Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-11-16
A 10 ST ISL AN D,

not, therefore, sure of their latitude Or
longitude.
The captain had gone below at eight
bells, but, feeling troubled about the
portentous appearance of the weather.
was unable to sleep and was on deck
again, walking nervously fore and aft
now looking on this side and then on
the other side Of the quarter deck, look
Ing anxiously out into the darkness.
then aft, then at the compass and then
at the barometer which hung in the
cabin gangway. Il:
In vain did the eyes of anxious men
peer into the darkness. Only inky
blackness met their straining gaze ev-
cry where Thus matters stood till six
bells, when the mercury began to fall
suddenly. The quick jerking voice or
the captain was then heard: t%
'Mr. Smalley, you may take in the
light sails''s
AYE, aye, sir,'' and, stepping to the
mainmast, he called out, For ard,
therev' and was Immediately answer
ed, "For'ard, sirr' STAND by the top
gallant and the flying jib halyardsv'
In moment he heard the report,
"Ready, SIR
''Let go the halyards and clew down.
Let go the sheets and clew up. That'll
do, Delay all. Now jump up and furI
them. Be lively, ladsw $780,. ..
While this was going on the captain
took another look at the barometer and
found the mercury still going down
fast. Thoroughly aroused now. he
caught his speaking trumpet from the
beckets and sung out:
Hold on, there! Down from aloft.
| every man of you! Call all hands!'
Down came the men again.
"All hands ahoyv' was called with
great strength Of voice at both the
cabin and forecastle gangways, and
| then followed one Of those scenes which
defy such description as would make
| it Ineligible to a landsman, but which
any sailor readily understands. The
| in the mainsail. the jib and flying jib
and all the light sails were furled and
the ship made ready for the expected
| gale. But yet no breath of air had
been felt moving, while an unnatural
| stiffness and heaviness of the atmos-
| phere were observed by all. Several OF
the seamen saw a dim purple streak
| suddenly appear right ahead of the
ship and called out, Here it comes,
| sir!'
'.Where?' said the captain.
| Fright ahead, SIR"
| Hard a-pOrt your helmw
lizard a-port it is, STRIP
" "Brace round the yards!" s.@-
AYE, aye sirH' r..-- -. 81,
The yards were braced around, and
| the ship was got ready to receive the
expected blast ON the larboard tack.
! That dreadful streak of cloud grew al
most crimson, and there was heard
| what they thought was the heavy roar
| of the coming gale. and every man
! seemed to hold his breath awaiting the
| shock. Good men and courageous sail
ors were on that ships deck, but they
| shrank from the terrible onslaught like
| frightened children. When God speaks
| In those fearful storms his voice is
| awful to the ear, and many q strong
man has quailed before it.
| Thus those men waited till the min
| utes heightened into hours, and the
| only change perceptible was in the
deepening color of that lowering cloud
| of crimson light. At length eight bells
| told that o'clock had arrived, and
| daylight was looked for as those men
in the ship with Paul looked for it
| when they wished for day" But the
! struggling light of the day seemed only
to reveal the thickness Of the darkness
to the wondering vision.
| Just at daylight their ears were stun
ned with successive quick reports, loud
dred gun ship. The whole heavens
| we're lighted up with a fiery red light.
! The ocean was stirred from her pro-
| found depths. Great waves, without
| any visible cause, ran in the most aw-
| full commotion, now striking together
and throwing the white foam and
| spray high in air. then parting. to meet
| again in fearful embrace. as before. A
school Of sperm whales ran athwart
| the ships bows, making every exertion
to escape from the strangely troubled
water Within a few cable lengths Of
| the ship an immense column of water
| was thrown masthead high and fell
back again with a roar like Niagara.
| A deep, mournful noise, like the echo
| of thunder among mountain caverns.
was instantly heard, and none could
tell whence it came. The noble ship
was tossed and shaken like play
thing " tt@ t
Great God. have mercy upon usr'
cried officers and men. What is this?
| What is coming next? Is it the day of
judgment?' The royal psalmist de-
scribed them accurately-"They reel to