The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-06
TALE OF TWO SEAS.

It was steamer day in San Fraucisco-a
dull June morning. some seventeen years
ago. The wharf was crowded with Eastern
( bound Californiaus who were embarkinp on
( the steamship. Precisely az noon the engine
bell struck, the pondprous wheels revoIved.
( and as the echoes Of the parting CUR rever-
herated among the hills and over the placid
I waters of the bay, eight hundred souls com
mPnced the homeward journey via Nicara-
gua.
Scarcely had the ship passed Meigps wharf
before the passengers observed with sur
1 prise that she had stOrped, and sImuItare-
/ oEsly they were all ordered on deck yvh,,a
half dozen police officers made a fboror,-b
/ search Of the shin, which occunfed two bcurs
/ During this time the Captain fmpatientIv
walked the bridge, and occasionally in re.
. sponse to his bell, the engines made a few,
revolutions to keep the ship in position. At
/ last the well-knOwn face Of Cant. l. the
: chief Of the detective force, presented him
/ self at the C7nnway, accompanied bv bis
aids. with wave Of the hand and an
adleu n the CAPTAIN, they entered their
. boat, and were pulled toward the shore -
/ The wheels once more commenced their lon &,
( task. Passing at fun speed through the
/ Golden Gate, the steamer reached the omen
( sea. and rs the sun dipped in the waters of
+ the Pacific the shores of California faded in
I the distance
/ That evening, after inspection. at eight
( bells, the Captain was seated in the Purser's
office. in friendly conversation, looking over
the passenger list.
by the way, Purser,' said he. ''what oc-
casioned the unusual pertinacftv Of our
friend, Capt. L., in searching the shin
thIS afternoon? ? l felt like bringing him tn
sea and giving him all the time he wanted 8"
The Purser made no reply. but took from
his pocket a photograph. which he handed
to the Captain, who looked at It. and said
'Weil, what has this got to do with itq"
You remember" replied the PiIrser
THAT murder in Virginia CITY a FORTNIGHT
since That is the portrait Of the murderer
L. said he had positive information that
he would be on board here, and tried hard To
mud him. One Of his men was an officer
from Nevada, with Tequisiti0n, and, as a
large reward is offered for the man. they
were very anxious to get him. but failed
I However, the detective left his picture. and
requested me to tell you about it. We NAV
see him on board during the down trim ana
you may feel Ike using your maeisUeriaI an
'i'oiI'y I'D returning him to the police when
we get back"
ne captain looked carefully at the 2or-
e'"i'' "hich was that of young man, rather
iaSC iooAhe' but without any pecularitv
that would distinguish him in a crowd =
wen furser, said he Cook out for him
ana let me know if you see him. He may
De slowed away somewhere I tbinl.
snail know him should set ewes on him >,
"ilh this the Captain returned the picture
pade The Purser goodnight and went To the
pilot house
lhe fogs and winds Of the California coae4
had given place to hetropical warmth of tl,,
heNIcan coast, when, one afternoon. as TN,
captain was leisufely walking topard ,1,,
dlning saloon, his eyes fell upoU a face t,,.+
started him-the face Of a man who for a.,
Instant withstoud his searching glance win.
out hinehing as the Captain noncbalaufly
passed by, turned into the diuiug sslcon
Ihen, quickening his pace, passed tbrougb
ana entered the Purser's room. where ba
louhd That gentleman making his dinner
toilet ui'iNei
gu Know that fellow of whom we were
speaking, Purser2 Let me see his pictpre ,,
sald the Captain. "Yes, that-is the man. 1
have spotted him his whiskers are cut off
ana his hair is long, but that is the man. /
know the cut Of bis lib. -
Ihe Captain had indeed spotted his mo,
ouI what to do with him was the question - I
IHeIe were no papers on board authorizing
MS arrest and il such authority was assumed.
while the task was easy, it might in the end
prove a troublesome and thankiess one
A'IeI full consideration, it was deemed best
70 take no notice of the fellow, and avoid
the legal complications which might epsue II
ne were returned to San Fraucisco.
But three days after, as the ship was near
ing the shores of Central America. an Incl
Gent occurred which necessitated prompt ac-
'ion' ana brought The murderer face to face
win power that could control him. One
about 10 o'clock, steerage passen-
ger Knocked at the Captains door. He was
man ID the prime of life, with the aDDear-
@hce OF a miner, and was shaking with
lllght-too excited to walk cohereptIv
" hen he had collected himself a little no
tain. zap
iiere Is very bad man in the steeraga
captain, said he. Gle murdered a man il,
nginia City fortnight before he left
Ahe" him there by sight, and seeing him on
'oafn tod Ole or two about him, and other
passengers got hold os it. He has found ont
nat exposed him, and he whispered in nv
'aI lew minutes since that he would oet ,