The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-25
ROUTED BY A TIGER.
The Captains Story OF q Danger
GUS Passenger.
A schooner's Crew Terrified and tho vos-
sci Aimlessly distinguishing Water
Used to subdue q Refractory Beast
An Interesting Story.
Tphiladelphla Tlmes.1

as fur as Lewes, Del, reported having
rendered assistance to the schooner H. L.
Whitford, which had gone ashore about
mile this side Of Lewes under very excit-
ing and unusual circumstances. The
Whitford was not damaged and continued
on her voyage after she had been hauled
off by the tug-boat. Captain Healey is a
bluff and weather-beaten old mariner,
who several years ago, gave up deep
water sailing and bought a controlling in
terest in the ug-boat Hercules, because
foreign voyages took him too much away
from his family. He has always been
noted for his pluckiness and hardihood.
Leaning back in comfortable chair in the
cozy little cabin of his tug-boat last even
ing Captain Healey related his story:
~ left the wharf here on Friday after
noon with the Helena Morris in tow. was
to take her as far as Lcwes, as they were
in hurry to get to sea. The wind had
veered from northwest TO northeast, and
blew straight into our teeth. 1t was two
o'clock in the morning before we got down
to Lewes, so after casting adrift our tow
line from the brig decided to come to
anchor and lie there until morning, think
ing perhaps could get a vessel to tow up
to the city. 1t was blowing pretty fresh,
but gave the tug a long range OF chain,
put up an anchor light, and turned in,
leaving one man on watch in the pilot
house.
81 think il must have been about half
past three O'Clock when the man on watch
ran down to my bunk and shook me up
with the startling news that there was
schooner drifting down upon us broadside
to. l slipped a pea-jacket on and ran on
deck, and sure enough there was FIVE
hundred ton schooner bearing down upon
us with all her sails set. She had her side
lighted up, but there was nobody at the
wheel. What surprised me was that she
should drift almost broadside to the wind
with her canvas on. The only way could
account for 1t was that her anchor was
down and dragging the bottom.
"She fortunately did not collide with
the tug boat, and, as she drifted past /
shouted in hopes OF waking up the people
on board, for, 10 tell ths truth, | thought
they had all turned In without setting any
anchor watch, and that the schooner had
simply drifted from her moorings. You
can imagine my surprise when at last half
dozen voices answered my shout. Some
OF them came from aloft in the rigging on
the schooner, and another answering
shout from the water. As the schooner
loomed up tn ough the morning mist /
made out the situation OF the men.
There was one man standing on the fore
topmast crosstrees, with a red handker-
chief tied in the rigging above his head;
another stood up in the maintop, shouting,
and In the yawl boat astern were three
men, one Of whom stood up In the bows Of
the boat with IN oar in his hand as II he
were waiting for somebody or something
to show up over the schooner's taifrail. As
they drifted past one OF the men in the
yawl got up and shouted:
"'Come aboard Of US, for Gods sakel
We are helplessW
"At first could not imagine what was
the matter, except that the vessel was in
the hands Of mutineers. This l thought
probable, as there were only five men to
be seen. There were still two or three
men to be accounted for, judging from the
schooner's size. The men In the boat still
kept shouting and waving at US, so | called
the tugs crew, got our anchor up, and
started in chase Of the drifting scho bner.
She was not more than half mile distant
when We put after her, and the tug gained
on her very fast. She was drifting In
shore, and by the time we got within a ca
ble's length OF her she grounded. By that
time made preparations TO board the vos-
sci, and capture the mutineers who sup-
posed had possession Of her. l shouted to
the men in the yawl TO cut adrift and come
on board OF US, but they had only one oar
In the boat. As we got near the schooner
mustered the five men on board the
Hercules, and counted our weapons. We
had three revolvers and a shotgun.
"'Now let her 60 for the schooner
yelled TO the pilot as reached up for the
signal-rope, and blew three shrill whistles.
The last shrek had hardly died away
when terrific blood-curdling roar that
almost took US of our feet came from the
schooner's deck. We were almost along
side, and had barely time to pull two
bells 10 back her when the two vessels
touched. There was jar, the schooner
trembled, and as the tug slowly drew of
another terrific roar drowned the noise Of
escaping steam. A great monster of a
tiger sprang from behind the galley house.
Three revolvers and a shotgun were
pointed at tho brute. Hold on, boys l
said, let us make up our minds what IL
best
"The schooner's crew, who were perchcd
in the gging, yelled for US to shoot low
and kill the beast. l pulled one bell and
stopped tao tus. By this time the men ia
the yawl-boat had cut adrift, and they
clambered over the side'of the tug. They
were Captain Petit and the mate and
cook OF the schooner. There was no time
for explanations. We had TO work sharp,
for sudden veer in the wind might blow
the schooner off and start her adrift again.
Captain Petit had heavy navy revolver
with him, and we now slowly steamed
around the stern Of the, schooner aud crept
up alongside as close as we could with
safety.
"His majesty the royal Bengal tiger lay
doing on the starboard side OF the galley
house. As pulled the gong 10 stop the
tug be raised his head and / gave the
word: 'Aimv He looked at us for mo-
ment, and, as he opened his mouth TO roar,
! shouted: 'Firep The contents of four
revolyers and a shotgun wero poured at
the tiger, md, with a roar OF ruge and