The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-10-14


DAYS had passed we found that the man
who had been entrusted with fine YES
sci. valuable cargo, and more than all
the lives of passengers and crew, was
one of those unfortunate beings who, |
not content with the enjoyment OF good
things of this life are III the habit OF
having Incorporate outbreaks, when tue
impulse to drink commencing, perhaps, |
with the etimulents taken IN some time
of peril. grows perfectly uncomfortable
and eliminates at length in one OF those
horrible fits ofmania known as dellrum
tremens.
It was enough to make any landsman
nervous as to our fate, should the heavy
weather continue; but there was still
the satisfaction Of knowing that the
two mates were thorough seamen, who
would no doubt, take upon themselves
the management of the ship, should
there be any real danger. These feel
inca did not trouble me long, for the
weather again Frightening, hope rose,
and day after day gllded pleasantly by.
We saw but little of the captain, and
ONLY learned that he was confined by
indisposition to his cot, the cause of
this indisposition being only known to
a few; but | could see that the first
mate. Mr.. Ray, looked more anxious
than usual and taking the opportuni-
ty Of being on deck one night, ] had a
long talk with my friend, to learn that
the captain only recovered from one ut
to seek the means for bringing on an
other
"Pity we did not leave him behind
altogether" / said at last.
I've thought SO q dozen times,
said my friend, for this sailing with
a mailman on board does not suit my
| book F"
! The days elided slowly by with vary
| Ing weather. The hot attitudes were
reached There was a little horse play
as we crossed the line; then shark
was CAUGHT, and ut times a dolphin or
bonlto; and at Last, painting with the
heat, we lay beneath the almost verti-
cal sun, without a breath OF wind to fill
! the sails as they hung from the wards,
the vessel gently rolling N the swell as
the sea heayed and fell without SO much
as ripple visible. Rough coverings
were rugged up; but in spite of all THAT
could be done to mitigate it, the heat
!
our heads, and reflected from the sea,
which shone like a vast mirror Of pol
ished metal Gaping seams with the
tar oozing forth, rails and stancbioiis
SO heated that q hand could not be
borne upon them, and the tween decks
Sitting as an oven, 1t was no wonder
that we were constantly longing for the
comparative cool OF the night; but
even then there was not time for the
| temperature TO grow much lower before
| the sun once more rose, each day APP
parent!y hotter than the last
We were seated one evening, watch
ing the last glow of the setting sun,
when Anderson, the second mate, made
the remark. that he thought Il change
was. cGmiuG and then our attention was
taken by Mr.. Ray passing close by rs,
and defending as # to the captain s
cabin.
Glow has he been to-day? F." | said,
as Mr.. Ray disappeared.
Worse than ever was the reply
IF | were Ray, I'll make prisoner of
h'n', ard take sole command. He'd be
quite justified III SO doing
Further conversation WAS cut short
(
beck oncd hastily 80 my companion.
Something wrong, he exclaimed as
he ieaped to his feet and quite as
quickly ] followed him to The hatch
way.
Good Heavens, Audersnn,o ex-
claimed Mr. Ray, What's 10 he done
Hes waving mad.
! . Have ynlt 40 medicines - | asked.
y Inf 4.
deaf with Il man III his state Just lis
ten.
In effect, as he ceased speaking,
/ there came from below the sound Of
breaking chairs. smashing glass. ana q
| hOi51 as ct some one leaping from side
to side Of the cabin, followed by a
/ tremendous battcrlng at the door.
! " I've locked him in, - said Raw. "for
he's rot fit to come on de@k But get
help, and we must secure him, into Il
cot =
a short consultation was held: and
then it was decided to call one Of the
seamen, . atr''e quiet man. and TO do
all as quietly as possible, 50 IS not to
alarm the rest OF the passengers and
crew
Anderson fetched the old sailor, who
came rolling up, turning the lump Of
tobacco II his mouth and from his re
mark IT WAS evident he had been en-
liebtened upon the business III hand
"Ah, n" cIowleI, &" hat a'thlnc #
- IS any one Will 60 on wasting pleol-
ous liquors and turning blessings INTO
poison ] kuowed tins would lee the
end ON IT.
Don't preach, man, said Ray an
grlly, but come along Now look
here, he whispered a. we descended
>'as soon as ] oren the door, all step
III quietly together He'll dash at us
the same as he did at me while ago.
but he can only tackle one at once, SO
that while he is engaged the others
must secure HIM"
We had hardly nerved ourselves for
oul task, and the mate was holding up
his hand % a signal rs he unlocked the
door when we were shocked by thesharp
report Of q pistol, simultaneous with
Which there was dull thud close by !
my ear, and ! started back with the |
knowledge that bullet had Just pass /
cd through the cabin door and whistled !
by my head. Then came a loud hoarse |
laugh, followed by couple mere pis-
tol-shots. both Of which passed through !
the panel of the door.
] need hardly gay that we beat a re-
treat directly; and as we stood once /
more on deck, the first mate wiped the |
from bis forehead, and /
looked from one TO the other, as much |
as to say: ''What shall we do ~
II was IplaCl tr,-,nr pAr,t,nn- ,,,l