The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-09-28
HOlO L got the Pirates
Treasure.

On the first of May, 1861, l sailed
from San Francisco en- the good
steamer Panama, bound for Mexican
ports. It was the first trip of a new
line, and we had q gOOdly number of
passengers, who, like myself, were
going "tO see the country" Our ship
was clean, provisions abundant,
officers attentive, our company pleas
ant; and all together, we-mOre par
ticUlar those who, like myself, were
bound for the "round trip"-lOoked
forward to a good time-and we had
it. The weather was delightful, and
when about three days out, we
"pOked" along the coasts below San
Diego, the wheels making their regu-
lar eleven turns to the minute, which
they never exceed. We fished for
hOrse-mackerel-and fine sport it was.
An oar was rugged out, stun'sail boom
fashion, from the top Of the port wheel
house, and, through a loop near its
end, the line was passed, and fastened
securely on board. The hook, decor
ated and baited with aglittering piece
of tin, tOWed in the edge of the "white
water" formed by the paddles, about
two hundred feet astern. "a tripping
line" to the after-guard, gave US con-
troll of the whole thing from that
point, affording plenty Of room when
we came to haul in. Presently, we
saw the fishes playing around the
shining bait, and the tautened line
and bending oar announced a bite. /
commenced hauling in, and the
excitement was very pleasant. Some
times the mackerel's efforts were re-
laxed, and I could take him up hand
over hand; and then again, he would
make a tremendous dart, and would
have to give him lots of line, to pre-
vent its parting. Finally, he was got
on board amid the eXclamatiOns of
"All hands and the cook" assembled
aft to witness the sport; but the thin,
hArd-twisted line, wet with saltwater,
had made sad havoc with my hands,
and at the next bite, generously re-
linquished my post of honor to a
steerage passenger, who seemed to
like it, and who probably escaped the
suffering had endured. After that,
I found the sport glorious, with some
one else hauling in the line.
In due time We reached Cape st.
Lucas, and were boarded by "Old
Ritehie," to the intense disgust OF
our little dog, who, having strayed on
board without an owner, had yet sue
eeeded in ingratiating himself with
everybody. He lOked upon Richie
and his bObtailed coat with suspicion,
and continued, during our stay, to re-
sent what seemed to him an unjusti-
fable invasion of his territory.
How we went to MaZatlan, and
discharged our VERY little) cargo, l
need not tell.
Thence to San Bias, where we saw,
in the street, two military heroes,
without pantalOOns, and armed with
old fiint-lOck muskets guarding an an
Client, hOney-combed iron gun, mount
ed upon secondhand cart-wheels in
bad order. This was the military
force Of the place, but it seemed to an
sweT the purpose, no one else having
any more.
We returned TO MaZatlan, and gave
an entertainment to the Governor
and mis- suite, who came off i'll many
boats, and with q band of music, al
two 2. NJ. They stayed until two A.
NJ; and when they left there wasn'
a wine-glassful of anything to drink
on the ship. Don Placido embraced
and kissed me on the quarterback,
and lady passenger, who stood near
wished that she was man, for the
sake of Don PlacidO's eyes.
Then We sailed for Guaymas, and
settled back to our old whist party
after dinner, in the Captains room.
Our lady-pasSenger, who was English,
and one Of the gentlemen, were our
scientific players, and, when they
were partners, could beat us all. They
used to crow over US, and tell US the
strength of the game lay in illness
ing" and anyhow, they always man.
aged to finesse our quarter-dOllars
from US, when they played together.
We were steaming slowly up the
gulf, expecting TO go into Guaymas in
the early morning, and were at ouI
usual game, when just as we had
finished our hand, and all the cards
were upon the table, they were scat.
tered as though by q sudden gust oi
wind, which much surprised US, as
| the night was calm and sultry. We
all arose and looked around, and out
of the door, which was wide open tC
the deck, but the others professed tC
see nothing. !, who, in common will
horses and dogs, always possessed the
faculty of seeing ghosts, saw, stand
4 ing in the open doorway, an olC
/ Mexican woman, with a broom, th'
wind from which, as she whirled Il
around. had scattered our cards upOT
/ the floor.
And now, suppose, many sensible
people will sneeT, and say, "HOV
ridiculous in any one to suppose h
saw a ghost;p and many doctors anC
learned persons will explain how th'
Imagination may be acted upon, ant
we may think we see what we do not
and much more to the same purpose
But / do not care for all that. l cdl
see ghosts, and / believe that man.
Others both can and do see them
only they don't know it. One-half o
the figures the wise sensible folks see