Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-08-11
Che Sturg Jeller.
THE CAPTAINS YARN.

NimrOd, and was cOund up tne Meoiter[au
can with an assorted cargo, meaning to bring
home LIQUORS and fruit On the tenth day
out, lust at night, was overtaken by tn
United States sloop-ofwar Preble. She hat
been in sight nearly all day, and at length
overhauled u.s. She spoke to US, found ou
where we were bound, and informed us sht
was bound in the same direction. At darh
she was still up ahead, not having gained
two or three miles. AS the sun went dowr
there we're no signs of bad weather, and w
shortened sail some. About midnight We
thought that we could see something thai
looked like fire clear away off the starboarc
how; but it lasted only few minutes, ano
then went out.
On the next morning the sloop of war was
Just in sight, but we lost her before noon
The wind was from the southwark and quite
fresh. About two o'clock in the afternoon
one of the men who happened to be alott
said he saw something away to the southwark
and eastward, that looked like boat.
took my glass and went up into the foretop
and soon made out boat full of men toss
ing about upon the water, with red shirt
hoisted upon pole. | came down, and al
once stood for the boat, which we came up tc
in half an hour. She was long, large, light
built boat, square-hottomed almost, and dit
ferent from the common boats Of sea-golng
vessels. There were twenty five men in her.
and as they came up over the sides l was
not much pleased with their appearance; but
their gratitude, however, soon won upon me-
They we're hard looking fellows, stout, dark
and reckless and even as they thus stepped
from death into life, fancied | could see a
peculiar carelessness in their manners which
seemed to indicate that they only received
what they had expected. Perhaps | did not
notice this so much then, because they profess
ed to be very grateful, and have no doubt
they were.
The leader of the saved ones gave me his
name as Samuel Lowbray. He said he was
captain of barque from Havana, and
bound to Lisbon. The night before, his yes
sci caught fire, and when he found that it
could not be extinguished, he and his men
took to their boat. So they had only been
in the boat some sixteen hours. Of course,
that was the fire we had seen, and | thus
knew that so much of the story was true.
This Lowbray was a Spaniard, though he
spoke the Eng glish language very we'll. But
of course knew he had not given me his
true name for there was nothing Spanish
about that.
We got the boat over the side, and slowed
it away amidships, and then l directed my
mate, a Mr. Allen, to provide some sleeping
place for the newcomers. Five days passed
away, and at the end of that time | began to
mistrust that all was not right. The stran-
gers iabbered together in their own Jargon
and knew from their looks that they were
up to some mischief. Or, at any rate, fear
ed so. had seen enough to assure me that
they all had hidden arms, and that they
were unscrupulous fellows. communlca.
ted my fears to my mate and he acknowledged
that he had the same fears. We talked
the matter over and at length came to the
conclusion that we would make run for the
sloop.
We had of our crew only fifteen hands, all
told-fourteen beside myself; so We would
stand little chance with the interlopers. For
forty eight hours we ran with all the canvas
we could crowd on, but I found we had no
hopes Of overhauling the Preble. l began to
feel uneasy. But it seems that wasn't to be
in doubt much longer, as you shall hear.
The night after we had made up our minds
that we could not catch the sloopot-war,
went down into the cabin to look over the
days reckoning 1t was ten o'clock. | was
alone, and had just got my dead reckoning
out, when | heard some one behind me. l
turned around and saw one of the boats crew.
At first was little startled, but | quick.
ly saw that this was the only one OF the
whole gang who had decent-looking face.
He was good looking youth, not over TWEEN
ty one or two, and had been puzzled by his
presence in such company. He looked
rather pale on the present occasion, and |
saw that he cast his eyes cautiously around
as though he would be sure was alone.
whats wanted p said.
Captain Morbuck," he answered, at the
same timestaking seat close to me. "l want
to tell you something. 1t is for my good as
we'll as for yours Will you listen ?"
assured him that would.
"Then listen," he resumed, and he went on
and told me as near as | can remember, as
follows:
my name is John Myers. l am native
of Philadelphia, and have followed the sea
several years. Two years ago | shipped on
navy yard in Philadelphia, and went on to the
Brazil station. After a while got sick of
the service and deserted at Rio. | shipped
on board schooner there and made my way
to Havana, where 1 remained nearly two
months. had got nearly out of money, and
was one day in drinking house there, when
some men asked me if l wanted good pay
ing berth. | was half drunk at the time, and
should have embraced any opportunity that
might have turned. followed those men
down to the pier, and was pulled off to brig
that lay at anchor just outside the Moro.
More liquor was given me, and | shipped for
voyage 10 SLAYER. We went to sea that
very night, and on the following day I was too
sick to care for anything. had touch of
the delirium tremens, but got over it at length,
and then went about my duty. But the first
day spent on deck would have given all
ever owned could have been clear of the
brig Not only did the work We were engaged
in sicken me, but the company of the crew
was disgusting. l only hoped that might
find some means of escape before we went at
work on the slave coast. But | came nigh
being delivered with all the rest. Our brig
caught fire at night from some fire in the
galley dropping into the hold. We could not
put out the fire, and we got out our river boat
and put off, You picked us up-and then
thanked God, because | thought | was clear
of the accursed work had shipped to do.
But soon found that had given thanks too
soon, for the villains had concocted a work
more fearful, even than the one had so
much dreaded. Captain Morbuck, they have