The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-09-19
Last Cruise Of ~
90 the Mary Ann. /
q - IS - Is -


a
CAPT. ELISHA H0PEWELL Of the
u brig Mary Ann Of Salem had been
repairing and %repainting and making
his craft ready for a voyage to Lon
don and return. The year was 1886,
and boy and man he had been sailing
for over 30 years.
Although he had owned and com
manded the Mary Ann for ten years,
she was by no means a new craft when
he got her. In making repairs he had
found many signs of weakness, and
es he finished his days work and
started for home his knees were stiR
end his back ached.
He reached his house to find his wife.
Nancy, and supper waiting for him,
and as he took his seat at the table
he looked at her critically and for the
first time noticed that there were gray
hairs among the brown on her head.
Elisha, have you lost your jack
knife or heard that your brother was
dead?" quietly asked Nancy after
awhile
mo" he answered, and followed the
word with a sigh.
@Mebbe ye are comm down with
measles. Your mother says We never
had EN- as a boy"
"Mebbe I am" he gloOmily replied.
Nancy waited three minutes to see
if he had an explanation, but as none
came she briskly said:
NOW look here, Elisha, / know ali
about it, and I've been sort o. spectin'
this thing would happen any time.
You've been overhaulin' the Mary Ann,
and you've found she's growing old,
You've found out the same thing of
yourself, and you've suddenly seen ii
IN me. It has struck you all in a
heap. and you feel gEum ove it."
Then, by Josh, you've hit it," eX-
claimed the captain, glad to have ar
opportunity to talk it over.
wall, there amt no call to cry ovel
IT., she continued. Ever since yoJ
got this charter, I've made up my minC
that It would be our last voyage"
"But how can it be, Nancy"
sIt won't be so hard. We are purt!
we'll on fur common folks, Elisha. Tha
IS, we've got enough money to star
YOU in ship chandlery, and We W on
own house and lot No fear but wha
wen come out all right. We must Civ
up the sea to younger folks"
II got to be known over Salem tina
Capt Hopewel was making his las
voyage, and when the Mary Ann cas-
Oft from the wharf there was a bi
crowd at hand to cheer her departur
and wish her a safe return. She heade
cut into the Atlantic on a summer
afternoon, and as the Massachuseti
shores faded behind them, Capt Elish
said to Nancy:
"By Josh, then, Nancy, but it seem
as II. a piece Of that beef we had FL
breakfast had got stuck in my throat.
'It's a sort o. weakness Of our fee
ms Elisha" she replied as she turne
away to wipe her eyes, 'but I CUES
we've decided for the best"
For thousand miles, headed towaT
the rising sun, the Mary Ann wa
driven as she had never been drive
before. There wa a piping breeze, an
/. scarcely varied a point, and a thir
% AAa run A40 NgEA ma - CA VIZ
there fell a fiat calm.
1t was noon when the wind died GU
and the man sent aloft reported Il
ocean clear Of sail. AS shutdown can
the sea was like glass, and it was Il
same state Of affairs at midnight whe
the watch was changed.
The mate went off and the capita
came on and he had been only on det
half an hour when Nancy appeare
She declared it TO be too hot below
sleep.
In q calm midocean at night the
are strange and uncanny sounds fro
the hold Of a ship as she 1azily heav
up on the ground swell Boxes al
barrels down in the hold rub ca
other. buIkheads creak and timbe
eroan. and now and then there q
shrilI squeaks from the lighting IA
Men who sleep during a calm breat
stentoriously and sigh and groan nc
and then, and the Wakeful ones mo
about increasingly and cast apr
hensive glances over the sea.
Nancy walked aimlessly about I
while and then rested her arms
the rail- and gazed OF into the darknl
and let her thoughts wander ba
home She had been silent for
quarter Of an hour when she gave
sudden start and bent her ear to list
Capt Elisha happened to note 2
attitude and he crossed ~ 70 !
aide and asked;