Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-10-28

w - - HVi oaSe'
~ - Capt. Snow was
a good navigator and he handled that
bark under close reefed tops'ls as
we'll as any man could, but he had
most unreasonable craft in the Phoebe
Clement. She never wanted to do
anything that was asked of her.
The skipper had brought his little
son with him on this voyage. He
was a taut little kid and all Of us
were fond of him. The captain had
lost his wife and this little boy was
the apple of his eye.
1t was just at dusk and things we're
desprit with us when l saw a great
green wave rolling down on US from
wizard. / shouts a warnin' and
jumps into the fore rigging. The men
In the waist saved themselves by grab
bing whatever'd hold 'em fast, but the
man at the wheel went over the rail
as the bark heeled down the shock of
that mighty wave. The skipper was
clinging to the backstay but when he
saw the man at the wheel go over he
sprang for the spokes. Some how he
missed his hold and in a minute he
was banged against the cabin house
and swept over it into the sea.
Snowman ran to the wheel and we
slid down from the rigging and began
cutting and slashing at the mess of
tangle of ropes which held the spars
to the vessels side.
tfNUhnrnSC fhn olrfnnnr0O xx1hf
the mate, to me.
Hes gone overheard" l replied, in
a low voice
what in Gods name arc we goin'
to do?" muttercd the mate
"Why rig a storm sail in me MAN,"
sung out Snowman; "for Gods sake do
something to try save our lives"
The mate gave the order. Its no
good" he muttered, "the drift and
the wind are too much for u.s."
We bent the sail but it did no good;
we were steadily going on the shoals.
Snowman had left the wheel and 1
had taken his place. The mate. scared
to death, was crouching in the lee of
the cabin house and the others were
forrard
Dark as it was recognized the skip
per.
81 thought you were drowned" I
gasped.
He didn't answer but commenced to
put the wheel to starboard.
"My God, skipper" cried. you're
putting her ashore. This isn't a fore
and after"
He never said word
l noticed that he was steering with
his left hand and that the bark was
answering to the helm for the first
time since she had gotten in the drift
Snowman came aft.
who's that at the wheel?" he ask
ed me.
"Cap'n Snow" answered, land he's
steerin plumb ashore"
Then he wasn't washed over?"
said Snowman.
Il saw him go over the rail-" said
[, staring at the figure at the wheel.
With the helm hard as a starboard
the bark went straight for the break
ers and / held my breath waitin' for
her to strike.
Then the skipper shot the spokes
% sport and the wind lulled. 1t came
again In about three minutes and
lead from nor'west.
The skipper waved his hand to-
Yards the masts but said not a word.
understood him and ran forrard. The
'thers were sailors, all. and they had
llready begun TO bend a sail to the
tump of the foremost so as to help
he old hooker out of the pickle.
q The sail filled and the vessel slowly
Vore away from the westland. !
Suddenly the bark lost the wind I
nd ran aft. No one stood at the I
Wheel
slipper" I called. and I began to
urn cold.
l grabbed the wheel and brought
he bark to the wind all the time
boxing around for the skipper.
ried out for Snowman and when he
anne aft | asked him to take the
Wheel and went down into the cabin.
l opened the captains stateroom
nd there that little kid was sound
sleep Jest as calm as II he had a
'een In his crib ashore.
Now, boys, you heard me say the
hpper was steerin' with his left
'and and when his body 'as washed
shore they found his right arm bro
Ten.
Who vas IL at der veel?" asked
Ians.
1T was the slippers spirit come
ave his little boy" replied Jim.