The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-21

A SINISTER SWELL LIFTED HER HIGH.
once on the sealing grounds. which 10
the gulf lie between latitude 424S
north, work on the thin ice must be
done quickly. and pelts must be gath,
cred by many hands.
At I O'Clock the seaier was headed
out OF the harbOr for the open SCI. 1t
was Il beautiful day, but the waters
were jammed with Ice. 1t was n fight
from the start, three miles OF steady
bucklng. c%runchIng, grinding. full stop;
then u rush full speed ahead, a crash;
another ships length gained.
1t was s o'clock when the Leopard
steamed Into open water. As she
rounded tue cape the heavens. which
all afternoon had been OF clearest blue
md after sunset studded with stars.
suddenly became black. The wind be.
gan to moan from the southeast, and
inside OF fifteen minutes half a gale,
accompanied by binding snow, was
nssailIns the coast bitterly.
Captain Bartlett's problem was this:
He fud to takc bis boat down the coast
until Cape Race had been clcared,
when he could head northwest, taking
his vessel past Cape Breton aud st.
Pierre Miquclon, finally entering the
gulf. He held the Leopard about elev-
en- miles oifshore. He would have
given n great deal had he dared to take
his vessel still farther out to sen. be
cause the wind, which had been hold
Ing from the southeast, had hauled
dead east and was thus blowing direct.
ly on shore and with full hurricane
force by this tlme-0 O'Clock. Outside
the sIob Ice through which the ship
was sailing the gale was hsllns the
ocean into fury.
Hour after hour pissed. 1t was the
blacklist night Captain Bartlett ever
knew. Fifty fatiioms ahead there was
nothing to see-nOthing but q black
void against which the bullet rush OF
SNOW produced the vaguest impress
sion Of movement. Outside the fine OF
slob Ice the terrific seas could be heard
battling among themselves in elemental
riot. Even the weighted waters
through which the Leopard plowed her
way rose out Of the dark In many q
long swell. lifting the vessel toward
heavens that could not be seen. drop.
ping her into depths from which there
seemed no escape. But up and out OF
them steamed the Leopard. trembling
md going Oh md Oh into the gloom.
Midnight came and passed. Captain
Bartlett had long known that the yes.
sci was making in oil the time on that
dreaded tangent Hue. but now the fact
began to thrill through the ship like a
clammy breeze. The master WIS not
really worried, because he thought that
the leewarQ uritt would not set at
naught the Roadway down the coast.
But he wanted to hear the sound OF
that Cape Race bell. So did every one,
The sealers huddled In whispering
groups on the deck. looking inquirIugly
at au officer OF n sailor as he hurried
past, but y%enturlng no questions.
Where was that bell? 1t was time
that the notes began to drift to them
through the secondary lapscs Into 81.
lence which sometimes characterize
high winds. Captain Bartlett and bis
mate, William Wilcox, were on the
bridge, and every minute that passed
told these two experienced RarigatoEs
us 1t told no other man on the vessel
that n tragedy which Is old as mankind
Is old wal setting Its grim scenes for
smother act.
"Alrs WE'LL" came the voice from the