Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-07-17
A NInnfnc Captain.

will remember Capt. Maurice Fitzgerald
who for several years sailed the schooner
Duncan City, the most of the time car
rying lumber from theDuncan City mills
to Chicago. All will regret to learn of
the unhappy condition of the man, all
brought on from intemperance. The
following account of his doings and con-
ditiOn we take from the Detroit Post and
Tribune:
TORONTO, July 5.-0n Saturday morn
ing about 6 o'clock the captain of the
steamer Empress of India, in coming up
the lake, and when about 15 miles east
of Toronto, sighted small boat to the
southwark. In the boat were discovered
two persons who were waving their
coats in the air and shouting at the tops of
their voices, evidently with the object IF
attracting the attention of those on board
the steamer. The captain at once call
ed the mate and headed the steamer for
the craft, out of which they quickly got
the occupants, whom they took on board
the steamer. They then bore away for
this city, whittier they were bound, tow
ing the small boat astern. The rescued
ones proved to be Capt. Maurice Fitz-
gerald of the schooner Mercie K. Hall.
and lad about IL years of age, named
William ClarksOn, one of her crew, and
the boat was the yawl of that vessel.
They both seemed quite exhausted and
completely drenched with water, the
boat being almost half filled when they
were picked up. Capt. Fitzgerald and
his companion were as quickly as pos
sible provided with. refreshments, of
which they partOOk in a manner that be-
tOkened long fast.
After the cravings of hunger had been
satisfied the captain commenced wild
and incOherent story.
He averred that he had been chased
while in the yawl by pirates, who kept
up steady fire On him with needle guns.
He had seen light on the lake and
heard voices calling, Sailor, come herep'
There is one of the pirate boats nOwP'
he said to the mate, Mr.. Alderman,
who, however, failed to see the object
pointed out by the strange captain, who
moreover, stated that while on his own
schooner his crew had cOnspired to rob
him of $3.50 and to murder him after
ward. Some Of them were in favor of
cutting him up and packing him in a
barrel, while others. less ceremOniOus,
were for simply throwing him overheard.
All these statements he called upon the
boy to cOrrObCrate, cautiOning him to
tell the truth, even if he (the bOy) should
implicate himself, and even if it would
rub him pretty hard"
The boy, who was nearly scared to
death when picked up, told an entirely
different tale, of which the following is
the substance: The Mercie E. Hall left
OswegO on Thursday last, flying light,
bound for this port, and the variable
and adverse winds she met so retarded
her progress up the lake that it took her
until Friday evening to get within the
distance of some 50mileS of her destiia-
ton. The captain, the boy went on to
say, had been drinking very heavily for
about two weeks, and had left OswsgO
with scarcely any provisions, SO that
they subsiSted on the passage almost
entirely on potatoes. At o'clock on
Friday evening the captain came on
deck, went forward, picked up "nOr-
man" "a large iron bolt to insert in the
windlass to keep the cable in place there
on when they "let go anchor, )and, walk.
ing aft, also seized an axe. He then
went alOft the main rigging to the cross
trees, where he kept waving the axe and
norman i'm either hand, yOwing that he
would kill any one who would attempt
to come near him. He also threatened
to cut away the main halyards and let
the sail down by the run. After some
considerable time, the boy narrates, the
captain came down on deck; and about
20 minutes to 2 on Saturday morning
ordered him into the yawl. He then
commenced to cut the tackles which
suspended the boat to the davits. The
mate tried to prevent him, but got knock
ed down with.the norman, so the man
succeeded in getting the boat into the
water, not, however, without partly fill
ing her with water. At first the captain
tied him (the boy in the bow of the boat
but after time released him, saying
"Oh, this is you, is it, Willie?" The boy
at once went aft and seized the only oar
they had and sculled for dear life for the
north shore in the hope that he would be
picked up by some vessel. The poor lad
was nearly exhausted when rescued, and
could hardly have held out much longer
| Under the circumstances he behaved
very cOOlly, for he was in fear every
moment tnat the captain would brain
him with the axe or throw him over.
| board.
Capt. Fitzgerald was arrested and re-
manded. The unfortunate man was
suffering from an attack of delirium
tremens, which accounts for his eX
| traordi noru onnduot