The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-11-27


market, local export freight for any port
south of Mazatlan had been left for the
next sailing.
All went well. The Pacific, living up
glass with an unruffled surface, save
where here and there the ripples marked
the run of cross currents. We rounded
point Conception, then skirting across the
edge of the Gulf of California, headed for
the Mexican coast and in due time, seven
DAYS after. made Mazatlan. Our stay
was brief; one of the coast service boats
of the company had been there two days
before and had cleaned up the little coffee
on the piers. Acapulco, our next
port and coaling station. followed in three
days. The same news awaited us there.
so, after spending the insufferable hot
night coaling, the ship, still light, again
made for the open sea.
We shaped our course for Manzanllo,
three days further south. The perfect
weather continued. That night. after the
salon dinner. when we few gathered on
the promenade deck in the shelter of the
pilot house, the captain joined us. and the
conversation turned to the unusual wealth
err even for the Pacific that we had been
enjoying; the scarcity of coffee in the
Mexican ports. | recall that the captain
remarked that it was blessing we had
been favored with such smooth water, as
otherwise the light condition of the vessel
with its enormous deck load of lumber
would have made it very disagreeable
for all hands. You see, she was what is
called in nautical parlance, top heavy.
On the third morning out, before sun
up, we made Manzanilo This small
port, in common with many others of
equal description which dot the Pacific lit
toral of Mexico, was at this time devoid
of a harbor light, and from the nature of
its narrow and tortous entrance, danger
Gus to approach and enter in the uncer-
tain early light Besides, its small num-
Der of inhabitants are, if anything, sew
eral degrees lazier than the rest of their
fellow countrymen. Under no circum-
stances could you arouse any degree of
activity in them before eight or nine
O'Clock in the morning; to get the port
pilot to come out before those hours to
board aud guide the ship in is one of the
tasks which still remains unaccomplished.
So, there was nothing to be done but keep
the ship under Storage way, describe cir
cles about the entrance, meanwhile keep
ing up an incessant roar of the ship S
sireen. When we at last made out the
dinky boat of the pilot slowly making it's
way to our sides the sun was three hours
up, and we proceeded in.
Again were we greeted with same tale
of scarcity of coffee; plenty more was on
the way from Colima fifty miles away on
the single track joining the port with that
city at the foot of the volcano; then, too,
large load was expected from Gualdala-
jara; would the captain wait day or so?
Impossible, the captain could not wait
longer than the afternoon, his schedule
would not allow it. So, at seven bells
$3.50 p. m. J. anchor was weighed and the
ship proceeded slowly to describe the cir
Gle that would bring her nose to the pass
age out. Passing out through the last
crooked turn, we at once noticed the
stiffening breeze and the consequent
swell began to make things lively aboard.
AS we gradually drew away from land the
rolling of the ship became terrific; as she
dipped from side to side the waters
bursted in through her scuppers Glanc-
ing around in search of some one of the
passengers with whom | could exchange
words as to the remarkable transforma-
ton that had taken place since our early
morning entrance to the port, saw that |
was alone and that, save a gang of sailors
who under the deck officer were busy ty-
ing down deck movables, there was not q
person in sight. The sailor qualities OF
my fellow passengers had been put to the
extreme test and they had succumbed.
Then-things began to happen. Out OF
nowheres, and with suddeness that is
peculiar to that sea and ATTITUDES, came
roar that battles descriptions; the sky dark
ened and forked tongues of lightning
leaped overhead; the sea lashed into fury
assumed form of gigantic waves in the
trough of which we became as a chip O.
!, bark. Fortunately, being on the lea o.
the vessel and close to the main compan
: ionway, | encountered no difficulty il
. ,,tr ,,,.rcolf To choltor found o.x