suggestive of the dirty suds
of wash day The wind is as erratic
as the waves which chop numerically.
1t howls and shrieks and roars with
deadly energy for time and then
means sullenly while it generates new
force for q more furious onslaught.
Deep sea sailors dread this region and
avoid it when they can, but the am
phibious Norwegian and the storm
born Dane love it as savage loves the
wilderness.
If you should study one Of the older
charts of this bad tempered sea, you
would discover that fifty-two miles off
the coast of Denmark, by the compass
north-northwest from Tyboron, there
looms rock with an unpronounceable
Danish name, which, being translated
into English, means the Devils Nose.
At the present time it has disappeared,
for upon it had stranded so many yes
sells and to it was due the loss of so
many lives and so much property that
the Danish and the German govern
ments united to destroy it. 1t is not
located on the charts in use today, and
the deepest draft war vessel may now
pass over the spot in safety.
Originally it loomed sixty-four feet
into the air and from the westward
had the appearance Of q huge nose, the
more so when the tide was low, for
then at the waters edge could be seen
indentations that had been ground out
by centuries Of pounding waves, and
these cavities were the nostrils of this
mammoth proboscis. To the eastward
it extended from the summit to the
water at an angle Of % degrees. This
part of the rock was concave in form,
and it broadened as it descended until
it finally disappeared beneath the wa
ter like the tines Of pitchfork. leav-
ing a sheltered bay about 80 feet in
length by 80 in breadth and as deep as
the sea itself. Many belated craft
returning from q fishing voyage and
overtaken by a furious nor'wester
found shelter here before the rock was
destroyed and in the little bay rode
out the gale in safety, and 1t was just
such an occasion as this which one
afternoon in August compelled two
! men. the sole occupants of a sloop
rugged craft, to seek the little haven
of refuge.
The gale had come upon them almost
without warning They had reefed
and double reefed their sails, but the
wind, as if it enjoyed their discom
fture, increased its strength in proper
tion as they reduced the resistance to
it, SO that at last they were obliged to
scud before it with only sail enough
left standing to give them steerage
way.
One of these men, almost giant in
stature, held the tiiler and watched
with unerring eyes the play of the saw
age water around them. He knew
these waters as the half grown child
knows the dooryard of its birthplace,
and he loved the sea. the leaping waves
and the rushing wind with passion
that was hereditary. He loved it, and
he delighted to defy its dangers. His
companion held the sheet rope, which,
Notwithstanding the fact that he had
taken two turns around the cleat, was,
with each fresh gust Of wind, almost
snatched from his grasp
well make the Devils Nose, Grad
DOCK" said the big man at the helm,
land we'll be there in ten minutes
time Pass the sheet to me. can hold
it with my left hand. Now take the
heaving line and go forward. Make
one end fast to the capstan, tie the
other end around your waist, and when
round to into the little bay jump and
swim for your life. She'll have head
way enough to carry her into the neck
Of the cove, but not a bit more. There
Is an iron ring set in the rock near the
point ON the north shore and another
at the head of the cove. II you can
make one of them and get a hitch
through it before the line pulls taut, we
will be as safe as church. Put your
clasp knife in your teeth, Grad, and if
you cannot make one of the rings in
time cut yourself adrift and swim
ashore and wait. I'll ride out the gale
alone, and then I'll come back for you.
Go forward now. Not q word! I'm
captain of this craft"
When the sloop was again upon the
summit Of wave, Craddock from his
position at the bow could see the huge
rock to which his companion had re-
fewed. He had heard him describe 1t
many times, but he had never seen it
before.
There is nothing so deadly uncertain
In tie life Of sailor as running
straight before gale Of wind. Bill
lows like mountains tower in front
and rear up out Of the oceans depth
astern, making destruction appear In
avitablc, and there are an angry swish