The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-01-15

,$ I ByJohn Fleming Wilson. (
.97@sS9sSS9S3@@$93@77S$$$SS
IT HE steam coaster Oracle Jackson son
was lost She had strayed out
OF the Columbia river on thick morn
, ing in November, bound for San Fran
cisco. Three days had passed since
,zheR, and on this dull forenoon she
stumbled wildly in a jobble of sea
somewhere off the Oregon coast, the
crew knew not where. In her cramped
saloon the skipper and mate were
=asleep, asleep beyond the power OF the
frightened sailors to awake. The chief
engineer had come up from below to
assist in the process of rousing them.
but after half-hour's vain attempt he
now stood back against the bulkhead
easing his mind. They're couple OF
sots." he explained to the drawn-faced
Ebos'n. 1.-The old man started lushing
before we were across the bar, and the
innate amt been sober for week. l
don't believe those two seacooks have
even got their departure chalked down.
& know they amt wrote line in the
Log since we passed Tillamook abel
Lowing in the fog. Drunk: Drunk!
-'' and the engineer and the bos'n
uifted up their voices in sea blessing,
deep, vociferous and mighty.
'I reckon we're off Cape Blanco
somewhere" suggested sailor who
dad stamped in. "It's running All ugly
sea, too. Thicker'n peasoup, and the
glass way down. What'll we do. sir?'
The engineer grunted with the wrath
\ &c two sleepless days. Then he STUN
bled up the companionway to the deck,
and the bos'n shuf1ed after him. For
ward in the wheelhouse they found
,grim-visaged seaman clinging hungrily
to the jerking wheel, and peering out
from the compass to the gray, froth-
ing ocean that seemed to have risen
like a cloud of Kissing steam about
the Oracle Jackson. There was no
twinkle of the sun. and the bowling
wind drove the vapor across the pluqg-
ing decks in huge pillows. A boat,
crushed and broken lay webbing un-
der the weather rail. Aft the hum
ming funnel spun sooty thread
against the low cloud. All this the
engineer took in with sweeping
glance. Then he looked back on the
chart shelf at the slate. A clumsy
hand had chalked tentative reckon
dngs On it and the barometer and log
readings. There was no attempt,
However, to fix the position of the
steamer on the chart pinned beneath.
The engineer swore grut1y, and then
abruptly departed by the lee door, to
return holding iE~h1s hand a copy of
his own log. The bos'n Joined him,
and they puzzled, and figured. and
cursed till noon cts no use," said
tho engineer, after final wrestle.
I'VE can't get bottom with the lead;
We amt an observation of any sort to
90 on;4 we amt even got an approx
i mate distance lodged. We might be
Il of San Diego or the Sahara Desert so
far's We know"
CHOW much we making now? asked
: the sailor at the wheel.
sSeven by the engines" was the re-
/, ply. give by the log. May be going
EASTERN for all that"
Fl reckon, 'Scontinued the helmsman,
.slowly-"I reckon we're about off
aBaanoo. How much coal we got?"
@'Sixteen hours this gait"
There was long pause, filled only
with the harsh noises Of the ocean and
the Iaboring vessel. Then the man at
the wheel, as he eased the Oracle over
a crested surge, muttered an oath and
! besought his Creator to show no
amercy to the stupored men in the
saloon.
(. <*We've got to do something" said
the bos'n, practically. II guess Cap'n
Flint amt coming to to-day, and the
!. mates worse of yet. We got to get
sail on her to steady her and fetch
somewhere mighty quick. When we're
eh0rt Of coal the foresail and staysail
4 ought to take us along"
The engineer thought while, and
!, then turned brusquely to the bos'n'
n ."<Tm in command here" he said. PUT
some SAIL on her and get out to sea
somewhere. We amt going to risk 1t
tdnsilore this weather I'll save my Goa!
i6or pinch. You take command on
deck, and I'll keep watch with you
Il soon as 1 shut my hampers and get all
& .enug below
The bos'n nodded and slipped out on
Il deck. He took his chance and ran
f0rward, and disappeared. When he
emerged again from the tiny fo'c's'le
ft was with three men at his heels
They regained the pilot house and re-