West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-05-23


contempt.
IF you and the cook have nothing
better to do, I'll put you TO rubbing the
rust of the anchor chain" he gruiiiy re-
piled.
The mate also laughed at me, but when
| went quietly among the men every one
of them was ready 10 believe. Each one
had noticed something TO arouse his
suspicious, but in the absence Of orders
we could do nothing but wait for what
might turn up.
We were getting well down toward the
northernmost island of the group, when
something happened which should have
opened the Captains eyes The leader
of the three borrowed the glasses and went
up to the crosstrees Of the mainmast and
took long look around. We saw the
sailor in his every move, and he had not
been down an hour when native craft
came creeping up from the south, bows
on to us. She had free wind, while we
had been beating down all the forenoon.
We were at this time forty or fifty miles
to the northward OF the group, with a
beautiful afternoon and a smooth sea.
Half an hour after the native craft had
been sighted, one of the natives and the
Captain retired to the cabin. Five
minutes later the native showed his
head above the deck and called TO the
mate, who had just come on watch. He
disappeared down the companionway, aud
at the same time ] entered the forecaStlc
! 10 look for something wanted. I was
/ down there about five minutes heard
no particular row on deck, but when /
reappeared | was struck dumb by the
| spectacle. One Of the natives was az the
wheel, and was bringing the schooner
into the wind TO lie to. The decapitated
bodies of the two Americans and the
cook were lying amidships, while the
two Swedes were at the foremast cross
trees. Not shout had been raised nor
a cry uttered. The work had been done
with terrible rapidity and in silence.
AS reached the deck one OF the ma
tiyes came forward with bloody creese
| in his hand and called me "good boy, "
aud said / should not be hurt. He left
me sitting on the windlass so scared and
weak that could not stand, and then as
/ sisted his companions to lower the sails
When this had been accomplished they
called to the Swedes to come down. The
poor fellows began crying and lamenting,
and refused TO descend. The natives
picked up the bodies from the deck and
tossed them overheard and then de
scended to the cabin and brought up the
bodies of Captain and mate and served
them the same way. Both had been killed
I by the one native who enticed them down.
About the time the last body was flung
over the rail the native craft drew along
side. She had thirty men on board, all
OF whom seemed TO know our three pas
sengers and their plans. There was great
rejoicing over the capture of the schooner,
and for quarter of an hour no one paid
me any attention. Then there was hot
discussion, a part Of the gang seeming
anxious for my life, but the result was that
was conducted to the cooks galley and
given to understand that was TO do the
cooking. Although our cook was Chinese
they did not spare him. What saved me
was my youth, or they might have planned
10 cut my throat aftcrI had served their
turn.
When my fate had been settled the
Swedes were again ordered down. One
Of them descended begging and plead
ing, but ne was cut down the moment
his feet touched Che deck The other re-
fused TO come down, and half a dozen
natives ran up q foremast shrouds with
knives in their hands. Before they could
reach him the sailor made his way hand
over hand along the triantic stay TO the
mainmast. His feat was greeted with
, applause, but others ascended, and there
was no longer any hope for him. The
poor fellow made the best defence
possible, but they cut and hacked him
until he lost his hold and fell TO the deck.
His body was thrown overheard, deck
and cabins cleansed Of blood stains, and
about sundown the schooner, with twenty
five men, was headed for the Philippines
The rest OF the gang, numbering seven or
eight, followed with the native craft
boiled a large quantity Of meat and got
the best supper possible, and was glad 10
fnd that no one gave me any attention.
We had a brisk wind all night and
during the next forenoon, and at about
2 o'clock we reached an anchorage on the
east side Of the main island and within a
quarter Of n mile Of the beach. The
native craft passed us aud entered the
mouth Of q river. From what ] could
gather she was going TO bring out men
and cannon 80 the schooner A hunt was
made through the schooner Tor gun car
riages, and the discovery Of the small
arms seemed 10 put the fellows in good
humor. There was about $500 in gold
aboard in the cabin, and this was counted
out and divided pro rata. or in some other
satisfactOry manner a. wc lay at anchor
Then ! was ordered 90 draw q pailful Of
wine from . cask in sort Of lazarettO or
etorer00m, reached from the galley The
cook might have known Of the presence
ol ihe wine there, but ] did not had
never looked into the place There was
tin pail, holding about ten quarts, in the
galley, and this filed and carried 10 the
main hatch, with several glasses. and
everybody proceeded 70 help himself.
Now that we were az anchor ali discipline
had ceased and one man was as good az
another. They we're prowliuQ all over
the schooner, aUd perfectly 40 home.
The wine must have tcklcd thcr Ual-
ates nightly, for q second pailful was
soon demanded Tt was while ] was
drawing II that 7 noticed the barrel had