The National tribune., 1902-07-17

aUu lDTlu 40 btlNtth A'sih
cisco and Hong Kong, trusting to inter-
cept few of the rich merchantmen trad
ing TO those important ports.
The first of May found us fairly in the
track of these traders. and the lookouts
mounted to their respective perches with
renewed alacrity, and swept the sea with
watchful eyes, but all to no purpose. 1t
seemed as though the merchantmen of
which we were in pursuit must have had
premonition of our coming: at all events.
they kept out of sight, and after several
days fruitless cruising, passing and re-
passing leagues of that great highway for
ships. we concluded to stand to the north
ward once more We had not had
glimpse of sail since leaving Ascension.
As might have been expected. this state
of inactivity resulted in Il dull and dis
satisfied condition of things on board the
Shenandoah, but on Il cruiser one con
stantly alternates between hfe OF STIR
ring excitement and absolute stupidity.
When in pursuit of n prize, all is life
and animation. The rigging is filled with
eager. excited faces, spy-siasses pass from
hand TO hand. orders are hurriediy given
and Instantly oheyed. and until the cap
ture is effected. and the ship dis7osed OF,
there is little rest for anyone. Then fol
lows. perhaps, weeks of idleHess, with
nothing to break the tedious monotony.
The watches turn, out and in, yawning. the
lookouts mount aloft, and sleepily throw
glaIlto ever the bfOau cNiDlDSe cI
at seven bells, the Master comes mp with
his sextant. to take the sum-" and work
out the position of the ship, with his
logarithms-in the forecaStle, tough yarns
are spun by solemn-yisaged old sea-dOgs,
and at night perhaps violin or banjo
furnishes entertainment for little knot;
but with every eXBedient that can be re-
sorted. to, and the working of the ship,
light labor with SO many hands to assist
in it. the time drags wearily. and if one
has not the resouee of some mental occu-
patton. it falls, in the course Of time, Just
short of uncomfortable.
On the morning of the 10th the sun
arose from q sky ms clear and beautiful
as is ever seen in these ATTITUDES, where
the Storm Spirits comparatively seldom
assemble in their might. to demonstrate
to man the power of Infinity and his own
weakness.
The sea was slightly ruffled by light
breeze from the northward and westward,
and we were gliding along on a howline at
the rate of FIVE or six knots an hour, but
ere night closed in some changes began TO
be apparent in, the face of the heavens.
and the barometer gave unmisiakab!e
warning tilatsza tempest of no ordinary
fury was rapidly approaching.
A BATTLE WITH THE ELEMENTS.
Before many hours it came bowling
down upon us like a vengeful demon. Our
good ship staggered before the first fierce
gust of the hurricane, and careened over
until the ends of her lower yards were
drenched by the spray of the rising sea,
but she righted almost Immediately, shook
the water from her strong wings, nodded
her head as if in defiance of the storm,
and was off like an arrow from we'll
drawn bow.
The next morning the gale was at its
hight, and we We're scudding before il at
the rate of II or - knots an hour, under
close-reefed foretop-sail and reefed fore
sail. Preventer braces were got aloft,
matches battened down, and SO far as pos
sible everything was done to insure our
safety.
Our old Boatswain, a veteran of the
British navy. who for 20 years had done
battle with the elements in every part of
the world eyertcd himself to his utmost.
and on an occasion like this there was no
better mhn; he was host of himself.
Still the storm continued with unabated
violence, and ere long our maintop-sail,
with report like shotted gun, broke
from the leech-ropes. and few away before
the breath of the tornado like boys kite.
= The Officer of the Deck Immediately Or
dered the maintOp-men aloft to secure such
remnants of the sail as were still attached
to the yards. beating the air like gigantic
whips, as if TO drive away any who might
attempt to repair the disaster; but new
sail had to be bent, and that right speed
lily. desperate as the duty seemed. For
little time the scene was absolutely ter
rife. Slowly and painfully the sailors
toiled up the shrouds, sometimes blown
against them and held there with force
that rendered further progress for the
time impossible. Coolly but cautiously
they made their way out upon the yard
that anon pointed at an abrupt angle to
the heavens, and the next instant leyelled
its great finger at the depths below, and
1.l -l-,
courage TO remove what remained of the
fattered sail.
In an inconceivably brief period the
new saI was in its place, secured and
sheeted home. and was then close-reefed
by means Of the revolving yard.
Scarcely was this accomplished when a
heavy sea came on board, filling the deck
to the waist, and for the second time since
setting sail from Madeira. the ports had
to be knocked out, in order to free our.
selves from the tremendous weight of
waters.
Everyone on board was literally
drenched, and we had just rid the decks
of that sea when another came rolling
over US. carrying away with it one man,
who. strange to relate, was the next mo-
ment dashed on board again by another
sea. terribly frightened but otherwise un-
injured.
The ship now began to roll so heavily
that the royal yards were sent down on
deck and secured in the fore, main, and
mizzen rigging. On, on we rushed, now
rising to the summit of mountain wave
then darting with almost the velocity of
light down the dark, shining declvity
while behind us the sea reared its crested
head, threatening to engulf US at once
and forever
The gale continued for 12 hours, carry.
ing us more than 100 miles out of onr
course. Thousands of right whale birds
as they are known among whalers, from
being always found in the vicinity OF the
marine monster bearing that cognomen
were lowering over the ship, as though
specializing upon the position OF affairs
and wondering whether We would be able
to weather the tempest.
know not why it is, but in proportion
as danger menaces on sbipboard, sailors
habitually grow profane, and. during Tho
continuance of that gale, which, all thing:
considered, / think was about the mos
severe of any L ever encountered, al
amount of swearing was done that neve
heard equalled in the same length OF time
Toward night the wind abated and wa,
succeeded by rain which literally poured
down in streams, wetting to the skin in
moment everyone who was exposed to it
but it did us the good service of beatin;
down the tremendous sea that was run
ming. and the next day we were again
shaping our course for the Amphitr't
Straits, which form the entrance to tn
Ochotsk Sea. and were so named in homo
of the English man-of-war by whom the.