The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-12-17

Bob il right, IL his excitement does
make him forget his manners, p" said the
mate. 1T was not my intention TO de-
! sert Captain Luster in trouble. The
men were 80 frightened that l thought
it best to come back and get nsw set"
There was some difficulty in procur-
ing the requisite number, aud accord
ingly Prescott aud myself were accept
| ed. As the former went over the ships
side, Florence Harris said, Don't you
come back Edmund, until you have
heard what has become Of poor Captain
Luster."
He gave her his promise; and few
minutes later the boat showed off, and
we rapidly neared the hulk, which had
qnired such Il strange interest to us all.
Prescott, in addition to his revolver,
had small Italian dagger, which had
observed him handle, as il TO assure
himself that il wac raliable. Then, as
rs lie replaced it, remarked to me,
''Thcre's no telling what's inside that
W" ho'N thN WIS DS kiS WStIoh
! | need, after ALL"
! Arriving mt the craft, after n short
consultation, 1t was agreed the four oars
men, the mate, and myself, should re.
main in the boat, while Backstay Bob
and William prestcott should explore
the hulk. AS it was morally certain
that some dreadful danger menaced all
| who entered the cabin, and, rs | was
| good for nothing, l needed no more
urging than the mate to remain in my
! position.
| Prescott went first, holding his pistol
in one hand and lantern in the other,
while Bob closely followed with his cut
lass. We saw them descend the stair
way all was still, and then heard the
single exclamation from Prcstcott: "Oh,
my God.'
This was followed by terrible roar, a
! quick succession Of pistol shots, fierce
struggle, aud then al! was still again.
Soon after, both Prescott and Backstay
Bob emerged to view, covered from
head to foot with blood.
"Come aboard,' said they, "the dan
ger is over
The next instant we were Oh deck.
rushed to tue cabin door, and gaHed
down. Mcrciful Heaven! what did I
behold?
by the dim light OF the lantern, we
saw tho mangled body OF Captain Lus-
! ter. The head and one of his limbs were
gone, aud there was scarcely a SEM
blance of humanity in the remains be-
| fore us. Near him was the gaunt, terri
bic form of an expiring Bengal tiger,
killed by the bullets, cutlass aud dag
ger of Prescott and Baclstay Bob.
The two lattor, on entering the cabin
! first, saw the mutiated body Of Captain
Luster a low growl warned them of
danger, and as Prescott turned his gaze,
he saw the tiger crouching, aud in the
very act of springing. Dropping his
lantern, he fired his revolver and, Us
the terrible animal bore him to the floor,
| he drew his dagger and stabbed him
again and again. The needle pointed
instrument reached his heart, which
united with the slas!ling blows Of Back
! stay Bob, settled his hash before he
could intlict any material injury.
! We now made ii critical examination
! ofthc place. A number Of human bones
strcwed the floor, and several articles OF
wearing apparel, which seemed to indi-
cate that the place had been tenanted
by two human beings Of opposite sexes,
and had, probably, been torn to pieces
10y the f.mished tiger. The room was
long and low, extending the whole
length Of the vessel, and having at either
extremity massive iron chain, termin
ating ina heavy ring at enc end, the
other being fastened by strong staple
to beam in the vessels side.
The brute la i chain to his neck, and
had been confined to the stern of tho
vessel by II delicate iron ring, whicl
had been put there to be broken. On +,
beam near the center Of tho cabin, wa
written something in an In liam dialect
which was pronounced by the mat
(who had spent several years in India
to read
81 have sought have found tina
which | ught-vengeance.n
. Carefully removing the body Of tn
Captain to the little boat, We scuttle
, the mysterious craft, aud saw it sink t
the bottom of the ocean. shortly afte
the Captain was wrapped in his windin
sheet, and committed to the sea
! The strange, awful tale regarding tn
T old craft we never learned. 1t ever II
+ mained to me all unveiled mystery {
!, the sea.
:, -
IA What an American has don