The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-12-26

mist across the deck in a way. that
BODIES no good for the future Of the
day. The whistle is sounded at regu.
lar intervals. The notes Of other whis-
ties and bells come through the fog
blanket from different vessels The
former indicate moving vessels; the
latter vessels at anchor. There is the
dull clang Of a bell buoy sagging back
and forth in the gentle swell. The en-
CINE room telegraph indicates that the
engines are going at SLOW" On one
side of the pilot house the captain is
peering through the murky cloud with
mouth partly open and ears oblivious
TO all except the sounds which come to
him from every point Of the compass.
This is Saturday morning, and, arriv.
ing and departing steamships are
likely to be far more numerous than
on any other day of the week On the
other side is the mate, as alert, and
watchful as the master. They com
pare notes from time to time. 4.
We'll, I've got plenty Of time" the
captain remarks at last, land it is
safer at anchor than trying to move
through this fog"
Business 10 Business.
The lead is heaved and finally the
anchor is ordered dropped. The whis-
tie Is replaced by the bell. There is
no breeze now. Over at the right q
bell that reminds one Of a cowbell is
sounding. That must be a freighter.
A sidewheeler bound for the fishing
grounds, and carrying a party Of fish.
ermen. goes dashing past with foam.
ing paddles. The fog does not delay
the load Of human freight. 1t Is going"
somewhere. Another, carrying com.
muters from the shore of New Jersey,
splashes north at a similar speed
Business is business! A steamship
with deep-throated voice slowly makes
her way up from the Ambrose channel,
and drops anchor somewhere in the
impenetrable cloud only a few hun.
dred feet away. Soon the blast of a
bugle communicates the information
that a steamship company must, re-
CARELESS of any reluctance 1t may feel
provide its passengers with another
meal, and that 1t Is about to be
served. Curiously, owing to the thin.
ness of the blanket Of mist, 1t ia DOS
sible to see the sun overhead, but
nothing beyond 200 feet on any side.
A lookout ON a mast a hundred feet
above the deck would be above the
cloud, and able to guide the move
ments OF vessel. Gradually the sun
burns up the fog, there being no wind
to blow 1t away. AS 1t thins, the an
Choir is raised again, and, leaving the
group of anchored steamships which
gradually have been unveiled, the ten.
der makes for the Ambrose channel ON
its, way out to the Ambrose channel
iightship, three or four miles at sea.
She is going" again, much to the sat.
isfaction of everyone.
Returning to the deck after dinner,
It is discovered that the breathless at.
mosphere and oily sea have been
transformed. A breeze Is blowing
freshly and the waves are white
crested. The great Gedney channel
gas and whistling buoy. which marks
the point Of divergence of the Gedney
and Ambrose channels-one Of the lar.
gest buoys in the worlds groaning
like an expiring bull as 1t says away
in the seaway and then rises slowly
to shake on In foam the water which
has momentarily submerged its huge
can body. Fog-bound steamships are
passing in and out in procession.
fountains at their bows. curling white
caps along their high black sides and
dashing spray under their counters
suggesting the breaking OF waves upon
rocky shore. They form picture
that quickens the pulses as they
sweep along across the crested seas.