The Republican journal., 1907-08-15

| in, and that was all wet, SO we fell to
on the pumps with will to keep our
selves warm. Luckily the galley was
intact, and the cook started fire to
get us something to eat.
We had been pumping but few
minutes when the skipper was heard
bawling from aft, "Mr. Taylor!" There
was no answer. Again the old man
bawled out, "Mr. Taylorr but still
there was no answer. Then we be ian
to wonder what was up and to compare
notes. During the excitement and
hustle attendant upon letting 60 of the
anchors and the clearing away of the
wreckage no one had paid much atten-
ton to who was around and who wasn't.
Now that it was ali over, and we had
time to think, it began to dawn upon
US that something was wrong with the
mate. No one, it appeared, had seen
him since the foremost went by the
board. The most that anyone could
say for certain was that the mate was
on the main deck just before the crash
came, but as to the exact location no
two were agreed.
The carpenter lit several lanterns
and we organized ourselves into search
ing parties to find the mate. We looked
everywhere we could think of finding
him, but in vain. After an hours
search we gave it up and returned to
the pumps. 1t was then generally con-
coded that in some way the mate must
have been knocked overheard when the
foremost went.
Shortly after four o'clock in the
morning we got the first suck on the
pumps. We then took spell until
daylight, when we ran up the ensign in
the mizzen rigging for tug. The
horizon was too hazy to make out the
land, but the old man figured out that
we were somewhere off Long Branch.
In an hour or so from the time we put
up the ensign there were two powerful
tngboats alongside driving bargain
with the skipper for towing us back to
New York; By and by they came to
terms, and we hove the anchors up.
By three o'clock in the afternoon we
dropped one of them again in the same
spot off Stapleton from whence we had
got under weigh on Christmas morning.
As none of US had any dry clothing to
put on, we were sent ashore to board
in the Cherry street Sailors Home.
Thus ended our Christmas outing.
tSUue lOul years ldleE was UOdl-
swain of a vessel then lying in the
harbor of Rio de Janeiro, discharging
coal from Cardiff, Wales. One Sunday
legs, as the old saying is. Passing
through Rua Misericordia, turned into
Anaconda Joe's" place for "san-
gari" with stick in it. About the first
man l laid eyes on was Barney Coffin,
dressed in tattered old man o'war's
suit and straw hat. We shook hands
and l stood treat.
Barney told me that he had snap
working for the Captain of the Port,
looking after the boats and the boat
house, etc. After a while we got
talking about the Putnam Bell and our
Christmas outing in her. l happened
to remark that it had puzzled me ever
since to account for the suddenneSs
with which the foremost broke off.
"Well, I'll tell you how that was"
said Barney, after that big sea had
struck her l scooted for'ard to see what
damage had been done. Then fell to
thinking. | knew she couldn't stand
much longer on the tack she was on, or
she'd go ashore. The devil of the old
packet-ship days got into me some how
OF other, and whetted my sheathknife
and cut off all the lanyard knots in the
starboard fore rigging. Now you know
why the foremost went over the lee
side when she came up in the wind on
the starboard tack
"Well, seeing you know so much" |
said sarcastically, perhaps you can
tell me what became of the mate?"
81 cam replied Barney, without bat
ting an eyelid; she was knocked over
board when the foremost went-just
abaft the port fore rigging"
''HoW do you know" l exclaimed,
aghast.
How Go | know" repeated Barney.
"Why, me boy, | saw him go. l was as
close TO him when lie went as l am to
you now"
When Barney said this he had his
right hand Oh my lett shoulder and was
looking ME sqnarely in the eyes!-Coast
Seaman's journal