Tuesday, December 06, 2022

Florida Keys' Watercolor Kapers - Wrecker's Tale

Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers
by Bob Kranich

Wrecker’s Tale, (Part 11, Excerpt 62)

This is a new story, titled “Wrecker’s Tale”. Captain Dan Benson is the captain of a two-masted schooner , the Jenney Mae. His schooner is used to take his pineapples from his plantation to market and also wrecking. Wrecking means he will go out to a shipwreck and save people, ship, and cargo. It is an additional lucrative business because of the many storms and the reefs along the Keys. He and his sailing crew ran into a “No Wind” area off Charleston, South Carolina and had to pull their ship in to the harbor with man power. They sold their cargo of pineapples at the best price they could get to the Charleston Port owner and are now heading back to the Florida Keys.

Wrecker’s Tale

That afternoon…

“We’ll be off Miami shortly, but we won’t be able to see a thing. It’s getting dark, and we’re fighting the waves,” John commented.

“It’s a storm for sure, John. I checked the barometer. It’s dropping.”

“I’ve had the men batten down the hatches.” John said, just as the first rain drops were flung into his face.

A few minutes later the rain was pelting them hard. Then it was hail, bouncing loud and fast off all parts of the boat and covering all parts of the deck making it hard for the men to work. Then as suddenly as it started, it stopped.

“Quick, men drop the jib sails!” the captain commanded.

It was dark as night and twelve noon! The waves were crashing over the sides and onto the deck. The Jenney May was rising high up on one wave and plunging down into the trough of another.

John yelled, “Roberts, help me hold the wheel!”

Captain Dan was down below with the charts plotting a course because they were making the turn into the Hawk Channel approaching the Keys. They needed to keep moving but they must avoid the shoals and the reefsCaptain Dan struggled up to topside. The ship was careening at all angles. He grabbed a safety line and worked his way to the wheel.

Cupping his hands, he yelled, “Due South men. Just as soon as we see the Cape Florida Light on the starboard. Then we continue to pray the lightship Florida is still at her moorings at Carysfort Reef, and the light is on. If it is we can be sure we’ll keep off it.”

“She is dying down some, Sir!” Roberts reported.

The wind was slowing.

There’s Cape Florida light!” John pointed forward off the starboard side.

“Where, John? I don’t see it,” the captain questioned.

“It was just a flash through the rain.” John answered.

Just then a lookout posted on the bow sang out, “Light on the starboard!”

The waves cut back a bit, but the Jenney May was still jumping like a hooked fish.

“Thank the Good Lord,” the captain exclaimed, “Ok, men, keep our bearings due south and have that man up front continue looking for the next light.”

The storm had abated somewhat. It could now be called a squall. Winds were gusting at sixty miles per hour, with rain continuing to pelt the ship and men. The waves were still ferocious, only the Jenney May didn’t have to climb mountains of water higher than herself.

Carysfort light dead ahead!” the lookout cried out from the bow.

“John!” Captain Dan called, “Ease to port! We're heading straight for the reef!”

“That should do it, Capt’n. I can see the waves hitting it.”

“Wreck ashore!” came the call from the bow lookout. “She’s on the rocks at the far end of the reef!”

John said, “Capt’n she’s a three master. We goin’ into action?”

“You bet, John! Tak’er just past the reef. Get as close as you can, but see that we don’t get pushed into the rocks. Then we’ll drop our two anchors.”

“The wind has slowed some, but it’s still dangerous! The tide’s running in, and that should help us.” The captain added.

They went in just past the three-masted cargo sailing ship. She was definitely up on the rocks but still floating. They then carefully eased closer and dropped their two anchors, front and rear. By letting out anchor chain they got even closer to the flailing ship. The wind, waves and tide kept them in the position they wanted to be in.

“I need one quarter-boat made ready. Launch on the lee side* of our boat. Five men for rowers, I’m the sixth. John, when you see us coming back, if I give the high sign prepare to launch the other quarter-boat. We’ll need one of the extra anchors and chain. We’ll drop it out against the wind in front of the wreck.”

“Aye, Sir!”

“Push off, men. We’ll get close,” The captain commanded just as soon as he stepped into the long boat.

It was hard rowing in the running seas and wind. As they got close, Dan could see some men lining the rail. There was also an older man with his long white beard blowing in the wind.

“That must be the captain,” Dan exclaimed, “Bring me in close.”

Dan half stood up and hollered, “Dan Benson, licensed Key West wrecker of the schooner Jenney May. Do you accept assistance?”
“Ahoy, Dan Benson. Captain James of the ship Victoria. Yes, we need help.”

Cupping his hands Dan yelled, “We’re going to come back with an anchor. Prepare a hawser* from your capstan* for our anchor. We want to stop you from going any further on the rocks. All right men, pull back to the Jenney. I’ll give John the sign. I need two volunteers to help John with the anchor,” as all hands went up. “Thanks, men. Just two, Roberts and Clyde. The rest of us will prepare to go back with the tools loaded.”

As they pulled up to the Jenney May they could see John and his men had the other quarter-boat ready to launch. A huge extra anchor was draped over the stern of the quarter-boat. As they got close, John’s men lowered the second quarter-boat. Both Clyde and Roberts jumped in it. Dan’s men tied their boat tight to the Jenney May and climbed aboard. John was the last to go over the side.

Just before they pulled away John said, “Capt’n, I just saw our sloop leaving Key Largo. Jonathan must have spotted us and the wreck!”

“Good, We’ll need him. John, swing in to the wreck. Captain James is going to have you a hawser line to attach to our anchor. When you get that anchor dropped, pull back to the wreck. I’ll come in with the sloop.”

John’s Aye! Aye! blew away with the wind and spray. Before he could grab a seat, the five men, not waiting for a command, dug in their oars.

“Ahoy! Jenney May!” It was Jonathan with the sloop.

“Come around lee side, Jonathan,” Dan yelled as he motioned.

The sloop came around the Jenney May right up to the quarter boat.

“You two men stay and prepare for cargo coming aboard.” Captain Dan said to the men from the long boat. “Lets get in the sloop Benjamin.”

They jumped up and climbed into the sloop.

“Good to see you and the men, Jonathan. You ready to go over to the wreck and pick up some cargo?”

“Ready, Sir. We’ve been watching. Saw the ship go aground, but couldn’t get out. The weather was too bad. Finally got out as you came up.”

“Jonathan, I figure we’ll relay, fill you up two or three times and bring it over to the Jenney May. Then we’ll both go in to the dock to off load, and come right back.”

“I’ve got the bumpers on the sides, Sir. Figure they may cushion the bumps and grinds,” Jonathan said.

All this was being discussed as Jonathan skillfully maneuvered the sloop right up close to the wreck.

“Anchor’s out, Sir!” One of Jonathan’s men called out.

“Thank you, Smith,” Jonathan acknowledged.

John’s quarter-boat came up alongside the sloop. “Jump in, men, and we’ll take you up to the wreck,” John yelled.

They all climbed out of the lashed and pitching quarter-boat up onto the Victoria.

Captain James and his crewmen were right there helping the Jenney May’s seamen on board.

“Glad for your assistance, Captain Dan,” he said as he extended his hand, “We’re ready to tighten up the hawser to your anchor. It would help if we had all hands.”

“Ok, men, follow Captain James to the capstan. Everyone grab a bar,” Captain Dan commanded.

There were ten capstan bars nine foot in length. Two men got on each bar. The hawser rope went out the front side of the Victoria and to the anchor John had deployed.

“John, do the honors,” Dan said.

“All right, men, Heave ho! We’re going to go!”

All of the men at the sound of “Heave” pushed hard. In the base of the capstan were notches, and the pawls dropped into notches so the capstan wouldn't unwind. It turned easy at first, then the rope tightened on the anchor. It loosened suddenly. The anchor must have slipped. But then it dug in.
“Heave! Ho! Heave Ho!” John sang as the men strained.

From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s SouthWest Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969. bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich

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