Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-01-15

a good navigator and he handled that
bark under close reefed tops'ls as
well 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 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 were
desprit with us when l saw great
green wave rolling down on us from
win'ard. l shouts 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 minute he
was banged against the cabin house
and swept over 1t into the sea.
Stowman 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
where's the skipper" whispered
the mate, to me.
Hes gone overheard" replied, in
a low voice.
What in Gods name are we goin
to do?" muttered the mate.
"Why rig a storm sail in the main"
sung out Stowman; "for Gods sake do
something to try save our lives"
The mate gave the order. ITS no
good" he muttered, 1.-The drift and
the wind are too much for u.s.
We bent the sail but 1t did no good;
we were steadily going on the shoals
Stowman had left the wheel and |
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 1t was recognized the skip
per.
81 thought you were drowned" !
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 fore
and after"
He never said a word.
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.
Stowman came aft.
who's that at the wheel?" he ask
ed me.
"Cap'n Snow" answered, "and he's
steerin' plumb ashore"
"Then he wasn't washed over?"
said Stowman.
81 saw him go over the rail-" said
I, 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
to sport and the wind lulled. 1t came
again in about three minutes and
dead from nor'west.
The skipper waved his hand to.
wards the masts but said not word.
| understood him and ran forrard. The
others were sailors, all, and they had
already begun to bend a sail to the
stump Of the foremast so as to help
he old hooker out Of the pickle.
The sail filled and the vessel slowly
wore away from the westland.
Suddenly the bark lost the wind
and | ran aft. No one stood at the
wheel
Slipper" I called, and I began to
turn cold.
grabbed the wheel and brought
the bark to the wind all the time
looking around for the skipper.
cried out for Stowman and when he
came aft | asked him to take the
wheel and went down into the cabin.
I opened the captains stateroom
and there that little kid was sound
asleep Jest as calm as If he had a
been in his crib ashore.
Now, boys, you heard me say the
skipper was a steerin' with his left
hand and when his body was washed
ashore they found his right arm bro.
ken
"Who vas 1t at der veel?" asked
Hans.
"It was the skipper's spirit come