New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-15
How a Woman Saved the Ship.

From the Youths Companion.
When the ship Sunderland left New
York, bound for Montevideo, she had
in part s'shanghaied" crew; that is,
men who had been made drunk and
brought on board, without their
knowledge or consent, just before sail
ing. Seamen were scarce in New York
at the time, SO the shipping agent had
resorted to that method to furnish
the vessel her complement OF men.
While she was being towed through
the Narrows. the officers went forward
and reused up the drunken, half
stupefed men in the forecastle. The
latter were Misunderstanding set of
men, and, to the surprise ofthe mates,
only few were found to be seamen,
the rest being roughs or longshoremen.
They lurched about the deck, quarrel
ling, and threatening violence if the
ship was not put back.
Capt. White saw he had been de-
ceived by the shipping agent, and 60
ing forward, ascertained that none OF
the crew had families or any RESPONSE
BILE occupation. He told them they
would have to make the best OF the
situation, as he must proceed on his
voyage. It was the result of their
own folly that they were on board.
At this they refused point blank to
work the ship. However, none OF
them dared look into the muzzle OF
the captains revolver, so the boat
swain and second mate, with many
kicks and blows, at last forced them
to make sail, the three or four sailors
going aloft to loose the canvas, while
the new hands on deck did the hauling.
The first day at sea is always try
ing one for both officers and men. A
ship just leaving port is in about the
condition of the newly-rented house
on the first OF May. The mates do not
know what to expect from the crew,
nor do the men know whether their
officers intend to treat them with re-
spect or to bully them. Consequent
ly each class watch the other with dis
trust.
OF course, with the Sunderland
crew the day was continual wrangle.
A part of the men not being practiced
sailors, they were almost useless.
Towards night the wind increased to
gale, and the frightened landsmen
were driven into the rigging toreei
topsails. They had to be follow
ed aloft, and shown what to do
with the reef-points. The position OF
a man upon the topsail.yard, try
ing to reef heavy sail whipping in
the wind, is not secure, even if he is
an old sailor. These longshoremen
found they wanted both hands to
hang on with The mates managed
to make them gather in the sail dur
ing q steady spell, but when the snip
gave heavy lee lurch, and the yard
canted up at high angle, their feet
slipped along the foot-rope, and let
ting go the sail, they all grabbed for
the jackstay.
After great deal of exertion, the
officers reefed the fore and main top
sails, with but little help from the
seasick men. The mlzzen topsail blew
away before it could be secured.
The ship Was heavily loaded, and la
bored badly in the brisk sea, which
soon followed the coming OF the gale.
The captain preferred to drive her
with single-reefed topsail, for he knew
that if he started his halliards, the
sails would be slat to pieces, before
his clumsy crew could smother them
Each heavy gust pressed the lee rail
down into the water, and the spray
few over the bows in q continuous
| shower.
The discomfort among the men grew
more violent as darkness increased,
and they began to feel the agonies OF
seasickness augmented by wet clothes
and the raw autumnal wind.
They quickly made up their minds
to mutiny; and while crouched in the
lee of the deck-house to escape the
spray, arranged for concerted action
at the first opportunity.
Before long a voice was heard call
ing, ''Stand by the weather main
braces!'
Then they went aft to the braces,
and when the second mate noticed all
hands were there, he advanced to ask
why the watch below were on deck.
For answer he was knocked down by
a blow from a capstan. bar, and quick
ly bound, hand and foot, with ropes
; ends.
They then rushed upon the captain,
who shot the foremost through the
shoulder; but the revolver was knock
ed away and his throat clutched by
| the fingers OF q burly stevdeore, whose
other hand was raised to stab him.
| At this crisis there was heard a
shrek so loud and unexpected that
the astonished rufians remained mo-
tionless for an instant. A white form,
with long blonde hair streaming in the
| wind, bounded through the cabin
door and rushing upon the captains
assailant, caught the knife before it
could descend.
Terror-stricken, the superstitious
| MON foil hool, Paforo +bn o,,r,o,;oo