Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-02-01

uilIercnt look. Several boats cane off
the Captain was invited ashore, and a
messenger from Old op said that trade
would DO good. We wanted dyewoods,
roots, barks, .cocoanut kernels, and other
products, and when the Captain landed
he had assurances that we could fill up
In week. Not native had a word to
say about tho brig, but tho Captain coon
saw broken heads enough to satisfy him
that there had been row. Old Lon had
been knocked silly by blow from a
capstan bar, instead of having fevor, aud
the women had biackencd their thumbs
as they never do except when in mourn
ing.
We lay at anchor quarter of milo
from the beach, aud when the Captain
returned he gave orders to have the
schooner taken into little cove within
biscuit throw of the sand. The natives
had complained that it was too much
work to pull the cargo out to us. 1
asked the Captain if it didn't look like
plot to get us in helpless situation,
and he laughed and replied:
1.-THE row with the brig will last
these fellows for good while yet. They
don't seem to cry for me as they did
when ho' before, but there's plenty of
trade, and we'll get 'cm good. nat,ired
after bit. You've got charge, and you
can point your guns as you like
We pulled the schooner into the cove,
and for three days the nutives brought
us stuff as fast as we could stow it
away. The Captain spent most of his
time ashore, and whenever he came
aboard it was TO announce that the ma.
tives were in better humor, and that we
need rot be apprchcnsvc. llnd not had
all the mon with me in my suspicious |
should no doubt have relaxed my vigil
ance. Each sailor, however, by catch.
ing ON to this or that, was satisfied that
danger mcnaccd, and was only too glad
to see preparations made to meet it. I
had tho cannon loaded with whatever
would answer for canister, muskets and
cutlasscs kept ready, and would not al
low over ten natives aboard at once.
They had bows and arrows and 8, cars
and clubs, with now and thea an old
muskct, ind each one who came had to
leave all weapons behind. On the third
day saw no less than three of them cut n
notch on stick to represent each one
Of us, and those who came aboard had
n smack of the impudent in their de-
mcnnor.
On the fourth morning not a native
came off TO us, and when the Captain
went ashore with new stock of liquor
to propitiatc Old Lop he found that it
was holiday with the people, and that
all were excused from work. Ho sent
me word to let all go ashore who wished.
and when l made the announcement
every hand was off except one. A fore.
mast man named Parker, n steady. mid.
dle-agcd man, finding that was 10 stay,
asked that he might keep INC company,
anu we had scarcely been left alone
when he said:
"Mr. Winters, beg your pardon for
being so bold of speech, but don't like
tho looks of things ashore"
"Nor |, either"
81 am glad, sir, that VIC are agreed,
for l think thcrc'll he throat-cutting
done before night. haven't been EASY
at all since we dropped anchor here.
I've been among the Fecjce, Tonga.
IN mix, Union and other groups, and
these chaps arc too saucy for men who
haven't got plot on hand"
And what do you think of the holi-
day?"
"Ail moonshinc, sir. 1t is an excuse
to get all of lis ashore. These natives
have holiday every day in the year,
so far us that goes. 1t isn't for the likes
OF me TO give you advice. but think we
should get ready for row."
l thought so. too. We took the cover
oil the mainsail and hoistcd it part way
up, ran up the jib, uncovered the fore
sail, and acted rs two men might who
were caring for craft at anchor. We
lay headed toward the channel, rs the
lido was running in. and had only
enough chain out to let her swing. We
ovcrhaulcd the cable, and fixed it for
slipplng. got the cannon aft, where it
could have rakiDg fire. and were then
as roadyas we two men could be. Ashore
all was hilariIy and confusion, with
natives marching up and down, and
beating their drums and blowing their
horns. Wo had made the preparations
spoken OF, when the Captain sent one of
the men of to us to tell us to como
ashore. rs everybody was having n good
time. questioned the messenger closely,
but he had seen nothing suspicious. |
sent word that we might come snon,
but did not intend to move foot, Two
hours passed, and we Ind remarked that
the tide had just turned when old I.op
sent US pressing invitation, backed by
n second message from the Captain.
The sailor had been aloft with the glass,
and on coming down reported that our
men were acting as if drunk, and that
every native appeared TO be armed.
sent word back that would not leave
the schooner, and half an hour later
tho expected climax came. We heard
general bowling and shouting, and
Parker, who was again aloft, hurried
down to report that he had seen three of
our crew cluobcd to death. He had
scarcely gained the deck when about 200
natives made rush for the canoes drawn
up opposite us. While we were not more
than 100 feet from the shore, in water
about three fathoms deep, the natives
had to swim or take to their canoes.
There were lots of sharks in the coyes.
and SO none of them veutured to plunge
in.
While Parker ran to slip the cable
ran ait to the wheel. There was a bit of
a breeze, and favorable at That. while
the run of the tide alone would take us
slowly out Time was what we wanted