Wichita eagle., 1889-02-16
A FORECASTLE YARN.
Terrible Experience with Yellow
Fever Aboard Ship.

Terrible Experience with Yellow
Fever Aboard Ship.
The long, hot day WAS over, and with the
setting sun had come breeze, before
which the good ship Bristol was steadily
slipping through the oily-looking water.
Six bells had just been struck; the saloon
was almost deserted, and the poop was peo-
pied with weary passengers, reveling In the
soft, cool wind and the departure of our
enemy, the sun. The main deck was alive
with the midship passengers, and the watch
on deck, who, mixing unfortunately,
lounged and cbatted and smoked and slept
as their inclination moved them.
had come up on the forecastle-head to
enjoy quiet cigar and to delight my soul
with the wondrous beauty of the night. Up
here, every thing was quiet, and was alone,
save for the man on the lookout, who leaned
on the opposite rail as motioness as statue,
and evidently occupied with his own
thoughts. Looking aft, the ship was almost
in darkness, being Swallowed with the
mountains Of canvas which rose dim
and mysterious toward the sky. The
murmur of voices was hushed. into
kind of lullaby, under whose drowsy
music both ship and ocean seemed
to be dreaming. Overhead, the tropical
stars hung cut their white lamps against
the violet sky, and set long trails Of light
glittering across the dark water until they
broke in crystal shivers on the hull. The
light from the open ports of the saloon
looked hot and yellow, and only enticed
dull reflection from the sea- Some one who
was playing OIL the piano in the music room
had drifted into the loved strain of "Home,
Sweet Home" and was sending it stealing
out over the sea like benediction. Round
the sharp cut-water the spray was rising in
a fairy fountain, whose drops rang like
chime of tiny silver bells as they met the
waves again. Down in the cool depths
shoal of fish were playing round the ships
head, looking, as they moved through the
phosphorus-laden water, like fish-shaped
fragments of solid rainbow gone mad
Thus rested and was at peace until my
revere was broken by the sound of foot
steps ascending the forecastle ladder.
turned and was face to face with my cabin
companion, Mr.. Ralph Stevenson. "Glorious
night, isn't it!'' he said.
''Magnifcent," / answered, and then
added: ''Its not only the present delight
that am thankful for, but for the memory
1t will be in days to come, for you know "a
81 don't know about that" he rejoined;
sit depends wholly on the circumstances
under which one has seen it. Do you know
this lovely night has called to my mind one
of the most unpleasant incidents in my
hfe"
Indeed; what was that2''
"Sit down here on this coil of rope, and
If you care to hear it, 1 will tell you as we
smoke"
Igladly accepted his offer, and Stevenson
began:
When / was young fellow, years ago in
London, was in the employ of an uncle Of
mine who was at the head of large firm of
ship owners. My health had broken down
owing to hard work and a severe season,
and the doctor ordered me long rest and a
sea voyage. The firm at once gave me the
required leave, and shipped me of as sole
passenger in one of their best trading clip
pers. We had fine passage, and arrived
safely in TIE magnificent harbor of Rio de
Janeiro. The port was crowded, and we
had To anchor outside and wait our turn to
be berthed. We lay for some days, during
which the heat was intense, when, all I'M
announced, there burst over the city and
the shipping one of those terrible outbreaks
or yellow fever so common there. The dis
ease spread with fearful rapIdity, and soon
our ship was one among the crowd lying at
the quarantine anchorage and flying the
hateful yellow flag.
1t was terrible TO lie day after day on the
CLASSY sea and watch the doomed city
through the haze and the ships nearer at
hand. Constantly the yellow flags were
luttering down to half-mast, as a signal
TO the shore boats to come off and take
away the bodies for intermeAt All our
crew had deserted at the first, with the
exception Ct the captain, the carpen-
ter, tail, thin Scotchman from the
Clyde, aud black cook named Jacob.
These, with myself, formed the whole
ships company. Suddenly the captain was
struck down, and by influence we managed
TO get him taken off TO one of the hospitals
ashore. Next day Chips-as they always
call the carpenter at sea-was laid low.
Jacob came and told me that Chips was in
his bunk, very bad, so / went on the main
deck and visited him. found him ravlng in
fever We few the signal for the doctor.
After awhile he came off, said it was q bad
case, prescribed, gave some directions as to
medicine and disinfectants and departed.
Jacob and / took turns in watching poor
Chips. On the evening of the next day /
WAS NlS pup. ANAtA y weary ana SICK
at heart. The red-hot sun went down at
last, and the stars came out. The night was
brilliantly calm and still The lights on the
esplanade of Rio began to twinkle out into
the darkness Far above them or the over
hanging terraces, clusters of light-mark-
ing the position of countless villas-hung on
the blackness of the steep background Ike
diamonds set in jet. The dim outlines of
the huge mountains which rise behind the
harbor doomed through the darkness in the
faint starlight. The Corcovada and the
Gavea could be seen head and shoulders
above the rest. Towards the open sea the
black form of the Pao de Assacur, which
guards the entrance of the harbor, stood
like solemn sentinel. Near it could be
deserted the glimmering Of the lighthouses,
iar away at the heads. l paced the deck
trying TO tight against feeling of utter
hssitude and depression. had a terrible
headache, taste ike blood in my mouth,
ana ieit aching and feverish all over.
PRESENTLY the black cook Jacob came on
10 the quarterback, and, touching his cap,
sad: Please, sir, won't you come down
and have some teal It has been ready for
half an hour"
Inanks, Jacob-0ut how is Chips!,
Hls black lace became grave at once as
herepiied; Please, SIR, he died nearly two