Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-20


that he could find nothing out of the
way, but was convinced in nv OWL
, mind that something was out of the wav,
So the old man gave me leave to 90 be.
low myself. I could find nothing. but
at the same time was far from being sat-
, lstled. l asked why was Barker, Of all
!, others, down below? We told the crew
OF our suspicious, and ordered them to
keep lookout on Barker's movements.
AS the night came on the guard was
relieved and cautioned by the sergeant
to be on the alert. It seemed kind of
queer to me that the convicts renamed
so quiet, for beyond low conversation
their voices We're scarcely audible, but I
thought afterward that probably they
intended to get a good nights rest, and
preferred to keep quiet
1 lay awake some time after turning
in; my eyes finally grew heavy and
was soon in the land of dreams-away
Oft in Boston. My mother came up to
my room q was still in my dreams) to
tuck in my bed-clothes. I felt her
gentle touch on the blankets; but why
did she place her hand over my mouth :?
L opened my eyes to see the reason.
The gittering blade of sheath knife
was held before them. I knew the reason
then pretty quick, l assure you, for Bar
ker held it.
"Now, Steeraway," says he, "you
just keep quiet and you won't be hurt.
Open your mouth and you won't know
what hurt you."
I knew that any movement on my part
would be my death warrant.
| sS Will Won Eoor, u,,io+ +o1-o 49,.
| hand from your mouth %
and his hand was removed. "Now,
Steeraway," he says, 81 ON going to tie
you and put little stopper in your
mouth. l won't hurt you, for I know
how to do these things"
He evidently did, for was very soon
| bound hand and foot, gag was placed
IN my mouth, and your humble servant
was rendered as useless as dead man.
The convict then left me and disap-
peared. had not been alone more than
ten minutes when I heard a voice near
the berth-head say, "All right"
In moment more light draught of
ar entered my state-room, and it smelt
strongly of pent-up air-a sort Of con-
FAoo o>s>'A} ~
The bulkhead had been removed, and
the cabin was soon crowded with prison.
ers: Not a sound did they make, for
their irons we're off, and the thought
flashed quickly upon me, our ship is in
their hands, and may the Lord have
mercy on our crew.
Silently they went up the cabin stairs;
then 1 heard quick rushing sound,
shouts, yells, curses, then few shots in
quick succession; several splashes near
my cabin headlight; moro shouts and
yells.
"Down with them! Now or never!
No Van Dieman's for us! Down with
them!"
In vain I heard several voices pleading
tor mercy. But those men knew no
mercy. Finally the shouts and wells
ceased, then the quick, hurried tramp of
feet overhead. Presently a step de-
sends the stairs, the rope binding me
was cut, the gag torn from my mouth,
and grutf voice said: "Come, Steer
away, you are wanted on deck. Lively,
now! :"
1 came to the conclusion that it was
useless to deliberate, and I obeyed the
order at once 1t was not necessary for
me to ask what the matter was. knew
that well enough at glance.
Barker-that scoundrel Barker-was
an escaped convict, and had shipped on
board the Marathon for the purpose of
aiding his friends, and from the appear
ance OF things, he had succeeded beyond
his utmost expectations. As emerged
from the cabin I was greeted with
" Here he is" by several of the striped
jacket gentry. CHOW. Steeraway. we
want you to mind and do Just as we tell
you-or what Zoe Gosshawk, the captain,
tells you-and you won't be hurt; but if
you don't, why overheard you go. We
know you can navigate; now which is it,
sharks dinner, or obey orders ?"
Of course I didn't want to ease the
appetite Of the jet-fnned wolves that
were swimming around the ship. So I
told them 1 would do all they wished:
but wanted to know what had become
OF the captain and crew.
You'd better swim after 'em and ask
'em what's done with 'em; oil but that
cussed tirst-mate, Bolter, and we can't
get no track of him, blast him. said
Gosshawk, the recognized leader.
1 uttered silent prayer that Bolter
might be safe, slowed away somewhere
out of their clutches.
well, Steeraway," says Gosshawk,
"where are we?"
mans Land.'
"Now, then," said he, you just fix
this ship so that she will not be more
nor that in twelve hours from now.
Make her run north until I ask you
again where we are. And mind YOU
don't play any points or you will find
the bottom of Davy Jones' pretty
quick"
I asked him then who would work the
vessel.
"Why, you ju st give the orders and
these men will work her, and mind you
give them right
"Then brace around the yards, said
l, $50 can get her on the other tack"
call right" said Gosshawk, "tell us
the ropes.".
explained to them and pointed out
the braces. ..,i.>.. -,
In ten minutes we were around and
! sailing almost due north.
When day broke my heart almost sank
within me. The deck presented sick
| ening sight. Pools of clotted blood here
and there, torn clothing, the remnants
| Of some desperate struggle, and the
striped convict jackets and the red coats
OF the English soldiers, were scattered
/ over the deck.
I requested that the decks be cleared
up andwashed down, so that no vestige
might greet my eyes Of tile. terrible en-
counter that had taken place the night
before. At noon Gosshawk. asked me
where we were. I had just taken the
sun, and found we were in 80 deg. south
latitude, and 173 deg: longitude east,
all of.which I correctly informed the
convict skipper. 2yl, ::{;.> s:n.f
-.ss' Amt the Fijis about here some
where % he asked. '".'' -;
~" Yes, they are in 20 deg. latitude and
$50 deg. longitude. Ill.,.
"Well, take us there, Steeraway, and
You are free to go in the long:boat just az
soon as We strike land: I'll take care o.
the Marathon myself then. :" ''''' -
Az wotati11 hai ahoo7t 7OO ,n;1oc r., 41,n