The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-10

the vessel with the white seas cascading
on her bow continually.
She proved all that I had expected OF
her. All day long, though the wind be-
came greater and greater, she bored her
way steadily on, and even when the
breeze had risen to half gale she re-
manned so stiff that we carried everything
until sunset.
Every sail on her was stiff as a board
and we overhauled and passed a, Clyde
built steamer so fast, that before dark
the fellows smoke could hardly be seen
Shortly after supper. however the
weather got worse. 1t was a half gale
no .t longer: but a full II one, and we put
canvas. Despite this precaution, the
seas became SO violent that at midnight
they smashed two OF our life boats tear
ing them bodily from the davits and
leaving only q few Splintered timberS
hanging to the falls Later a sea came
abeam and carried our only remaining
boat, a dinghy that was dashed on deck,
clear from it's fastenings and stove it
against the Tna3umast.
However. with such a good vessel
under us we didn't mind the loss of the
| boats much and We pushed right on.
the Long Island coast a full half day
ahead OK our best calculationsi and
then all at once white sea fog shut
It was not the kind without wind
Although the gale had gone, there vas
breeze enough and to spare. For Ave
hours we drove through It blindly.
From my station on the after-deck I
I could see our foremost only as vague
shape.
We kept the. horn going faithfully.
and listened Sharply for the signals Of
other vessels. Several times we passed
ships in thu thickness without seeing
them. but their horns and whistles
told US that they were a safe distance
off. Then suddenly we heard a blast
right ahead Of us. I ordered the helm
schooner answered It as quickly Is a
high-strung horse would. But II was too
late.
A dim mass doomed over US. and the
next instant we heeled, while our %aain
topmast came down with q smash. A
tramp steamer had hit up full and fair
on the port quarter.
The vessel backed of again mined
lately, but not before had spied the
Psmee en- aeF p s4 I 6yfn while do the toP
coming about our ears, I shouted to the
steamer to stand by; but there was no
answer except q confused shouting and
then the sound of her screw got
fainter and fainter as she ran Off.
Quickly we got a tarpaulin over the
could clear away the wreekare that
threatened to beat another hole in our
side. But it was only too plain that
our schooner was done for.
While part of the crew la.bored at the
pump and. others chopped the topnast
and gear loose and let it drive of in
the sea, pointed the vessel straight
toward the Long Island bleach. Ac-
cording to my calculation we should
have been about abreast of the Fire
Island Light when we were struck,
and ] hoped that We could get close
enough in to attract the attention Of
the life. savers-our only hope, since
our boats were gone.
Well she sank fast. but despite It
she still sailed wonderfully vel Just
before dusk. the weather cleared and
we could see the beach. very far away.
7 ordered the signal gun to be Aired at
once. but TO my horror discovered that it
had been carried away when the mast
went BY this time the schooner had set
tied so that her rail was awash. and we
ali had to climb UP on top Of the cabin
The cold soon began to overcome US, for
we had all been well soaked during the
work of clearing the Wreckage.
7 realized that no one would be likely
to sight our sunken hun, and as the
cold was getting worse and the sea
was rising again, knew that We were In
a desperate case.
Then a lucky idea came to me, Orr
first mate had saved a big Christmas
! tree and dashed it on the cabin top to
take home to his children. gave or
ders TO tie it to one Of the ropes Of the
! Eaainmast and then set Gre to a. As soon
l as It burned up well we hoisted il to the