Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-25
Rally to the COfOrs

What horror might be lurking just ahead
Of the plunglng bow no Imagination could
picture. From where I stood. Clutching
the spokes Of the wheel. I could not even
trace the yards of the mainmast nor could
! perceive on either side the water through
which we drove II was all black sea and
sky or one solid color not so much AS a
winking star visible; the onIy gIeam Of
light aboard the faint GUNNER within the
hood OF the bnnacle Yet II was not this
which pulled so at my nerve had stood
at the wheel often before guiding a s.eat
ship through impenetrablc blaCkness and
amid the lmmcnslty Of the ocean. But then
! was one OF a crew, alert and ready
merely performing my part OF a given
task. But now | could not drive from me
the consciousness that ] stood there alone
that on all that space OF deck forward only
one solitary man CrouChcd In the blackncsss;
that below In the engine room and stoke
hole, only two more, already worn and
weary with toll, stuck grimly to their work
| that under my control this great freighter,
loaded almost to the deck beams. was ny
! ing before the storm, plunging through the
wild waters OF tho md-Atlantic with death
! lowering above In the shrek Of the storm
/ Vet chung to IL Rrimly. no longer making
| any attempt to hold any settled course
/ hut merely choosing the easier way In
/ which To meet the force Of the storm 4
| Few miles OF drift would make small differ
| onCc. ana Knew so little OF the ship under
/ me that | possessed no courage 10 fight
| for fear Of a strained butt or a frayed rope
| which might leave us n helpless wreck at
| any instant
1t was o'clock when too thoroughly
! wearled 70 stand the strain longer. I sent
! Dugan below to call the mates Leayord
! was the heavier man and the more expe-
| ricnced sailor, so, at my suggestion, he
| took the wheel while Olson went forward
| | fingered only long enough TO explain
that we were again driving back along
| the sanc course we had come over and to
hid him case the strain on the ship regard
| less OF the compass, I can recall creeping
| down the ladder and staggering down the
| stairs, but nothing more. | must have been
asleep even before reached the berth in
the captains stateroom
hand shook me. and I opened my
| eyes. For an instant ] was too dazed 10
| comprehend. The port was closed. hut
! daylight streamed through the thick glass
| Illuminating the stateroom, and ! recognized
| Olson bending over me.
II had to call YOU sir" he explained
| kindly THE main royal has broke loose,
| an t'll take all hands ter stow It again
in this wind; besides that feller Dade he's
| gin out entirely. an there's got ter be an
| other hand sent below to the stotehole".
sat up already thoroughly awake
| What time is U?"
Coin OF half after four, sir"
why l thought had Just dropped of
Any increase in the weight Of the gale
Olson?'
NO sir; don't think the wind is quite
so heavy. and it's gettin' more steady like
but there's considerable sea-"
II can tell that the way the shin pitches
she's taking water forward"
Tons O. Il; the damned hooker Is loaded
so deep she's more like wharf than a
ship"
1t was a wild scene enough when
emerged from the companion and paused
a moment in the protection of the cabin to
view the deck forward. Huge crested waves
burst over the forecastle heads Casca ding
lown on to the main deck and sweeping aft
to the scuppers amidships. The vessel stag
gered under the repeating blows, vet re-
covered with a buoyancy which gave me
renewed courage, punging forward again
to meet the next assault. There was no
Creakng of timbers as in n wooden shin
but a dull reverberaton as the great waves
struck us fiercely and burst into binding
sheets Of spray. | made no attempt at
looking to windward, but in every other
direction appeared tumblng water, gray
and hdeous in the dawn. the crest of the
racing billows seeming TO almost touch the
sky. The continuous boom as they struck
against our bows the mad Tapping Of the
loosened canvas aloft, the ceaseless Shrek
ing Of the cordage, made IA pandemonium
Of noise which rendered the human voice
almost useless. ! put my lips to Olson 5
ear
Can the three of us pass those gaskets ?'
ITS got to be done, sir unless wo let
the sail go but it's goin' to be no boys
Job"
Where's Dugan?"
"Hangln' there 20 the shrouds a waltln'
for us"
Then come on the sooner It's over with,
the BETTER
We went up the ratlines like snails. every