Try for her in Fifty

Name: Try for her in Fifty
Author: W. Clark Russell

A sea narrative recounts events experienced by a merchant marine officer who, after recovering from illness in a busy Cape Town, secures a position aboard a colonial schooner bound for Sydney. The ship, under the command of a well-educated and emotionally sensitive officer, leaves amid the bustling maritime activity of Table Bay. Early in the voyage, the narrator boards the vessel and quickly notes the captain’s refined manners and uncommon gentlemanly bearing, setting him apart from the typical rugged seafarer. Once at sea, the schooner encounters dramatic weather. Following a day of violent storm and severe gales that nearly overwhelm the vessel, the captain’s state of mind is revealed by his subdued demeanor and recurring discourse on dreams. He confides that, for three nights, he has been haunted by a vision in which an unknown voice repeatedly implores, “Try for her in fifty!” Though the narrator is skeptical about the significance of dreams, the captain’s fixation on the mysterious message grows with each repetition. Over the ensuing days, the ship sails steadily along an eastward course near the latitude of 50° South. During this period, the crew encounters an abandoned quarter-boat bearing the name “Prairie Chief.” Upon boarding the small craft, they discover one nearly lifeless sailor and remnants of a wreck. The recovered man, later identified as James Dickens, relates a harrowing account of a separate shipwreck. In his narrative, the barque in question had been caught in heavy weather and struck an iceberg, resulting in the disintegration of the ship and the loss of many lives. Dickens explains that among those rescued from the deadly drift were several crew members, a few survivors from the wreck, and notably two female passengers. One of the women, he reveals, is the wife of Captain Huddersfield. The captain’s reaction is one of shock and grief when he learns that his long-absent wife was aboard the doomed vessel. His previous calm is replaced by an unbridled urgency and passionate determination. Consumed by the recurring dream and its cryptic call, he hastily recalculates his position. With conviction, he interprets “fifty” as fifty-one degrees of south latitude—a point he believes corresponds to the location where the ill-fated vessel encountered the iceberg. Driven by an almost fanatical need to rescue his wife, the captain orders the schooner to alter its course. Navigational calculations and the captain’s interpretation of his dream lead the ship further south. For days they remain at a steady latitude, scanning the seemingly placid yet treacherous ocean. At midnight one day, the routine watch on deck brings news of an ice formation ahead. As the vessel nears the area, an ice island emerges—a vast, pale structure that both mesmerizes and portends danger. Further examination reveals wreckage embedded in the ice, along with smoke and signs of life. The crew launches a boat to investigate and finds a group of survivors clinging to the frozen debris, including the captain’s wife, who had narrowly escaped death when her ship broke apart upon striking an iceberg. The rescue unfolds with a mix of maritime precision and deep personal emotion. The captain, visibly distraught and emotionally charged, rushes to recover the survivors. In a scene marked by intense grief and overwhelming relief, he embraces his wife while the rescued group—comprising several men and two women—boards the schooner. The narrative interweaves detailed descriptions of nautical procedures, the raw force of nature, and the emotional turbulence of a man torn between his duty as a captain and his personal anguish. Ultimately, the tale is one of survival and the interplay between fate and human emotion at sea. The captain’s persistent quest, inspired by a dream that haunted him repeatedly, transforms into a desperate rescue mission. The haunting refrain “Try for her in fifty!” evolves from a mysterious, almost supernatural message to a concrete navigational and emotional guideline, leading not only to the salvation of a shipwrecked crew but also to the reconciliation of a man with a deep personal loss.

By W. Clark Russell · First published 1877 · Genre: Maritime Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction · 8,965 words

First lines

The following extraordinary story was told to me some years ago by the commander of a steamship in which I was making a voyage for my health. The captain, who, as we shall see, had himself shared in the experience he related, began his tale thus: -

"A good many years ago I was in Capetown, having been forced by illness to quit my post as second mate of a large ship bound to Bombay. A fortnight after the ship sailed, I recovered my health and was fit for work.

What this Textopian page supports

Try for her in Fifty is listed on Textopian as a short story by W. Clark Russell, dated 1877 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: W. Clark Russell
Date: 1877 CE
Language: English
Genres: Maritime Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Disaster/Survival Fiction, Nautical Realism
Length: 8,965 words
Structure: 1 section, 106 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Maritime Fiction — The narrative is set entirely on the sea, focusing on ships, nautical life, and authentic maritime details.
Adventure Fiction — The plot centers on a dramatic sea voyage, perilous weather, shipwrecks, and daring rescues that define the adventure genre.
Historical Fiction — The work reflects detailed period-specific maritime practices and colonial settings, embedding it in a historical context.
Disaster/Survival Fiction — The account of catastrophic weather, icebergs, and survival against nature's fury aligns with disaster and survival themes.