Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-06-07
CHAPTER v.
The Captain Makes a Friend.

TIyE minutes later he was at the
street corner inquiring Of po-
liceman 1.-The handiest way to get
to Pine street." Following the direc-
tions given, he boarded train at the
nearest subway station, emerged at
Wall street, inquired once more, To-
Gated the street he was looking for
and, consulting card which he took
from a big stained leather pocketbook,
walked on, peering at the numbers Of
the buildings he passed.
The offices OF Sylvester, Kuhn &
Graves were on the sixteenth floor Of
a new and gorgeously appointed sky
Scraper. When Captain Elisha entered
the firms reception room he was &C
costed by a wide awake and extremely
self possessed Office boy.
Informed by the none too courteous
lad that none of the firm was in, he
left his card, saying he'd return later.
Captain Elisha strOlled down Pine
street, looking about him with interest
1t had been years since he visited this
locality, and the changes were many
Soon, however, he began TO recognize
familiar landmarks. He was approach
ing the water front, and there were
fewer new buildings. When he reached
South street he was thoroughly at
home.
The docks were crowded The river
was alive with small craft of all kinds.
Steamers and schooners were plenty,
but the captain missed the old square
rlggers, the clipper ships and banks,
such as he had sailed in as cabin boy,
ed on many seas.
At length, however, he saw four masts
towering above the roof of freight
house. They were not schooner rugged,
those masts. The yards were set square
across, and along with them were furl-
ed royals and upper topsails. Here at
last was a craft worth looking at Cap
tain Elisha crossed the street, hurried
past the covered freight house and saw
magnificent great ship lying beside q
broad, open wharf. Down the wharf
be walked joyfully, as one who greets
an old friend.
The wharf was practically deserted
An ancient Waterman was doing in q
sort of sLGtry box, but he did not wake
There was pile OF foreign looking
crates and boxes at the farther end of
the pier, evidently the last bit of cargo
waiting to be carted away. The cap
tain inspected the pile, recognized the
goods as Chinese and japanese, then
read the name on the big ships stern
She was the Empress Of the Ocean, and
her home port was Liverpool.
The captain strolled about, looking
her over. The number of improvements
since his seagoing days was astonish
Ing He was standing by the wheel
near the companiOnway, wishing tina
he might inspect the officers quarters
but not liking to do so without an in
vitation, when two men emerged from
the cabin.
One Of the pair was evidently tn,
japanese steward Of the ship. The 9th
>er was tall, clean cut young fellow
whose general appearance and lack o.
sunburn showed quite plainly that b,
was not seafaring man by profession
He said he was friend of one of thu
.consignees and would be pleased Il
show the captain over the ship.
Captain Elisha, delighted with tn,
opportunity, expressed his thanks, ant
the tour Of inspection began. TIL,
steward remained on deck, but tn,
captain and his new Acquaintance,
strolled through the officers quarter
together
"Jerushy!' exclaimed the former a
he viewed the main cabin. Say, 70,
could pretty nigh have a dance here
couldn't you? A small one. This re
minds me of the cabin aboard the Sea
gull first vessel / went mate Oft
so different. Aboard her we had t.
walk sittin' down. There want room
in the cabin for more'n one to stan,
up alta time. But she could SAIL jus
the same, and carry 1t too. I've seel
her off the Horn with studdin' sail
set when craft twice her length an
tonnage had everything furled abov
the topsl yard. Hi hunt You muslin
miud an old salt runnin' on this way
I've been out of the pickle tub a goo
while, but l cal'late the brine amt al
out Of my system"
His guides eyes snapped.
II understand" he said laughing
tive never been at sea on ldsg voy
age in my life, but l can understan
Just how you feel. It's in my blood
guess. l come of salt water line
My people were from Belfast, Me- an
every man Of them went to sea-"
Belfast, heyl They turned on
some A No. sailors in Belfast.