Sharp County record., 1910-07-01
-.
saaU srs r-t.nu Hre
OFF the Banks
By Charles DAILY Douglas


of my varied lie is connected with a
fishing excursion OFF the Newfound-
land banks. ! owned q yacht and rs
soon as I proposed the trip TO my
frionGs, had no difficulty in finding
plenty who were willing and aXious to
accompany me, I chose round dozen
choice spirits, who ! knew had the
necessary qualifications to make such
an excursion pleasant. A happier
party never set sail from any port
than the yacht carried on this oc-
oasion. Singing music, storytelling,
and playing filled up the hours, and
whcn we met around the Widespread
table the hilarity was renewed, We
had rather a disaGrcoabIo passage to
the banks, with frequent rains and
smart gales, but oT skipper and crew
were, perfectly reliable, and we had
rs little apprehension Of disaster as Of
any other misfortune.
The winds at last lullcd, the sea
! grew tranquil, and the captain report
ed that we should be off the fishing
| grounds the next morning, well re-
member the unboundcd mirth and fun
Of that night. We got out our tackle
! and ovorhaulod It in order to be fully
ready for the sport; and when that
was done, with the cross-lre of jokes
and Quips that accompanied it, we
made merry with song, story and 9th.
cr cheer till far into the morning.
When we went to sleep 1t was with
the highest anticipations Of the COM
ing sport
Good weather, ! hope, captain"
was the cry that salutcd the latter as
he appeared at the breakfast table
next morning.
'I'm afraid / can't say much for the
weather at present" was the reply,
1--WE ran into a iogbank about daylight
and we cont seem likely to get out Of
It TIL the weather clears. A fog Is
about the last thing expected to find
up here at this season Of the year;
but here we are, right in It. | hope
it'll clear, however, during tho morn.
ing"
Somewhat disappointed at this In.
telligcnco, we ate but little, and then
went on deck thought | had seen
roGs before IN different quarters Of tRe
world, but never had | Witnessed any.
thing like thia. The air was cold,
raw, and heavy with moisture, and
the roG so dense that we could hardly
see the lcnG;h Of the yacht, A servant
WIS sent below for Ghawls ana cloaks,
and we sat aft shyoring IN our wraps,
and foclirg as gloomy as was natural
undcr the circumstances, One Of us
/ produced some cigars, which were
passed around and lighted, and under
the influence Of tho weed, we grew
moro compGriouable, ana even began
to propose small bets as to the hour
the unwolcomo log would LIT,
The captain now Camo aft, and
asked me If thoro was anything like
a forbes among the rubbish In the
forward hold. told him there was
ono, | remembered one roggy night
IN the Grociun Archipelago when Il
sounded Golorully all night over my
hoad, and prevented my sleeping, and
that the company the next morning
had voted the thing q nuisance, and
directed It TO bo taken down, ! be-
Hove II had mover been hung since,
"WoM have It put UP and set It go
Ing at once" said Che captain, os he
| turned away, "lt Is probably an over
| procaution, "a we arc far out Of the
gtoamcrU0ck, ana there's not wind
enough to give Roadway to anything
with sails Hul woll set the thing
goUG for perfect safety lIo, there,
| forwards Hoist up the bIg bell from
tho hold, ana hang It on that fixture
| by tho mast"
llo turned away to sec thgt his or.
dorB were executed, and ut that IN.
8tant our doom fell roD us, without
n cry q uoIao, or any warning what
ever 10 herald t.
The grc0L h'gh bow Of one OF the
occau atcamora appeared o8 mddcnly
oS thouGh gho h0d rIaon from tho sea,
or dyUooudod Oom the Hdna, and
atruclJ ma auId1NIpa with % cwah that
cleft the lJtlo yacht completely IN
twain.
The two halves Of the Inflated yoa.
! vel rono up Fore ana ait, and she set
uDd ouidaNu8
! hoard q ghUcE-a prolonged cry
OF horror and dgpr0lr mingled VITA
the rush Of the water an1 tho putting
Of mmohr na tho etcamor'a engine was
|ryycwDd, wa2 conacuue of tyc.
wcndou8 uhorlt d bow and q great
black mass 3idmg above mo, and /
was conscious Of nothing further un.
| an woke io llro in the saloon Of the
ptoumor Nmg ON O ro.l with o
crowd of .ywunDhuNo roUOowon and
lsdlr0 about me-, applying roaDooliyca
and chatting my hands,
Except q few bruHoa v08 not Ia.
lwod IN body and was walking the
/ iNiI IT IIY H|.NHNH ....Y .Ii.u ,ui|t