The Republican journal., 1913-05-29
FOR ssLk sYY our GROCER.

rain, snow and sleeJ. The storm went
on, constantly increasing, and the next
day (20th) it again claimed the name of
hurricane. with tremendous sea run
ming. They laidto all day and part of
the next with drag out ahead. making
very bad weather Of it, and expecting
to lose the foresail every minute. On
the 22nd the weather continued thick and
heavy, with tremendous sea running.
At II. 80 a. M, however, the sky cleared,
and the Captain, dashed to the mast, sue
ceeded in taxing an observation, the first
they had taken in several days-Lat.
1928. On the 23rd the weather con-
tinued very heavy and the boat passed a
bark under close reefs, heading west.
The schooner was hove-to six hours
this day, but resumed her course in the
evening and kept on through the next
day, although there was a heavy gale
blowing, and a sea running, which the
skipper found it almost impossible 70
contend Aith. On the 24th the captain
was obliged to lay-t0 ana at I. 30 p. m.
squat from the north west struck the
vessel, which buri.d her To her matches,
where she remained for two minutes. nc
or go down. AT length she rghted, ship
ping sea which swept the decks fore
and aft. one man narrowly escaping be-
ing washed overheard. At 3. 80 p. m.
the gale had moderated somewhat ana
the boat was wore around and put on her
course to the eastward. Two minutes
later heavy sea popped her and nearly
washed the man at the wheel overheard.
With that she preached TO and all was
supposed to be lost, but fortunately the
vessel shook herself clear and was
brought to and laid head to the wind,
every sea making a clean breach over
her, with furious wind and rain. The
next day and the next (26th and 27th)
the gale continued with unabated vio-
lence, and, at length increased to per-
feet hurricane, with the vessel laborlng
very heavily. The drag was now thrown
overheard and small piece of storm
| trysail shown to bring her head up to
wind, but the hawser parted, losing
sixty fathom with squaresail boom
and yards and two pieces of pig iron.
While laying to during this protracted
and unparalleled tempest it was neces-
sary to keep the matches of the Romer
constantly closed and the crew and pas
sengers were confined below in the little
cabin. The wild seas were leaping and
dashing themselves across the decks
| like Infatuated animals, while the hurri
cane howled and shrieked among the
cordage like the prophetic voice of a
dire destroyer which came at once to
warn and destroy.
For three days and three nights at one
time all were confined below, not know
ing at every sharp dip of the little boat
into the tremendous CULTS between the
seas whether she would struggle up
again to the cir or sink further and fur
Their with her living freight to those
dreary depths of mid-ocean where so
many CHASTITY and imperishabe wrecks
of things have passed from the knowledge
and the memory of man.
Along the dark and ruffied waters fled
The strainng boat. A whirlwind swept it on
With fierce gusts and precipitatng force
Through the white ridges of the foaming sea
The waves arose, higher and higher, till
They roared and writhed beneath the tempest
scourge.
Like serpents struggling in vultures grasp.
Fearful and long protracted was the
struggle between that little boat and the
cool and determined skill of those who
directed it on the mighty ocean dashed
| into its most magnificent grandeur by
the tempest. Often did hope quite aban-
don them. Sometimes the Captain or
the mate would creep to the companion
way, cautiously open the hatch a little
way and look out TO see the weather and
watch the comDing seas as they tumbled
their mountain masses towards the little
vessel and instantly closing the hatch as
she buried her bows in the waves which
passed over her in furious trample,
making the little craft shudder in every
timber. Once was great fear that if
she escaped being sWamped her decks
would be broken open or her seams
wrenched apart from the terrible punish
ment she was undergoing. In that case
she would have filled and gone down ere
the luckless voyagers had a last glimpse
of the sky.
| But the glorious little clipper lived
through it all, and on the afternoon of
the 9th resumed her course once more,
skimming the dark waters like bird, on
to the eastward. March LIST she passed
and spoke the packet ship ST. Patrick
from Liverpool for New York and on the
4th, for the first time during the voyage,
dry spot was visible on her decks. AT
4.30 p. m. on the 9th she made the
Sicily Rocks, bearing north-northeast,
distance IS miles, and at II p. m. made
Cape Clear light, 16 miles distant.
The next morning at 9 o'clock a pilot
boat came alongside, and pilot
was bargained for to take the Romer
into Cork. A line was thrown from the
Irish boat to the Romer, in the center of
which tight moose was securely fasten-
ed to the pilot, who then jumped into the
sea, his friends keeping tight hold Of the
other end of the rope. He was now haul
ed on board the Romer and jumping on
deck with the water dripping from him
in streams he made dash at the wheel,
singing out in most Indifferent manner,
Port your helm." On being asked by
Capt. Mcclure if he would take some
thing to prevent him taking cold. he pull
ed out Father Matthew temperance
| medal. which he said with q smile was