Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-23
you into Rio faster than you ever went

you into Rio faster than you ever went
before in your life" said Capt. Baker,
who saw the situation and lhe proud
spir I Of the man he was addressing.
"Bui." lbs added. '.you'll have TO
bring your wife aud oungsters aboard
here. | won't tow them N the boat,
for there is an ugly sea running out-
side. IL on want 10 stay aboard your
craft. all right
Mrs. Siocum. who was me nding ono
Of her boys jackets sitting on the
deck of the Liberdalc, agreed to take
the passage To X o in the Finance with
the children. Capt Socum sta ed in
the canoe and a long tow line was at
tached to her. The wind was blowing
II gale when the Finance steamed out
TO sea and during the five days Of the
voyage ii continued to blow great guns.
Seas washed clear over the promenade
deck OF the Finance and the steamer
made her tracks point at a time to
give the canoe plenty of sweep Capt.
Baker had oil bags suspended over his
stern, but every time he caught sight
OF Capt Slocnm IN the canoe that in-
dividual was sitting bolt upr ght with
| his hands on the Her.
! Mountainous seas boiled over the
bar At the entrance of X o Janeiro har-
Dor. when the L nance. with her tow.
arrived OH August b. but with the aid
OF oil the canDa came right dc up. A
/ bunch Of bananas which was suspend
ed IN tbe forerigging Of the Canoe at
Santos slll held its position.
Capt. Slocum said he would not
have m ssed his experience in tho
canoe dur ng the trp for an thing.
but he did not care TO be towed again.
| When he was IN the trough of the seas
all he could see of he finance was the
foretopgallant-y
The l. berdade remained at Rio for
several days and then left for Pernam.
buco. The + nance overhauled her
1000 miles out. and i'm response to a
hail, Capt. S.Ucnm said himself aud
family were all right, and babe Capt.
Baker Ego ahead" if he was lin
hurry" The Finance. however, lay to,
and ut Capt. Bakers request the
Liberdade came alongside. when
barrel OF potatoes, some vegetables.
bread and butter and other edibles
were lowered into the canoe.
Half hundred novels the passen-
gers had been reading were dropped
on the Liberdade's deck, and gentle
man passenger looking over the rail at
Mrs. Slocum, a comely woman of forty,
who stood by the cabin door. remark
ed fervently:-"lf that captain ever
dies I'd like 10 marry that woman.
She's the pluckiest woman | ever
saw.
Capt Slocum s,ubbornly refused TO
have himself or family taken on board
the Finance. and the canoe filled away
as the steamers VIII site shrieked a
parting salute. The passengers waved
their handberchiefs AMI Mrs. Socum
bowed AMI smiled IN response.
Capt. SIocum told Commander Baker
at Barbados, where the Finance arrived
about August % on her last homeward
voyage that the Lberdale made that
voyage from RIO 10 Fernambuco,
distance OF 2. $50 miles, in nineteen
days. This was equal TO l24 miles per
day or live and one.siXth knots per
hour.
At Barbados Capt Baker rene wed
his offer to take Capt. Slocum and FAM
lily hone or to take his l. o L. for
$500. but Slo,um would not listen to
it. He declared he would 90 home IN
the canoe and said he would have left
Barbados beiore had not the l. be rdale
sprung her mainmast on the voyage
from Pernambuco. He blamed his
wife for this. as at her request he shook
the reef out of the mainsail.
Capt. Baker urged him to take some
oil for rough weather. but Slocum cool
iy said lie could kill enough sharks 10
obtain all the oil needed. He did not
need money. for if he got to Baltimore
he could stay on his boat dur NC the
winter and save house rent. He has
the offer of the command Of vessel
when he gets home. and has still 1900
miles to 20. The Finance left him At
Barbados. NeW York Herald.