The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-03-31
SMASHED BY THE SEA
The Story Of 4 Shipwreck IN the
English Channel.
FIERCE FURY OF THE STORM.

Wind and Wave Battered the Ship
Till Only Shattered Hulk Rs.
uainsd--A Battle Against TIE EIs.
ments Thst Ended IL Defeat.
We had weathered the western Is
lands and entered ATTITUDES where the
prudent mariner shortens sail and
keeps wary eye on the barometer.
for the seafarer may talk lightly Of
mountainous seas of the Horn, but moi
Of winter gale In the mouth OF the
English channel when the coast is
strewn with wreckage from the Lizard
TO Beachy ard his Imagination. accus-
toned TO vast cxpanses Of - ely sea.
pictures all sorts OF craft josaiing one
another In dangerous proximity.
A favoring gale from the northwest.
not more vicious than the ordinary
north Atlantic gale, had kept the ship
lively NIL day and set all hands flgur.
ing on pay day. It was not until the
afternoon watch that the weather out
look became really threatening. Noun
famous walls Of green water swung
out Of the darkness and bufreted her
aside as they passed. Fierce squalls
smote her in rapid succession. envelop.
ing her In smother Of spray, heeling
her until the yardarms dipped In the
crests Of the waves.
At eight bells the wind lulled and
hauled point to the westward. then
hurled itself against the ship with ac.
cumulated fury. There was sudden
confusion OF flying cordage. over.
whelming scas hammering upon the
decks and the cannonade OF canvas
stripped from the spars and blown like
thistIedown to lccward
Relieved OF her top hamper. she stag.
gered erect. dripping Ike a half tide
rock and shaken with the shock OF the
seas pounding her sides. Halfway on
the upward oscillation she poised.
checked by the renewed onslaught OF
the gale rs II by the impact OF a iuatc-
rial obstacle. Rags OF canvas stream.
cd from her empty yards. Every wire
Of her rigging twanged and stretched
under the strain.
The deck round the mninmast heay.
ed and was starred with white assures
running along It's well oiled planks.
The heavy steel spar dlmpled on one
side, then buclIed and crashed over
board In a tanglc Of wreckage.
The ends Of severed wire whipped
the air. aud twisted shrouds sawed 10
and fro along the ruined bulwarks and
struck showers Of sparks from the tor
tured iron work. The hatch covers
were stripped from their coverings
boats smashed 10 firewood and all the
intricate superstructure Of the vessel
swept and broken. Shouted orders
were blown back. inaudlble to the men
covering under the break OF the poop
aud useless II audible.
What seamanship could contrive was
done. Men worked for their lives. fIEd-
Inc foothold GA the sea swept deck,
hacking the ja-gel ends of Iron wire
But the day Of cutting wreckage adrifi
is gone with wooden spars and hemp.
en- coriage. Although the plates ea9ei
and rivets started. the heavy spar heit
fast alongside. pounding against The
Iron hiii m she rolled IA that trough
Of the sen.
A couple % spare spars were dashed
together and launched with initiate
danger through the gap In the broke.
bulwarks. Eut no improvlsed sea an
Choir coull hold her 20 wlndward ags.d
the tumult Of such a sen. She was
no longer a ship. but ruined fabric
crushed and sagging TO lesward under
the weight Of the elements.
Morning brought an abatement OF
the fury OF the gale. Standing on The
poop. surveying her shattered hulk
her skipper turned quietly 10 his mate
and asked. lis the p0rt lifeboat sea.
worthy
Carpenter reports that II Is. sir re
piled his subordinate.
The skipper stood for awhile IN 81
ience. nutii,f the sluggish life Of the
deck under his feet. suppose we've
got 20 leave her. be said. "whnt dye
thInkY
II ~ the sole occasion where the mas
ter mariner WIN delgn TO consult and
be advised by his inferior officer.
"Shc can't noat much longer. sir,
replied the other sympatheticaliy. II
might be that In his time he. too
would require TO seek similar advice.
"Ah." said the skipper heavily. .nnd
saw her launched" lie crossed oyer
20 the te...: fife rail and laid his hand
on II. fondiing II affectionately. al
right. mister" he said nc last. "we'rs
right IN the track OF shipping. Pas:
the word along 10 put bag OF biscuit
aboard and ~ the breakers with wa
ter.'--paIl Mall Gazette.