Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-02-05
TIE FAIR STOWAWAY.

makes one acquainted With 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 half-tide
basin, when smart-looking man with
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 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 strong southwest
wind and cross-sea, into which the
vessel was plungiug, setting everything
forward at1oat.
On the second day things were 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 a 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
eff beef; when just as the ship gave an
unusually neavy pitch, there was heard
a 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 here! Send down a
line"
When a bow-line had been thrown to
him we hauled up a wretched, sea sick
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 a Southwestern and
suit of tarpaulin much too big for
him.
What do you mean by yOwling and
yelping IL that way?" rOared Black,
whose real name was Papa. one Of
those rough, misunderstanding men pc
culiar TO New York and Liverpool.
The elder lad maze no reply, but
was IN the act of putting his hand in the
nearest beef kid, 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 yictualled by
the ship" '<Shame!" replied another
voice, which proceeded from a ham
mock; and Hawke, a pale-leoklng
young man with a thin, sharp nose
and pair of eyes as bright and pierre
ing as a birds, put his head out.
"Who said that"
q / did," answered the man In the
hammock; land [ 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
lshed his sheath knife But he mad
not long to wait, for Hawke sprang out
Of his hammock and without word
struck the bully a blow which fioored
him. When the latter regained his
feet he was mad with passion and
frantic for revenge; and seizlng his
weapon and lowering his head, he was
again rushing to the attack, when I'M
able to stand it longer, | stepped for
ward and 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 p and [ felt myself choked
from behind, and while struggling with
two unseen adversaues slipped down
with them uppermost. A general melee
now ensued between the British and
foreigners, which was getting sanguln-
airy, when Mr.. Cobb, the mate, hearing
a cry of - Murder" rushed to the res
cue, followed by the boatswaln. TIE
former was 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 10 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 sav.gciy; 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-Ill finish
himp when be was seized by this son
Of Anack, and in spite CT a 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 oyerawed the whole
of Us, and perhaps saved some of the
English portion from being murdered.
Order being restored, Mr.. Cobb called
for lights; and al Objectionable weapons
being delivered up to him, he condo
sccnded 10 ask what the disturbance
Was about; but when he found that in
spite Of his orders and care there were
strangers on board, be began TO chide
the second mate and the boAtswain for
their negligence.