Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-02-06
THE FAIR STOWAWAY.

makes one acquainted Win strange
companions, and the truth of this veri-
fed on board an iron clipper called La
Belle Helene, laden with locomotives and
railway plant, and bound for the east.
Having loaded at Liverpool, we were
hauling out of the Princes halftide
basin, when a smart-looking man with
a stern face and look Of foreign ser
vice came on board, and abruptly adj
dressing the mate, desired him to clear
the ship of strangers. This was'Captain
Sproul, who had, within twelve hours
after his appointment, been ordered to
sea with two strange officers and a crew
some of whom were not in their sober
senses, while others did not understand
English At Point Lynas the tug and
pilot left us with a strong southwest
wind and a crOss-sea, into which the
vessel was plunging, setting everything
forward afoat.
On the second day things were a little
more ship-shape; though at noon, when
we were piped to dinner, the forecastle
was pitch dark, what light there was
being obtained from q slush lamp, ex-
tempOrized out of beef can, a rope
yarn and potato. Two wooden beef
kids, containing the last dinner of fresh
meat, had been laid on the hatch,
around which about fourteen men were
seated, when something like a faint
squeak seemed to issue from under
Meath Rats, already" remarked one
of the crew, helping himself to piece
of beef; when just as the ship gave an
unusually neavy pitch, there was heard
long, wild, continuous shrek, about
which there could be no mistake. In
an instant every man was on his feet;
the hatch was thrown off, and a young
fellow descended the cOal-hOld, and
directly afterwards shouted:
Stowaways herel Send down a
line"
When bow-line had been thrown to
him we hauled up wretched, sea-sick-
looking lad of about twelve years of
age, who seemed i'll and worn out with
exhaustion; and who was follwed by an
elder boy, whose face and form were
almost concealed by q Southwestern and
suit of tarpaulin much too big for
him.
What do you mean by yowling and
yelping in that way? roared Black,
whose real name was Pappa, one of
those rough, Misunderstanding men pc
culiar to New York and Liverpool.
The elder lad made no reply, but
was in the act of putting his hand in the
nearest beefkid, to assist his companion
with food, when Black jumped up, and
drawing his knife across the lads
knuckles, sung out: "Men before boys,
remember; and not bite of grub will
you get here till you are victualled by
the ship" "Shame" replied another
voice, which proceeded from ham,
mock; and Hawke, u pale-looking
young man with q thin, sharp nose
and pair of eyes as bright and pierc-
ing as a birds, put his head out.
"Who said that ~
CT did" answered the man in the
hammock; q and | say, too, that you
must be coward to cut boys hand
like that"
Stand out, then, if you don't want
to be served the same" retorted the
other; and Black stood up and brand
ished his sheath-knife. But he mad
not long to wait, for Hawke sprang out
of his hammock and without. word
struck the bully q blow which fioored
him. When the latter regained his
feet he was mad with passion and
frantic for revenge; and Selling his
weapon and lowering his head, he was
again rushing to the attack, when I'M
able to stand it longer, [ stepped for
ward ana caught his wrist, which |
twisted till he dropped the knife.
Shouting to the foreigners, he yelled:
Are we to be bullied by the Britishers
in this way ~ and / felt myself choked
from behind, and while struggling with
two unseen adversaries slipped down
with them uppermOst. A general melee
now ensued between the British and
foreigners, which was getting sanguin-
airy, when Mr.. Cobb, the mate, hearing
a cry of "Murderl" rushed to the res
cue, followed by the boatswain. Tie
former was a tall, wirv man, possessed
of great strength, and as he entered the
forecastle he saw two Maltese jumping
upon the body of Shaw, the young
man who had found the stowaways.
Without hesitation, Mr.. Cobb seized
one in each hand and knocked their
heads together; but in the dark he was
set upon by others, and one of the
Maltese who was down seized him by
the leg and bit him savagely; but the
mate gave him terrible kick, which
made him relinquish his hold and lie
sprawling upon the floor. Black was
shouting, down with him-Pli finish
himw when he was seized by this son
of Anack, and in spite CT futile re-
sistance, he was thrown on deck, and in
the presence of the whole watch put IN
irons. BY his courage, strength and
decision, Mr.. Cobb overawed the whole
of us, and perhaps saved some of the
English portion from being murdered
Order being restored, Mr.. Cobb called
for lights; and all Objectionable weapons
being delivered up to him, he conde
scended to ask what the disturbance
was about; but when he found that IL
spite of his orders and care there were
strangers on board, he began 70 chidt
the second mate and the boatsw ain fol
their negligence.
In the meantime the elder of tn lad.
had placed his arms around the neck o
the younger, as though to protect him
both of them looking very frightened
Mr.. Cobb regarded the pair with a lool
OF severity, and roughly ordered then
to follow him to the cabin. When the
waits came into the presence of Captain
Sproul. that officer was in the act o
threatening to disrate the steward, whom
he charged with being incapable anC
making free with his decanters; bu
directly the captain saw the pair anC
heard the account of the disturbance IL
the forecastle on their account, he brok,
out with "You are pair OF young loaf
ers who ought to be in jail, and shall g
there as soon as 1 reach Calcutta" anC