The National tribune., 1903-07-30
Tempestuous Voyage Along the Coast OF
North Carolira-A Visit to the Theater,
and the Great National Tragedy.

she broke down again. Then Il pin broke,
but watchful Sam Lefferts had the ma
ciIiEcry stopped before the released rod
could do much thrashing around and dam
age to the adjacent parts and the ship.
With Sandy's help he soon had Il new
pin fixed in place, and Il council was held
as 10 passing out into the stormy deeps
beyond.
Its going to be rough going through
the inlet and over the bar. and we don't
know what we'll run into outside" SAID
| Engineer Lcfferts. You know. it's
mighty shallow in the inlet and over the
bar. The State of North Carolina 5
mighty close to the surface
! I'm tempted not to venture out. said
! First Mate Greenville. The winds have
their playground out there around Kitty
Hawk. It'd just be fun for them to scat
ter her all along the coast of North Caro-
line. It's so miles at least before we'll
get to the shelter of Cape Henry. It's al
most II crime to risk the lives of women
and sick men in this rotten hulk out there
I've Il great mind to run up through Croa-
tan Sound to Abe; marie Sodnd. and
through that to the mouth df the ID, small
Swamp Canal, and take Our chances Of
getting through that way. Wed be I'M
der cover of land all the time. and not far
from it any way. It's so shallow that
the United States amt more than a few
yards away anywhere. and if she should
sink the women and the sick men could
climb up on her upper works, and be
above water until we could get help
They mooted this proposition for some
time in silence.
How much longer would it take to go
that way inquired the Deacon at length,
taking Il fresh chew Of tobacco.
20. forever and a day, answered Andy
! t,roap,-i1ln .sVn'l k.r To wind
every way to avoid the shadows, and
when we got to the canal. there's no tell
| ing when we'd get through. The water
there's mighty uncertain. ana we'd have
! to wait for everybody else. You see. tie
canal was dug for these laZy Southern
crs. 1t dou't make much difference to
| them whether they get anywhere ROW or
month after next. 50 longs they can lay
around and chew tobacco and talk pol
| tiles
Never do at all for me-" said the Dea
con with prompt pOsitiycncss. Il can't
lose a minute i'll getting home to my farm.
d rather swim part of the way than
wait any longer
I'VE must go on" sad Mrs Klegg. "T
must get back to them Jerseys. Mandy
and the house. I've been looking over the
life e-prcservers, and trying 'em on the girls
and me. | guess we can all take care of
| ourselves if Anything happens"
''Dismal Swamp CHnal.' reflected the
Deacon. Il expect it's Ike polling Il boat
mp the Wabash. Eve done that, and don't
want no more of it,
1T won't do to keep some of these men
much longer in those stuffy little state
roons, said DR.. Brookes. They are ex-
trcmely unsanitary, and almost any
things better than having them cOopcd
up there
IF going through the Dismal Swamp
Canal is anything like our going through
the Mussel Shoals Canal" remarked ST.
I'D rather take our chances outside
Don't want anybody bushwhacking at
Maria from along the banks" added
Shorty. with remembrance of his for
mer experience and n fond look ut his
wife. Shes too precious for any such
risks"
I've got girl at home that I'm mighty
hungry myself to see. remarked Engi
meer Lefferts. IN do my best to cooper
the old thrashing machine up to stand the
racket outside Come on, Sandy; let's
take a good look over her from furnace
door TO condenser exhaust. and brace up
ever thing that looks weak. Wen have
tb lay to a while here anyhow. for the ba
rometer says there's going to be a blow
outside
1t was more of blow than anyone had
anticipated for a storm came up that
the lucky Fernando Wood lay in the pond
like waters of the Sound. and received the
deiuge of rain, while n few miles beyond
across the narrow sand bank the winds
were lashinG the waters To fury. and da ash-
ing the sweeping, rolling mountainous
waves in thunderous breakers that sent
their showers of spray high in the air, to
meet the pouring clouds.
The Lords very good to u.s. said the
Deacon to his wife. as hey watched the
warning elements from the windows. when
the wind would shift Il little, and cease
dashing deluges against the glass. HE
was very good to us that we didn't get
caught outside in that. But this can't
last long. It's too violent It'll spend it
self. and then wen have good weather.
and no danger. It'll he as calm outside
as it is in here, as soon as this Spring
shower is over"
The Deacon did not allow himself to
fret over this detention. He was too good
a Christian to complain of what he con
sidcrnd acts of God. the full intent of
which he could not hope to understand
He only worried when he imagined that
there were things within his own power
which he should do.
ST and Shorty were not worrying at
all. SO long as their young wives were
with them the rains might fall and the
winds blow, and they care not. 1t was
lar from being as comfortable mewed up
in the little stuffy cabin. as sitting out
on deck in the bright sunshine but that
was merely modification of the degree
of happiness They would enjoy the fine
weather all the more when it did come
again.
1t came about as the Deacon predicted.
The wind fell on the second day as the
sun went down. The rain had long been
over. but the noisy breakers continued to
roar and pound on the narrow sandy bar
ricr as if raging that they had not sue
ceedcd i'll tearing it away.
There was no thought of attempting to
so out that night, but everything was got
in readiness for an early start the next
morning.
Soon after broad daylight the Deacon,
81, Shorty, DR.. Brookes, Mrs. Klegg,
Maria and Annabel appeared, one by one,
on deck. to find First Mate Greenville
and Engineer Lefferts in consultation,
with frequent scanning Of the horizon to
the eastward.
The wind had died down to a zephyr,
and the sun was rising bright and clear
mighty nice day to be out in tho
fields" remarked the Deacon, taking
comprehensive survey. Grounds prob
ably too wet to plow, but a lot could be
done on the fences and grubbing, cleaning
out corners, and getting ready for the
nInyy Why lto in I you st,rtnd