Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
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SEAMAN Y


giving full warning of the coming fight
Such Is also the temperament of northern
races. But the sunny equatorial seas,
shimmerlng In tropical beauty, are ever
uncertain of temper, treacherous, quick
to smite when least expected A flash of
anger. a whirl of destruction and all is
over. Again the waters smile, ripping and
tapping the dead. Beware of their insid-
ious beauty; beneath the liquid blue turks
destruction and death.
Such is the impression gained in five
years of sailing over many seas, from the
Bengal
The old wooden bark Don Adolfo was
we'll known on the Pacific coast in the
colors for several rea sons First she hailed
primarily from Corinto; second, she was
too unseaworthy ever to be registered in
any American port Her former South
American owners sold her to old Bischard
of San Francisco at low price. and were
pleased to be rid of her. When joined her
as an apprentice she was fitting out for a
trip to western Australia with a load of
lumber and was manned by as mixed a
crew of ocean vagabonds as. ever sailed a
ship of doubtful reputation.
rival off the Swan river was reported, but
1t was in that smiling tropical harbor that
she nearly met her end, and that is just
what l am going to tell about. How that
old bundle of timbers ever staggered across
the big Pacific without more mishap than
the loss of half her rigging remains I'M
solved mystery. Who will say that the
sea has no pity?
The harbor of Freemantle is broad and
long and partly open to the sea. Only
Shippers Island breaks the long, oily
swells rolling in from the Indian ocean out
side. Within the water Is one broad ex-
panse of shimmering blue, SO clear that in
sailing over it the lime-white corals on the
bottom, fathoms deep, seem covered only by
an azure mist. All around stretch creamy
beaches dancing back and forth with baby
rollers. children of the booming breakers
pounding the jagged reefs outside.
Here II was that the old Don Adolfo was
anchored, after discharging her entire cargo
on lighters inside the breakwater, far out
from shore with plenty of space in which
TO swing about her anchor. 1t is an i'm
portant point to remember that her hold
was empty, swept clean from fore TO aft.
That was bad; her skipper should have
known better In a few days. though the
loading with Yarra iron wood would begin,
and make a cargo requiring no ballast I'M
der it.
1t was beautiful. night not quite clear,
for overhead the indigo sky was splotched
by inky SnearS of vapOr. Still, as / have
said. ii was a fine night. and warm that
all hands fingered on deck. loath to turn
into the sitting hunks below. The moon.
too, low on the seaward horizon. seemed
undecided about retiring into a vague black
cloud bank on the outward edge long
streak of black crossed the satellites red
face like a fantastic mustache. Its CULVER
Ing reflection seemed like a path, along
which marched columns of fiery helmeted
troops. jostling and struggling in eager
hurry.
ITS a blasted fine night" said the sec
ond mate. hopping his bare forehead with
bandann handkerchief. but We can't
always tell what'll turn up before morning
In these regions"
The mate was hanging limp over the poop
rail. Ike a wet towel.
You'd kick anyhow he growled. What
you want is to sail under glass case"
The second mate and / were severely
testing with our combined weight the
strength of a canvas hammock. slung be-
tween two stanchions. The ease he was
enjoying caused him to overlook the mates
caustic remark.
Now. the ordinary Iubber." he continued
would think as how it couldn't blow about
here, but I've sailed the Indian ocean quite
some. and l amt so easy to fool
No" broke in the mate, sit takes an ex-
traordnary lubber like you to put the
barometer out of business. Blessed II
see why we need barometer aboard with
you here. You're good a nautical in
shop. blessed If you amt! Reckon
you could take sight and figure out
days work with an old soup bone"
The air was sultry. A low mist crept out
from the shore. bringing a smell of damp
earth, suggestive of a florists dollhouse.
few lights from the town -winkled through
The beacon on Shippers island glared at
regular intervals, then dwnlled to mere
red speck. like sleepy owl winking at us.
We who were aft could hear the men ford
conversing at lazy intervals in sleepy,
drawing sentences.
Finally the moon seemed to have made
mind into
black line of the horizon. the thick atmos-
phere distorting her blood-red roundness
into all sorts of unmoonly shapes AS she
began slowly to be absorbed lighr tropical
shower drifted overhead. sending down big
soft balls of tepid water that struck our
faces like hot tears.
With low, drawing curses the officers
arose and stumbled down the companion
way. Tie forecastle door ratified , the
men crawled IN. Finally I. too. aroused
enough energy 10 abandon the deck, leav-
Ing 1t TO the drowsy vigil of the night watch
man in the donkey room midships
/ turned in and almost instantly dropped
of Into black. dreamless sleep. 1t seemed
but a minute, although It must really have
been several hours. before I suddenly awoke
strange, heavy sensation over my chest
sent a chill of fear through me. From
overhead. on deck, came a low, soughing
roar. the ship trembled. the beams creaked
and some Invisible power, incomprehens!ble
for the moment. lifted me slightly and
The dimly lighted cabin outside my door
seemed misunderstanding. From the pam
try came a crash OF falling dishes. Another
culver. lurch and l felt myself lifted
bodily out OF my bunk, hurled heplessly
across my stateroom. through the open
door. into the cabin. where the table. fast
to the floor. caught me The cabin lamp
burning and smoking swung wildly to and
fro beating against the beams. All around
arose a deafeniug uproar-crashing timbers
rolling casks. splntering glass, and above
all, wild unearthly bowls, like a chorus of
giant demons.
With a crash barely audible In all that
din, the door next to mine burst open ard
the second mate flew out. apparently in
mid-air. his trousers half on. his night
shirt tangled about his shoulders. / think
he yelling. but / am not sure. He.
too. lodged against the table. struggling
fercely to hold himself. Another sickening
lurch and the cabin whirled, the starboard
cabin panels sank while the port side rose
threateningly above us. The second mate
and | We're hurled together.
Suddenly the ship seemed to burst asun-
der, the lamp crashed out against beam
and We two went flying through back space.
gripping each other desperately until, with
a bang, we shot through the thin wood
work of a door and were struggling in what
felt like small box. third person be-
came mixed up In our struggle ] heard
the vicious squirt and gurgle of water, felt
i creep up my legs and was rolled over
and over until my head was submerged.
oil 10 tor frff