Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-25

would have been lost When my left lung
was protruding through my side and was
faint from loss of blood she kept saying,
Don't faint, and encouraging me to nre at
the Malays through the skylight. All this
time she was dressing my wounds and was -
bold - lioness. The more l think OF the
whole affair the more am dazed. That two
Malays should have kept over dozen men 10
such terror that they dare not fight even TOT
their lives is a mystery which am unable TO
fathom. As q matter of fact there was no
cruelty practiced on the trip. But, admitting
that there had been; suppose that had prac'
ticed all sorts Of cruelties on the men, why,
when they thought was dead and knew that
both mates and three of their shipmates had
been murdered. and that the Malays were
only waiting for Q chance to kill them-why'
ask, did not the sailors break OUT
of the forecastle and fight for their lives!
| have been to sea for many years and must
confess that this last experience OF mine beats
ANYTHING that ever experienced or heard OF.
From where sat in the cabin could see the
sailor who had taken refuge in the main top.
/ repeatedly motioned to him to come down,
hut he shook his head. Then l motioned to
him to come down. but he shook his head.
Then l motioned to him to throw something
down from aloft 30 that one of the Malays
would be attracted within range of my pistol.
The Malays began their bloody work on Sat
urday night and on Sunday they bent pipe
filled with tobacco on to 8 line which the man
in the maintop lowered down, and he hauled
it I'D and had a smoke. Then they made the
Chinese cook prepare them some rice and
went with it to the forecastle and asked the
sailors if they wanted some. When they re-
piled in the affirmative they told them to
come out and get it,which OF course the men,
although suffering from hunger, were AFRAID
to do.
Before the Malays had fastened the doors
of the forecastle from the outside German
bow in the crew, Max Stahl, got the sailors to
arm themselves with capstan bars and 60 aft
to fight the Malays When the Malays were
encountered every man excepting the boy ran
back to the forecastle without striklnRa blow.
He was badly wounded in front. When
had shot one of the Malays aud he had jumped
overheard, the cook passed q pistol to the
man in the maintop, but he was afraid to use
it and allowed the remaining Malay TO
90 below and fire the ship without
making move. When l came out of the
cabin did feel like shooting that man. The
only evidence of any manhood which he
showed was on Sunday night when one Of
the Malays climbed up in the rigging and
tried to knife him. Then he hit the Malay
over the head with block and threw him to
the deck. 1t is all nonsense for the men to
say that they could not break out of the fore
castle. sea chest used as battering ram
would have demolished the door in min
ute"
When asked about her experience in the at
fair, Mrs. Clarke said: "Well, l think
should have given up if had had time, but
you see, was 80 busy tending to the captain.
When we left the ship the cabin was full of
smoke, but managed to get two chronome-
tiers, 4 sextant and chart out and into the
boat. | knew we could not find st. Helena
unless we had them. 40 took them along.
In the boat l figured out the longitude while
the captain was working at the latitude, and
we got along very comfortably, except that
we were cramped for space on the boat and
did not have room enough to lie down and
sleep One night we had a storm and l
thought we were certainly going to be
swamped but we were not | was so thin
when got to St. Helena that was afraid to
look in the glass. | ate some crackers aud
drank plenty of water in the boat, but it was
7OO-mile trip and l was naturally worried.
believe l should have broken down when
we got to St. Helena, but the Captain and the
wounded men all had to be looked after and
did not have time for anything. l have been
to sea for sixteen years, but the Captain says
| can't go any more. l think shall, howev-
err"
Little Carrie, when asked if she was fright :
ened, said:
II was not afraid until the ship was on fire.
Then papa was so long leaving her that was
afraid he would get burned up He put all
the men in the boat first and l feared he
would not come. So | cried. But mamma
wasn't bit afraid any time"
1.-The captain" continued Mrs. Clarke,
kept up splendidlv until we sighted ST.
Helena, but just as soon as he was sure that
he had sighted the island he broke down. 1t
couldn't be wondered at after what he had
gone through"
On the Sunday morning after the Mslays
had broken out Captain Clarke thought he
was diving and said 10 his wife: at is nc
use. am diving Here is my pistol. When
the Malays break into the cabin shoot me and
then shoot Carrie and yourself. Mrs. Clarke
promised to do so, but her indomitable will
so inspired her husband that it vanquished
even death. When Captain Clarke and his
family arrived in London they had some
difficulty in finding a hotel. They drove al
once to the Golden Cross HOTEL but the clerk
after taking look at the captain. who wore a
blue shirt and a SLOUGH hat and had court
plaster over the major part of his face, said
mo, we are all full" Then they drove &c
the Charing Cross Hotel, where the captain
was taken for a dynamiter and "fired out
The family finally found hotel which agreed
to give them shelter on the supposition tina
the captain had been in = railway accident
On board the Servia Captain Clarke and hi.
family we're the recipients of every attention
! from officers and passengers. On Friday
evening last concert was given and the pro-
ceeds will be devoted to purchasing = test
monial to be presented to Mrs. Clarke.