The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-06-10
Annersprr gnteQigenftr. .
I'M THE JAWS OF DEATH.

I'M THE JAWS OF DEATH.
TIE clipper ship Transit was lying in Macao
Roads waiting fora cargo OF cooiaes,, the n1s5
instalment of which was already alongside
They were destined for the island Of Cuba, and
were to be landed at Havana.
Considerable alterations had been made Tor
the accommodation of the natives, and at the
same time additional security added tor the
safety of officers and crew. The fore and main
matches had been fitted with heavy iron graf
ing securely bolted to the combings, while over
the main species of iron cage had been
constructed, fitted with q door and secured by
bolts:
The ship carried three masts, a boatswain
and sixteen men, which, with the captain,
steward and cook, completed the Transit's
complement.
The chief mate, John Maynard, was hand
some young son of the ocean, stalwart and
brave. The second mate, Mr.. Halpin, was a
GOOD, efficient officer, while the third officer
was yet a young boy, scarcely twenty.
Half q dozen sailors, armed with cutlasses
ground sharp as razors, buckled around their
waists, and with loaded muskets, stood on
either side Of the gangway as the coolies filed
over the side from the large tonka boats along
side that had received their freight at the bar
,racoons.
Two days out from the port the steward, who
had contracted the fever at Macao, died. leav-
ing no alternative to Capt. Sylvester but to
coolies. He could not we'll select one from the
crew, there were none too many on deck, and
the duties were fsr from light, SO a Chinaman;
Assam By name, was duly installed in the cab
81 His dark eyes glittered with some strong
inward emotion as he stood humbly, even
cringingly, before the captain, listening to his
directions, but he made no other demonstra-
lion. The captain took no notice of it, and
he was suffered TO depart without further de-
Slowed away in the run of the ship abah
the cabin were some $4,000, portion OF the
fact had been carefully concealed by the OIL
GERS from the crew, and as for the coolies, it
would have been adding Goals to the fires had
they but an inkling of the dangerous secret.
On the morning of the third day Capt. Syl-
vester crawled into the run of the vessel, leav-
ing the door open behind him, his object being
TO look after the safe stowage of the specie.
Without a moments warning he came upon
the Chinese steward, who was too intent upon
what he had before him tonotice the approach
of his master.
The Chinaman by some means had managed
to break open keg containing the precious
metal, and the glittering contents lay exposed
to the sparkling, avaricious gaze of the willy
native.
For moment Sylvester was SO taken by
surprise, SO overcome by nameless terror, as
to;be incapable of motion, and large drops OF
perspiration rolled down his pallid face.
Recovering himself he roared out in voice
of thunder, "You Internal scoundrel, what are
Won doing here ?" And scrambling forward
the irate captain attempted to grapple with
his dangerous foe. But the steward, quick as
fash of lightning, evaded the captains blow,
dealt him one as he glided by, and while Syl-
vester was foundering around among the boxes
and barrels, bewildered and half stunned, the
Chinese steward sprang through the low door,
darted out of the cabin and disappeared on
deck
No one took particular notice of the fellows
movements as he sauntered carelessly along,
pausing for moment by the iron cage which
covered the main hatch. The latter was crow
ded with coolies, and to them he addressed a
few rapid, gutteral sentences, at the same time
Applying key to the door which he had pur-
}oined from the captains state room. Glanc-
ing quickly aft, he withdrew to one side, and st
that instant prolonged and terrible cry burst
from the coolies, followed by tremendous rush
up the ladders.
With one bound the treacherous native
spfang upon the nearest sentinel, and before
the sailor, completely taken by surprise, could
recover, his muskes had been snatched from
his hand and blow from the same coolle
stretched the poor fellow lifeless on the deck.
LikeHhe rush Of some mountain torrent the
coolies swarmed on deck, carrying everything
before them. The sentinels were literally
swallowed up by the infuriated mob of yelling
demons, and were never seen again.
Maynard, together with the second mate and
sman at the wheel were the sole occupants of
the quarter deck, and upon them, all unarnued
as they were, the mob rushed.
Amid the din and uproar Maynard heard the
voice of Captain Sylvester calling upon him to
jump through the skylight.
"Jump, my lad, and bear hand: l have
the cabin door barricaded."
The mate required no second bidding. With
shout to the second mate to follow, he sprang
through the frail structure, and the next IN
slant the two officers were side by side with
Sylvester, who hurridly thrust into their hands
loaded revolver apiece.
There was no time for congratulations, the
aperture above their heads was darkened for a
moment by huge coolie, who was on the point
of 1eaping after the fugitives, when the crack
of Maynard's revolver saved him the trouble,
and he fell headlong into the cabin. Another
and another followed in quick succession, but
not q Chinaman succeeded in gaining an en-
trance alive
With a yell of bafaed rage the coolies re-
newed the assault, but this time their efforts
were directed against the doors of the forward
cabin. They speedily yielded to the shower of
blows, and in q few moments were reduced to
80 many splinters But Captain Sylvester had
not been idle after recovering from the blow
dealt him by his steward.
Every available article of furniture, tables,
chests and: movable articles had been converted
into barricade which efectually resisted the