Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-05-03
ON MExIco,s COAST.
low an American Captain Trlcked q
"Greaser" Port Officer.


How an American Captain Trlcked a
"Greaser" Port Officer.
The return of*"Dandy Jack" to
this port as a sailor on the American
ship Arabia revives an incident that
happened on the Mexican coast fifteen
years ago. About that time Jack was
one of the crew of the bark Diamond
that left San Francisco to trade along
the western shore. of Mexico. and
probably do little smuggling on that
side. ~. s4 IA
The bark went direct to the port of
Guaymas, and before she dropped
anchor was boarded by the intendente
and his deputies.
AT er thorough search had been
made. some goods were found slowed
away that did not appear on the man
ifest, and the captain of the port, in
rage, told the captain of the Diamond
that he and his crew would be made
prisoners, and that their vessel was
forfeited to the Mexican Government.
This was very severe punishment
for smuggling, and the captain, know
ing how bitter the Mexicans hated
Americans, thought thatnot only would
he and his crew be imprisoned, but
that they might be assassinated in
some mysterious manner.
This set the minds of all on board to
thinking. The. intendente had twenty
deputies on board while some hundred
soldiers were on guard on a revenue
cutter alongside the Diamond. The
captain on the latter was II man of
quick thought, and he took in the
situation ut n glance.
1t happened that the dignitary of
the port was to slight extent dis
ciple of Bacchus, and when he was in
vited to 90 down to the captains cabin
and libate he readily consented. The
best wine on board was dispensed lib
orally, and in short time the in
tendente was in jovial condition.
He ordered the soldiers on the cutter
to go ashore and return in the morn
ing to take prisoners the captain and
crew of the Diamond, as he and his
deputies would guard her during the
night. The curtain of darkness was
unfolding itself. and the captain secret
ly gave orders to his crew to be ready
at moments S notice for action.
Several of the deputies went below,
and as soon as they did the hatch was
put down and locked without arousine
the suspicious of those on deck. Blu
when the crew began cautiously tt
weigh anchor, one of the Mexican'
seemed to appreciate the intentions O
the Americans, and quietly slipping
down rope to the water, swan
ashore and gave the alarm.
It was the intention of the captain
of the Diamond TO trust to the breez'
that way flying to carry him out of th
harbor and take the intendente anC
his crew with him. just as he had al
preparations made TO carry out hi
plans a report of cannon at tn
heads was heard, while another blaze,
away at the stern OF the vessel
Knowing that escape was impossible
the captain ordered the long boa
lowered, and, rushing down to hi
cabin, took his valuables, and the
tried to pull the intoxicated inten
dente above, meaning to kidnap hir
and make the Mexicans pay dearly fo
him before he was returned.
just as he got on deck, draggin
the flexible port official after him, tn
imprisoned deputies broke loose, bein
warned by the cannons that some
thing was wrong Dandy Jack and tn
captain jumped into the long boa
Just in time to save themselves, an
they rowed out into the darkness,
The revenue cutter was steaming u
to the Diamond and did not see tn
departure of her crew,
They were not pursued and e.
capped across the Gulf of California
being taken aboard an outward-boun
schooner before their flight was eircl
lated.
Dandy Jack said, when speaking
: the matter, that the intendente, s
: incensed over the folly he was guilt
of, had the Diamond broken up as
: warning to smugglers Jack learne
the fact two years later.-San Fra
cisco Examiner.