The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-01-18
Offshore and On shore.
A Rough Experience on the Maine Coast
in Mid-Winter.

the coast SOunQlngS anu rignI alonR up
channel to the sight of Nausett's triple
lights.
The wind then backed to the north
with sting in its breath and scowl on
the face. We went off on the port tack
there was no other way-and it seemed
wise to gain an offing before change
Portland bark Mary C. Fox had been
hanging t. our wake but did not longer
follow our lead; she tackled just under
our lee when but few miles off shore.
1t was a tragic movement for ship and
crew-the next night she was broken to
bits on Pollock Rip Shoal.
We stretched away as best We could,
but were not able to reach off as far as
desired before the wind went fiercely to
the east with binding snow. Wore
ship and unwillingy reduced sail-it
would be right to lug as much sail as
prudence might permit in order to hold
the distance from lee shore. |
The snow was driving hard and every
new gust of the wind became more
shril and strong.
Our craft was a brigantine OF handy
rig, and sails cut small The rather
large foresail was hauled up and slowed
in season. and then, with Increase of
wind, the weather foreyard arm buckIed
up like a bow-hence the lower topsail
must come In, and at midnight it was
"All hands aloft'' to smother its folds
and silence its barking-leaving but
three small sails set.
Under those conditions, and with seas
standing on end. but little better than a
dead lee-drift could be made.
1t was bitter night! to be followed
by belated daylight and wild morn
ing.
The craft was tight, sails and gear
were good, and there was an able crew
of Russian Poles. Even this worn down
writer might now we'll wish to be half as
strong as then-two score and five years
ago. But those were days when sailor
men were lSdIl6SS anu SlIOIlS anu ulu not
whimper. To the Russians, snow and
ice seemed to be no more than pleasing
incidents of the work.
The Polander second-mate was feath-
er-weight of only two hundred and forty
pounds, in perfect form. He wore num-
Der twelve boots, stuffed straw into them
around his legs, and used a thin feather
bed for blanket. When the fog horn
had been lost overheard he made a wood
en- one, as thin and resounding as fiddle
back, and it served its purpose very well. |
After thirty strenuous hours our fierce
gale let go, the sea went down and the |
weather partly cleared away, Showing
the pitch of the Cape no more than thu ee
miles under the lee.
1t had been close call: few hours
longer drift and in spite Of human skill |
or strength we would have been securing
in the sands of Cape Cod.
We were bound to Saint John, N. B.
not very common destination for Amer
lean vessels, in winter season.
After calm and dismal day there was
half-hearted cear-off with but a sickly |
wind coming out from the west
Our troubles were not over-tbev had |
hardly begun.
We kept away for the coast of Maine:
the wind backed around to the southeast
with sure promise of troublesome
weather.
When we had reached down to Mon
hogan it began to snow, thick and fast,
with a strong gale directly on shore.
There was then nothing possible, to do
but to seek for tarbor of safety.
In those days there were but few har-
bor-charts and my knowledge of the
smelt-brooks and narrow. rocky channels
of the home-state-coast was limited in
deed. Had almost never sailed on coast-l
ing vessels-the only place where actua
valued knowledge OF pilotship may he
obtained.
Have always strongly believed in
Luck, good or bad, and the good was
with US that afternoon. In the binding
snow we made new bell buoy, ahead,
off South Breaker, kept away and in few
minutes made the snow on White Head,
then followed string of black lodges
along to the entrance of Seal Harbor,
ran in and let go two anchors, in safety
and clear berth just at the very dawn
of darkness!
1t was happy evening, but perhaps we
did not fully appreciate our good fortune
until midnight. when blizzard came out
from the north with sleet in its claws. 1t
would indeed have been wild night at
seal
In that safe harbor we laid two days,
with ice making all around. There looked
to be some prospect of freezing in and
having considerable delay. The wind
backed to the Nor west, bitterly cold but
fair overhead. If good judgment had
been in command the anchors would have
remained down. But we got underway
and endeavored to pass out and along
through the channel.