The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-28
-Heu 4 Warnsd go K

-
II was a cold night The Wind was
blowing a gale and driving f1ne
snow which cut the face and blinded
the pedestrian. The vessels tied up
at T wharf looked bleak and cheer
less; but they were very comfortable
under matches. In the cabin of the
schooner Emily Parsons a brisk fire
was burning in the round stove, and
the odor Of tobacco so appetizing to
those who like 1t scented the air.
Capt. Ezra Parsons, in comfortable
chair, with his feet upon the stove
fender, was pulling upon yillainous
looking pipe. while reclining upon one
Of the hunks which lined the cabin
was Seth Jenkins. and half dozen
members OF the crew we're distributed
about the little room.
kind o. snug here" said Seth Jen'
kins with grunt of content. Just the
same wouldn't like to be outside
the bay In this
"The Emily is as safe as church In
any kind of weather" said Capt Ezra.
Course she gets a little wet now and
then. hut you expect that. | wouldn't
change her for the White House, no
sir"
.Weli," said Seth, faint likely tina:
Roosevelt II ask yer to swap don't
like these wet ships myself"
You dont?" sneered capt. Ezra.
We'll, don't see you ,ownIn' or com
mandin' any dry ones or wet ones
either. Just pass that bottle this
way"
Il don't know II ought to let you
have 1t" hesItated Seth. Spirits
amt good for man with your hot
temper First thing you know you'h
be seein' things, snakes and green
bugs and maybe ha'nts."
Ezra acquired the bottle and poured
himself liberal drink.
Il saw a ghost. once" said Capt.
Ezra.
There was sensation. Several OF
the boys sat up in their berths, and
the Nova Scotia man jumped out upon
the deck. Only Seth laughed.
81 knew you'd be seem things IL
you took another drink" he said.
Tell US about 1t, cap" said the
Nova scotian.
"'Taint much of story" said Ezra,
but 1t happened, all right ANY OIL
you boys remember Sam Matthew's?
Well, he was an old dory mate o
mine, and one O. the whitest lads that
ever breathed. We sailed under Capt.
Duncan McGann in the schooner
Cheyenne, one of the fastest boats out
o. Gloucester .15 years ago.
sam and me had some fine times
together and some tough ones; but
the last was one January day. We set
out from the ship in the mornin' with
not drop to drink or bite to eat In
the dory. We set our travis and tend
ed them till about noon. when fog
came on and we started for the ship.
She was gone and we couldn't find
her. We was 90 miles from shore
with wind and tide against US and
1t was bitter cold. Sam wasn't easily
scared, but he SEE to me: 1 guess it's
all day with US, Ezra and couldn't
see much chance for US. But we
started to row ashore, and we rowed
until our hands was blistered terrible,
and the salt water would get into the
blisters.
The first day we couldn't ha' made
20 miles. That night It come on to
blow and we shipped SO much water
that our clothes froze on us. That day
we couldn't ha' gone ten miles and we
wasn't sure we were goin' right. We
both was so weak we couldn't hardly
keep at the work, but somehow we
was able to live till mornln'. Then
Same give in and lay down in the bot.
tom and couldn't get him up. 'Taint
no use, mate he said. we've got to
co. In a little while he died. Not an
hour after we was picked up. got
well, but lose a toe from frostbite.
Z never forgot Sam, and always kept
thinkin' II he only could ha held on
an hour more.
"a little later bought the Emily
Parsons and took her out. guess 1t
was five years after that was on
Browns bank gettin' FISH, and started
for home. There came on a thick fog
and a heavy sea, and had to go by
reckonin', but knew the place pretty
we'll and l thought was goin' right.
I remember 1t Just as plain as can be.
was at the wheel. Joe Willis was
forward as lookout, everybody else
was below. 1t was just about mid.
night. All Of sudden seen man
standin' alongside O. me in oilskins,
drippin with wet He looked up and
it was Sam Matthews.
'I was SO scared I could hardly hold
the wheel, and 1 could only look at
him. His face was terrible pale, just
as he looked when he died.
Ezra, old friend he SEE to me.
DO you know where you're goin'?
You're goln straight for Cape Sable,
an you'll be on the beach in i've min
utes. Get your anchors out Then
he seemed to kind o fade away and 1
was alone. ] let out yell that
h.oueht tho whole crew m an | got