Ghost of Ocean Cove Read online

  Captain Saunders took Jimmy and Marion onto the long wooden wharf where they got a close-up view of both steam boats. Jimmy let out a low whistle, saying, “Wow! I want to ride one of these someday!”

  “Well, you can ride them across the San Francisco Bay all the way up the river a hundred miles,” The captain explained. “This one here is headed to Sacramento. The other one is going to Oakland.”

  One of the boat’s high-pitched steam whistles sounded out a long blast that made Marion clasp her hands over her ears. The conductor shouted, “All aboard!” A large crowd began to make their way onto the Sacramento bound paddle wheeler. Jimmy and Marion watched all this excitement for several minutes.

  “Well, I have my own ship to catch,’ the captain said. “I have to go now or they may just leave without me,” he chuckled.

  “They won’t leave without you, because you’re the captain!” Exclaimed Jimmy.

  “Well, you’re right, Jimmy, they won’t, but they might get a wee tad angry if I’m not on time. Now it’s time for you both to get back on the cable car and ride it back to the hotel.”

  “Aw, captain, we don’t want to go home. I wish that we could go with you,’ Marion whined.

  “Captain, can we see your ship?” Jimmy asked, hoping that they might get a tour.

  The captain looked up the docks and pointed. “It’s over that way, if you can see it from here with these blasted steamers blocking the way. See where all the ships are with the tall masts? My ship is the second one from the right.”

  “Oh, I just love those kinds of ships with all the sails…they are the best ones,” Marion said.

  “And you are so right, little lady, but the true sail n’ ships will soon be a memory from the past. There’s fewer and fewer every year as the steam wheelers take over.”

  Captain Saunders walked with Jimmy and Marion back to the cable car. Another Market Street car was just arriving, and quickly filled up with passengers.

  The captain gave Marion and Jimmy a kiss and a hug as he put them back on the cable car. They smiled and waved as the car rang its bell and began to move. It was now about 9 o’clock in the morning as the cable car headed back down Market Street.

  Captain Saunders turned back toward the Ferry wharves. He walked up East Street, passing several ships that were moored at the docks. Some of the ships were steam wheelers, and the rest were sailing ships with tall masts.

  There were long, narrow shed-like warehouses all along the waterfront. Many of these warehouses had wide doors along the side that were open, and horse drawn wagons were moving in and out of the buildings, bringing loads of freight to the ships in the harbor. The smell of the marine air was strong here, along with a hint of fish and pine wood from lumber stock.

  Many of the wagon drivers and dock workers waved as the captain walked by. He was a familiar face in the crowd at the wharves. He was much admired and respected by everyone who knew him.

  Captain Saunders’ ship, The Winslow, was docked off the California Street Pier. The pier was a long wooden structure that ran out into the bay for several hundred feet. Captain Saunders walked down the pier towards his ship.

  There was a wagon being unloaded as he reached the three masted schooner. A large boon-crane was lifting wood crates off the wagon and moving the freight over to the ships hold. Then the crates were lowered into the hold down into the cargo bay. The captain stopped next to the freight wagon. He examined the side of one of the crates carefully.

  “What’s in these crates?” he asked one of the dock workers who was unloading the wagon.

  “I think it’s pipes, sir!” the worker said. “The Newport Foundry is sending out a large shipment to Portland.”

  “Pipes!” exclaimed the captain is dismay. “Are there pipes in all of these crates?”

  “Yes sir! All the crates have pipe fittings, and they’re heavy, too!”

  “Why, they are going to load us down so much that we won’t be able to move….” the captain said as he lifted one of the crates to test its weight.

  “That is too heavy,” he muttered, as he put the crate back down.

  “How are we supposed to make any speed at all with this much weight?”

  Up on the main deck of the Winslow, the crew was working quickly to prepare to set sail. The ships’ rigging was inspected for fraying, and the sails were getting some last-minute patchwork. Captain Saunders walked up the gang plank to the ship’s deck. He watched as the crew worked to get the vessel ready.

  “Good morning, Captain!”

  Captain Saunders turned towards the stern and saw his first mate, Will Tuttle, walking his way.

  “Good morning, Will,” he greeted. “Is the ship almost ready to go?”

  “We’re getting there, sir! We had to adjust the load several times because of the unusually heavy freight we’ve got in the hold. I reckon we’ll be ready to set sail in about 30 minutes….”

  William Tuttle was only slightly shorter than the captain and younger - at 32 he was a strong man and he boasted a muscular frame under his navy-blue officer’s coat. His face was tanned and lean. He had beady brown eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard.

  “We’ll be ready to sail in about half an hour, then…” replied Captain Saunders. He pulled his gold watch from his vest pocket, opened its round lid, and read the time. It was 9:20.

  He cleared his throat. “Will, how is it that we are taking on such a heavy load on this run?”

  “Apparently they are dividing up the freight that the Evening Star was going to carry up to Portland. The Star has been having boiler problems and won’t be fixed until Tuesday.”

  The captain frowned, then said, “This is a much heavier load than we normally carry. We’re going to be bursting at the seams before we make Portland!”

  “I agree, captain. I’ve complained to the shipping agent this morning when I saw what they were throwing at us, but it didn’t do any good; he just turned a deaf ear and walked away. They just don’t care….”

  “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now, Will…but when we get back you can be sure that I’m going to complain to the big chiefs about this one. They’re going to turn our wonderful little ship into a scrap pile if we carry to many more loads like this one!”

  The last crate was just then being lowered into the hold. Two crewmen climbed up the ladder from below deck and secured the hatches.

  “Well, at least they’re not putting any cargo topside this time,” one of the crewmen said, looking towards the captain.

  Captain Saunders nodded his head in silence.

  “Are we ready, mates?” shouted Lt. Tuttle.

  John Seals, the ships deck master, glanced at Lt. Tuttle, saying, “Yes sir, the cargo is loaded and the ship is set to go!”

  “Let’s roll then, Mr. Seals - we’re ready to launch….”

  The deck master yelled the signal in a booming voice, “All Hands! Prepare to set sail!”

  The crewmen ran to their stations and began to work at a feverish pace to get the ship ready to go. Some sailors climbed up the ratlines and unfurled the sails. Others untied the ropes from the moorings, setting the ship adrift.

  With the fore, aft and main sails hoisted, the crewmen turned them to the most ideal angle to catch the morning sea breeze. The Winslow began to move forward ever so gracefully, her sails glistening in the sunlight.

  The ship moved slowly along the waterfront of San Francisco. The captain and Lt. Tuttle stood on the port side of the ship, watching the business district with its many piers getting smaller as they sailed farther out into the Bay. They passed Telegraph Hill and Russian Hill with many white framed Victorian houses perched high on the steep slopes.

  “Looks like we are making about 10 knots now, captain,” Lt. Tuttle said as he glanced up at the main sail to check the wind.”

  Captain Saunders nodded. “Yes. We should make it to the open sea in about half an hour. She’s a little slow now with all of this extra heavy cargo.”

 
; Lt. Tuttle shot the captain a worried look. “Yes, indeed…hopefully we’ll pick up some speed once we’re through the Golden Gate.”

  There was a pause in the conversation. Both men watched as the city passed by along on the south shore of the Bay. The buildings were more distant now, and the city was getting smaller and smaller as they sailed away from it.

  The captain looked up at the main mast and glanced over at the flags, now waving furiously in the wind. He turned toward his first mate. “I’m going down to the galley to get some tea. Then I will be in my quarters, Mr. Tuttle. I have to review some documents and make some correspondence.”

  “Aye, Captain, I may join you later.”

  Captain Saunders walked briskly up the deck toward the galley. Lt. Tuttle watched as he went his way - and he knew that there was something different about him; he seemed gloomy and distant today. Lt. Tuttle began to feel it too…a sense that something was about to happen, something completely out of their ability to control.

  Chapter Three:

  A Day at Sea

  By 11ock the Winslow was out in the wide-open sea, following the jagged California coastline northwards towards Bodega Bay. They were making about 12 knots with some steady sea breezes.

  Captain Saunders sat behind an oak desk in his cabin. The cabin was located on the deck at the stern. It was a comfortable room with wooden beams on the ceiling, wood paneled walls, a captain’s bed, a small dining table with chairs, several oil lamps, and up on a sideboard behind the desk, a chime clock. It was an ideal place to get away from the rigors of the sea.

  There was a knock at the cabin door. The captain walked over and opened it. The ships young steward, a boy of questionable age, held out a cup of steaming hot tea.

  “Your tea, captain!” He said cheerfully.

  “Why, thank you, Travis. This tea is very good, keep that pot warm for me, will you?”

  “Yes, sir, you bet we will. Lunch will be served at 12 o’clock. Do you want me to bring it to your cabin?”

  “Oh no, I’ll be going to the galley for lunch.”

  “Yes, sir!” The boy turned and walked towards the entry door. Just as the steward was leaving, Lt. Tuttle entered, holding a tin cup.

  “Mr. Tuttle!” The captain greeted. “Come on in and sit for a spell. Whatcha drinkin’ there, that stiff as sludge coffee concoction?”

  Lt. Tuttle let out a robust laugh.

  “You betcha sir. It’s my favorite hot sludge to slurp.”

  The captain laughed as he walked over to his desk and sat down. Lt. Tuttle sat down in a chair on the opposite side of the desk.

  “Is Bradley at the helm?” The captain asked.

  “Yes. Bradley and also Thompson on relief.”

  “That’s good…keep only our most experienced men on the helm while we are carrying this extra heavy load…all this drag has got to make her a challenge to steer, especially if we hit any sudden cross winds or choppy waters.”

  Lt. Tuttle nodded his head, saying, “Yes, that would not be good if we encountered problems like that…. let’s hope not. It looks like fair sailing right now, we’re doing about 12 knots.”

  “That’s a decent clip considering our weight,” the captain answered. He looked out the window to his left for a few seconds, then coughed.

  “Will, do you remember last month when we hit bottom near Crescent City?”

  “Oh, yes! Couldn’t forget that. That was during our last lumber run up the Klamath River.”

  The captain continued: “That was a pretty hard jolt…and it seems like the ship has never handled the same since then.”

  “I agree, sir. I think that our dear ship is beginning to show her age.”

  “Well, she’s fourteen years old.” The captain calculated. “Built in 1871.”

  Lt. Tuttle took a long sip of his coffee, then he looked up. “We have gone over the ship with a fine-toothed comb, though sir, and her timbers are sound and we haven’t any major leaks.”

  There was another short pause in the conversation. Lt. Tuttle looked up at the chime clock that was ticking rhythmically on the sideboard behind the captain. He seemed to be in deep thought.

  “Captain,” he began. “The men have been talking, saying that you have a lady friend.”

  Captain Saunders looked over at his first mate, ran his fingers through his hair, and grinned.

  “That’s true……I knew some of the men saw me with her at the Palace Theater night before last. I tried ducking into the crowd, but it seems that it didn’t work. Yep, they spotted us.”

  “Ah, well, captain, who is the lucky lady?”

  “Her name is Emily Street. We met at the restaurant at the Grand Hotel.”

  “How old is she?

  “She’s 32, and she has a home south of Market Street. We’ve been seeing each other since June.”

  Lt. Tuttle smiled and twirled his empty coffee tin around his index finger.

  “Well, captain…sounds like she’s the one…and from what I’ve heard, a very attractive lady at that!”

  “Yes, yes indeed!” The captain replied. “She’s a remarkable woman. She lost her husband about a year ago from a sudden illness. Now she is raising a family on her own…a boy and a girl. Jimmy and Marion…such a fine young man, and little Marion…a splittin’ image of her mom.”

  The captain paused to take a drink of his tea. He heaved a long sigh as he put the cup down.

  “You know, Will, I have never been a family man…my life has always been the sea. But I’m not so young anymore…maybe it’s time that I tied the knot.”

  Lt. Tuttle’s eyebrows raised slightly at this comment.

  “What are you thinking, captain?” he said.

  Captain Saunders pulled some keys off the sideboard. “Let me show you something, Will,” he said. He unlocked a desk drawer and pulled it open. He took the lock box from the drawer and opened it, taking the rings out and placing them on the desk. He opened the lid of the ring box slowly. The two rings, mounted on a felt backing, sparkled like the sun when it reflects off ripples on a crystal-clear lake.

  Lt. Tuttle let out a low whistle as he caught sight of them. “Wow! Those are real pretty, captain!” he exclaimed.

  “Not bad, hey?” The captain said with a chuckle. “I bought them Friday at Levison’s on Sutter Street.”

  Lt. Tuttle smiled. “So, it’s safe to say that you are going to ask this Emily Street’s hand in marriage?”

  “You guessed right,” the captain affirmed. “I was going to ask her last night, but dang it! I got cold feet. I don’t know why that always happens…”

  “Well, there’s always a next time!” Lt. Tuttle said. “What woman would turn you down, sir? Why, you’re the best catch this side of the Sierras!”

  The captain heaved a long, hearty laugh. “Well, I don’t know about that…I’m not the easiest man to live with, and I’m pretty much set in my ways; not many women would put up with me - but she is different…very patient and understanding.”

  “You need to give yourself more credit, sir. You’ve always been there when it counted the most.”

  “I’m glad you see it that way, Will.”

  “It sounds like you two should make a perfect match though, captain.”

  The captain took another sip of tea and stared into his cup as he swirled the tea around. “Yes. I just have to get the courage up to ask that blasted question.”

  Lt. Tuttle laughed again. “I have never known you not to be a man of courage. Why, you are one of the bravest out here as far as I’m concerned!”

  The captain also let out a prolonged laugh, then there was a short pause. Lt. Tuttle cleared his throat.

  “When do you think you two will be getting married, captain?”

  “It’s entirely up to her. Who knows, she just may want to get married right away. Or she may want to wait to have a large church wedding.”

  “I bet that she’s going to snag you up out of the sea in no time flat!” Lt. Tuttle said with a laug
h.

  Captain Saunders smiled as he sat back in his chair and lit his pipe. “Well, I’d say that she is a lucky catch, but I don’t know about me.”

  Lt. Tuttle suddenly got a very serious look on his face. “It’s going to be tricky to balance a life at sea and a marriage, sir…excuse me for saying so.”

  “That may be,” replied the captain. “But we are getting more shore leave all of the time as our business is trickling away to the steamers. We used to be able to outrun them, and we still can on a good day. But, it’s safe to say that the time of the wooden sailing ships is drawing to a close.”

  “We can outrun those blasted steamers any day, I’d stake my reputation on it!” The Lieutenant challenged.

  “Well, as they say, “replied the captain. “If God wanted us out here in a bucket o’ bolts he would have made trees of iron.”

  The ship began to gently rock and sway, prompting the captain to walk over and peer out a side window. Mr. Tuttle came over and stood by his side.

  “Looks like we’re starting to get some swells, Will.”

  Mr. Tuttle glanced over at the captain. “I’ll go topside and check it out,” he replied.

  “Okay. I’ll be at the galley for lunch when it’s ready. See you then.”

  The Lieutenant waved as he walked out of the cabin. Captain Saunders walked back over to the window and looked out again. The sky was becoming overcast and the waves were getting white caps. This worried him.

  The captain and Lt. Tuttle ate lunch with the crew at 12 o’clock. The cook served up a hearty portion of ham and beans, bread and cheese. The men were always delighted when the captain ate with them, sitting at a long wood table amid ship. The men joked around a bit about the now well known ‘secret’ about the captain’s lady friend. They all agreed that he had made a good catch.

  Around 4 o’clock in the afternoon the winds began to increase from the south. The ocean was becoming quite treacherous, raking the Winslow with waves of six feet. Lt. Tuttle ordered the men to reef the sails to ready the ship for a storm.