New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-02-20
A SEA CAPTAINS STORY.

OOue years tlgO L run I'LL Olu schooner
out OF Mobile. She was small craft
not more than 1870 tons burden-and
had originally come from some north
ern port. called her the Eutaw, and
made many profitable runs along the
coast of the Gulf, and two or three
times I doubled the capes of Florida.
While we lay in Mobile, taking in
a load for New Orleans, two of the
most desperate Williams in Alabama
were apprehended. Their names were
Adolph Leroy and Matt Vickers, and
they had committed a good many rob-
berries, and more than one murder in
the county between the big rivers.
They were locked up in the Jail at
Mobile, and as soon as they were thus
secure the evidence came in against
them fast and strong, the number of
burglaries and highway robbcries they
had committed was almost beyond com
pute, and at least five murders were
fastened upon them. But one morning
it was found that the prisoners had es-
capped, and those who had been so free
to testify against them turned pale
when they received the information,
and turned away in mortal terror. A
reward OF 81, 600 was offered for their
recapture, or $4,000 for one OF them.
But they were not to be found. No one
had seen them, and no traces of them
could be discovered.
On the second day after the escape Of
these rascals | was ready to sail, and
got under way about three o'clock in
the afternoon. NY crew consisted of
only myself and two sons, Stephen and
John. Stephen was 20 years old, and
Jack was 10; and they were both Of
them stout, rugged boys. Our runs
were so short and our craft so easily
handled that I found this crew to be
enough; though very frequently took
one or two more hands. But on this
occasion we had promise of quick,
fair passage, and we three concluded
to run her through. We had fair
wind for start, and run down the bay
at good rate, opening the passage be-
tween the Dauphin and Mobile Point a
little after 6. VIZ were just passing the
lighthouse, and had the helm, when l
sung out for the boys to stand by the
sheets. Stephen went to the main
sheet, but didn't see Jack l waited
a few minutes, and then sang out again.
Presently the boy came up from the
forepeak, but instead of going to the
sheet he came aft; and was just going
to tell him to go back to the fore-sheet
when l discovered that he looked kind
o. startled and fearful.
''What is it?" says !, forgetting the
sheets, for l knew that when one of
my boys showed a quivering lip, there
was something more than ordinary to
pay.
He put his finger to his lips, and told
me to speak low. For" said he,
'we've got passengers aboard
.'Ha-runaway niggers!' says !.
"Not quite SO simple" returned
Jack, with dubious shake of the
head: We've got two villains aboard. .
'.What two?"
''Leroy and Vickers!'
.'Get out!'' said l, thinking he must
be joking.
Gather" said he-and when he
spoke father in that way I knew
there was nothing but sober seriousness
in what was to ccs.s after til tell
you, they're aboard this schooner!
They're in the hold, chock for'rd; and
what's more, they mean to come out
wnen we get well outside! I've heard
it all!''
steered straight out and listened to
Jack, Tor knew it must be as he
said. We had no forecastle parted off
from the hold, as all of us that ever
wanted passage had plenty of room in
the cabin; but we had fore-peak
parted off, chock in between the bows,
where we slowed all rigging and tat
buckets and such kind Of stuff. While
we were running Jack had gone down
into this place to pick out some rope
yarns, and as he found an easy seat
upon an old sail, he sat down there,
with his back against the bulkhead,
and began to unlay a piece Of rope for
the yarns. He hadn't been at work q
great while before he heard a noise
among the boxes in the hold. and after
listening few minutes he knew that