The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-18
A FATAL SUPERSTITION.
Carpenter Tom Jones Kills ono OF
Smother Cnrey's (iiickenHD

'Mothcr turey's (htckcnA"
II wss reading an interesting story 10 the
Alta the other day" said a wellknown
business man 10 the San Francisco Alta,
''about the peculiar beliefs aud supcrstItIons
o: miners. II miners are superstitious, what
are sailors Ia my younger days followed
the sea for some ten years, and during that
time became almost as superstItlous as tic
average run OF seamen. There was one case
that came under my notice that would fully
explain some strange beliefs, aud would also
throw some light on the end OF tile life of
poor Tom Jones. who died al tile United
States Marine hospital some ten years ago
from what the physicians there termed con-
gestion OF the brain. Poor fellow! Had the
truth been kuoAn, the record would have
shown that he died from the elect Of fire.
quent bcatIngs received at sea Would you
like to hear the story Very well, shall
commence at the very beginning
"a more trim or faster sailing craft than
the good ship Light Wing never departed
IRON the port OF New York. The names OF
the officers aud crew do not signlfy. Many OF
them are now la command or vessels or are
mates. aud the publishing OF Their names
might be TO their dctrmenL was a mem-
Der OF the crew. whv on the whole were AS
good seaneu as ever trod the deck Of a vessel.
The snip WAS loaded with cargo of general
Our passage was usually pleasant, aud We
had rounded the horn without ang OF those
fierce storms common IA that locaiit,.
Tue tnen were all la the best OF spirits aud
almost hilarious at The prospect OF a speedy
aud successful termination OF the voyage. IL
mus here be explained that Tom Jones was
the ships carpenter He was also sOmeth
OF taxderinls;, and consequently very fond
OF killing aud sIuiing towL You know
how fond sailors are OF Mother Carey's
chickens, species OF SrngulL Well Tom
ia moment OF enthusiasm forgot what
might be the dire consequences, aud
stuffed one OF tile chickens. He had
hardly placed tie bird carefully away
IN his bunk when the whole aspect OF
the weather changed. Great clouds gath
ed, aud In less than half an hour the wind
was blowing n hurricane. To make matters
worse someone heayed the pet cat overheard.
Then followed the most terrible time ever
experienced at sea. For ihirly-nine days and
nights Tie ship, under bare poles, was driven
along at the mercy OF tho waves. No fires
could be lighted, and we existed ON little else
than hard-tack aud cold water We did not
know 10 what end the mad waters were rush
ing us, aud few seemed TO care. All had become
aware that tue carpenter had killed the chick
EN- and he was also given the credit or throw
ing the cat overheard How did we know the
cat was overboardi That is the most pecu-
liar and terrible part OF the whole affair.
Through The whole tempest the cat was seen
following In our wake like some evil spirit
It's eyes blaZed like fire. particularly AZ night,
when they looked like burning GOALS Those
eyes made one shuddcr aud feel that our end
was near at hand. A cat will swim at sea un-
I'll IL dies OF starvation, but whether this cat
was swimming or driven along by the storm
/ don't know. Tom had committed terrible
act Of lndscretIOn, 10 eay the lessb aud all
his companions were only awaiting a chance 10
wfeak their vengeance. THIS chance came
nj The end OF the thlrty-ninth day when tue
storm abated and We sailed once more IN
smooth water. Poor Tom was utterly uncon-
scious Of tue punishment IN store for him.
He had no sooner appeared on deck than
some dozen OF the sailors jumped upon BIN.
The captain winkcd aud went below. white
the mate, with oath, shouted Kill the
houndp No, one intcrfered and Tom wac
beaten and kicked until he was carried below
unconscious aud bleeding lrofusely from his
wounds In "A week. however, he recovered
sufficiently TO como on deck, but he had no
sooner done so than the ating was repeated.
Every sailor on board seemed TO have a per-
sonal grudge against him, and all had an op.
p0rtunity To satisfy their lust for his blood
before port was reached. In fact, the beat
ings we're repeated so often that hnally the
carpenter was unable 10 leave his berth.
When the Light Wing arrived NJ this city
Tom was sent 10 the marine hospital and the
cause OF his injuries attributed to fall from.
nlOfL He sOOu died. without having uttered
one complaint nc the treatment he hal recciv.
cd. The story OF hls mortal woundiug never
leaked out, and only toll II TO YOU now &c
Illustrate "a what extent the average seaman
may be infurlated by The Violation OF any or
the many beliefs they hold so sacred"