Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1907-12-20
A lost ISLAND

II was a night Of pltchy darkness ON
the Pacific ocean. a number Of days
had passed without an observation Of
the sun or stars, and they had to run
the ship by dead reckoning" and were
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.
In vain Gid the eyes Of anxious men
peer into the darkness. Only inky
blackness met their straining gaze ev-
erywhere. Thus matters stood till six
bells, when the mercury began to fall
suddenly. abe quick jerking voice OF
the captaie was then heard:
"Mr. smailey, you may take m tie
light sails
"Aye. ay". sir" and, stepping to the
mainmAst, he called out, For ard,
there" AM was Immediately answer
ed, "For'ard, slrf stand by the top.
gallant anc fhe flying jib halyardsv'
In a mos ent he heard the report,
Ready. sir /"
"Let go tho halyards and clew down.
Let go the sheets and clew up. Thatll
do. Delay all. Now jump up and furl
them. Be lFnly, ladsf'
While this was going on the captain
took another took at the barometer and
found the r1orcury stIll going down
fast Thoroughly aroused now. he
caught his speaking trumpet from the
beckets and Hung out;
Hold on. thereI Down from aloft,
every man o: youl Call all handsp'
Down came the men again.
"All hands ahoyv was called with
great strength Of voice at both the
cabin and fSrecastle gangways, and
then followed one Of those scenes which
defy such description as would make
II Ineligible 90 a landsman, but which
any sailor readily understands. The
topsails were close reefed, reef taken
In the mainsatl, the jlb and flying Jib
and all the light sails were furled and
the ship madN ready for the expected
gale. But yut no breath Of air had
been felt moving, while an unnatural
stiffness and aeaviness 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 1t comes,
aiTt'
'sWhereT' sasd the captain.
Fright ahead. air"
'Hard a-port your helmp
-Hard a-port Y Is. sirl"
"Brace round the yardsl"
"Aye, aye, sir:
The yards warA braeed around, and
the ship was got ready to receive the
expected blast en- 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
orr were on that ships deck, but they
nhrank from the terrible onslaught like
frightened children. When God speaks
IN those fearful storms his voice Is
awful TO the ear. and many strong
man has quailed before It.
Thus those men waited tn the min.
utes heightened into hours, and the
11.iy change perceptible was In the
deepening color OF that lowering cloud
Of crimson light. Al length eight bells
told that 4 o'clock had arrived, and
daylight was looked for as those men
IN the ship with Paul looked for II
when they wished for day" But the
struggling light of the day seemed only
TO reveal the thickness Of the darkness
10 the wondering vision.
Just az daylight their ears were stun
ned with successive quick reports loud
er than whole broadsides from a hun.
dred gun ship. The whole heavens
were lighted up with fiery red light.
The ocean was stirred from her pro
found depths. Great waves. without
any visible cause. ran In the most aw-
ful commotion. now striking together
and throwing the white foam and
spray high In air. then parting. to meet
again in fearful embrace. as before, 4
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 q roar like Niagara,
A deep, mournful noise. like the echo
e thunder among mountain caverns,
was instantly heard. and mono could
toll whence It came. The noble ship
was tossed and shaken like a play
thing
Great God. have mercy upon usr'
cried officers and men, what 70 this