Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-12-12

and inflicted a stab which proved fatal
within half an hour. After thus using
his knife, he took up his quarters in
the fo'castle. and swore that he would
Kill any man who dared descend after
him. We pulled the cover over and
made him prisoner, but i'm n short time
we realized that we were In the fix oil
the man who dare not let go of the
bear. None Of us had n change OF
clothes or could turn in.
In this emergency Mr.. Waters took
the responsibility OF hauling the
captain out OF his berth and trying 10
make him understand the situation.
The beast got back enough sense TO
realize that his sacred person was be-
ing pulled and hauled about, and he
got hold of n pistol and threatened to
shoot the next man who disturbed him.
In this emergency we held a fo'castle
council Some were for putting back,
Others for running into Georgetown,
and others for holding on until next
day and seeing how the captain would
come out. 1t was while We were en-
gagged in this discussion. and no one
had an eye on the weather. that an
'ox-eyo" struck the brig, and brought
both masts down together rs il they
had been chopped of. The instincts
of sailor set every man at work with
out orders, but the old hulk got pretty
badly banged about before we had the
wreclSagc cut clear and the danger
averted. The negro murderer came
on deck during the confusion, but, in
stead of aiding us to save the brig, he
got the yawl into the water, put in
water and provisions, and when we
were finally ut liberty to look about us
he was ready to shove off. He was too
quick for us, and away he drifted into
the darkness to leeward, the yawl
bouncing like cork, and seemingly
about to upset, but the fellow was
as cool as ice, and got her
off before the seas. As the main
mast came down block or strap
fell upon the head of sailor named
Chester. We could not give him any
attention for half an hour, and vixen
we got around to it he was dead. We
were dismasted. had two corpses
aboard, our only boat was gone, and
the captain was still drunk. Sailor
Jack has some curious adventures, and
is surrounded by strange circum-
stances, but none could have well been
in worse fix than we were aboard of
the Duchess.
The question of what we could or
should do had been narrowed down
very materially. The hull was not
much damaged, and we knew that it
could never sink with those barrels
aboard. We hauled the corpses out of
the way, covered them with n spare
sail, and then every man was at liberty
to do rs he pleased. All discipline was
gone, and as the hull sat high out of
water no one felt any immediate dam
ger. The wind and sea both fell after
the blast that dismasted us, and before
ten o'clock believe that every Jack
aboard was sound asleep. | remember
that 1t was after sunrise when / went
on deck, and L was the first one up. In
about three minutes the captain made
his appearance. He was not yet over
his spree, and had, doubtless, come on
deck to have row. One look around
him was sufficient to change his mind
on that point. He was completely
knocked out at what he saw, and his
countenance betrayed all the emotions
in the calendar as he approached me
and asked:
'W-what is it, Reefer?"
1--WE were struck by squall last
evening and dismasted, sir"
"And Il"
1--WE tried to call you up, sir, but
you were dead drunk"
1t was my opportunity to give it to
him straight, and | did not spare him.
Yes. SIR" / went on, as he passed
his hand over his eyes as il to clear
away a vail, lit was all your fault.
You were drunk when we left port, and
you got stupid soon after that. You
are responsible for what this covers.
sir as we'll as the loss of this brig"
| took his arm and walked him over
to the bodies, and pulled off the sail.
IL was a shocking sight. and no
wonder he started back with n cry of
horror.
was-it?" he slowly de-
manded.
The niger stabbed the mate, sir.
and the man was killed as the masts
went over Both deaths are laid at
your door. This is the result of your
lying drunSm
Great Godl Great GOdr' he gasped,
a he held up his hands in horror.
Yes. sir. it's an awful nights work"
] said in reply "And what are we to
do now?"
Dead Both dead! And the brig a
wreck" he whispered, as he glared
around him.
AZ that moment the men began 10
appear on deck. and the captain Gov
cred his face with his hands for a
moment and then rushed into his
cabin. We gathered about the stump
Of the foremost as all came on deck.
but not over ten minutes had elapsed
when tho steward came out. shouting
that The captain was gone. We rushed
aft in % body. and there he was on his
back in The water, hands over his eyes
aud the water just covering them. lie
was probably dead then. but IL not we
were helpless We had no boat. and
before any one brought "a rome tho hodt