Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-10-23

~Jiml" sang out the captain from
the bridge, what in the name of Chris
&opher do you make Of this?"
1t was an hour after sunrise on Oct.
3. 1862, and the ''Whitby Witch" with
but a small load In the after hold,
thrashed the waves behind with more
fuss than progress. The weather, al
ways hot In the Caribbean at this time
Of the year, was simply grilling now,
and the iron decks burnt the boots off
ones feet; while to increase our dis
comfort there hadn't been a breath of
wind since we left Puerto Cabello on
Monday morning, two days ago.
For a good many months we had
been on the tramp, and we are now
running home, calling at Martinique on
our way for a freight Of sugar for
St NaZaire-about the dirtiest stuff
one can have aboard. But we might as
well be dirty inside as out. Once home
we would have a good overhaul; the
baTnacles knocked off the ships bottom,
her boilers cleaned out, and war de-
klared against the rats, cOckroaches and
small cattle that disputed with the
c1eW the possession of their hunks. We
had, I reckened, a good hundred miles
still between us and Fort de France.
ooh, we're in for a teaser, too, by
me look Of It." replied. rising Imply
from beneath awning we mad rugged
apI Tor to the northeast, from zenith
10 horizon, hung an omlnous pall-not
the distinct cumulus masses that one
usually associates with thunder and
torrential rains, but more resembling
an advancing London fog. "How's the
glass, BillT"
Bill Grout was captain, and l was
mate; we each held share (one-six-
teenth apiece It was) in the Whitby
Witch, and were old chums.
That's the puzzle, Jlm," he replied.
'9The quick a bit higher If anything.
and there's not a wisp o wind nor
nothing"
Despite these facts, the approaching
gloom advanced rapidly; the sun gray
dlmmed, and the sky around 1t glowed
crimson. We frightened down in prep
aratioR for squalls. Then, as it dark
ened. the air became charged with nox-
Ious fumes, and 1t seemed as though
the sun had suddenly set.
I was now alongside Bill, who kept
muttering things to himself that 1
could not catch. He Is intensely super
stitious, and when danger Is at hand
always recalls premonitOry warnings
Then another peculiar circumstance
became apparent as we both stood look
ing ahead, hands on the rail before u.s..
INSTEAD of the expected dOwnpour Of
rain, the rail and all else seemed to
possess an abnormal dryness; and
soon we found that there was falling
an impalpable dust, without the slight
est trace OF grittiness, which covered
everything with a grayness. The fall
increased. and found its way down the
engine room YentilatOrs and into every
crack and Granny OF the ship.
We eased up in the increasing dark
ness. We could do nothing else; the
compass was performing strange an
tics and our strongest lights could not
De seen for many yards Then we lay
60 and only used our steam for an oc-
easional fog-blast- Meanwhile the dust
became coarser and more abundant !;
the chief engineer was in despair; the
engine room and stokehold were like
the Internal regions, and the machin-
cry would be ruined with the stuff
At last, after short consultation,
taking into consideration the direction
IN which the shroud advanced and that
In which the wind ought to be, we turn
ed the Witch's nose due southeast with
the intention OF making St Vincent.
We were well clear OF the islands that
are round the Caribbean Sea, and there
could be no traffic to encounter, but the
very mystery OF 1t all made us eau
tious.
Things were certainly better very
soon. The air grew easier OF respira-
ton, the fall of dust was lighter. and
we could now see half the length of
the ship; 50 We decided to put out all
our speed.
Then suddenly and without warning,
something happened. There was no
wrenchlng, ripping sound as of running
on a rock. but the hollow hull OF the
Whftby Witch resounded like huge
bass drum. and trembled throughout It's
length. Bill was standing by the lad
der opening that led down from the
bridge, and he disappeared like an aero