Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-03
THE MATES STORY.

A night or 20 ago. after toiling 1t the pen
until something past the hour Of midnight,
during q moment in which I had paused TO
rest from my tnee.aant writing, my eye
caught glimpse of . huge bundle Of hall
forgotten MSS. and old printed paparA -
Listlessly picking the bundle up and cars-
fully blowing OF the dsnss incrustAtion Of
dust. the accumulation Of many year., I In
advertently opened an old paper, black with
age, which contained the following curious
tale.
As have good and sufficient reasons for
supposing the story TO relate to ons, In par
ticular. Of my ancestors, many Of whom, In
the old whaling times. plowsd both tbs
northern and southern seas - captains,
carefully made . verbatim copy Of It and
will again bequeath It to wondering world:
About two Year, ago left the services.
was tired Of it. and a. wanted so;ns more
exciting work, and q that VA only to b
found At sea, shipped aboard . whaler -
first officer. We were unlucky-someway
bring no luck any where, but storm and wind
and being born in March my whols life has
been lived in March, and W were nearly
empty.
We wore cruising up here to the north, on
and of, and thinking Of making for homo,
- the weather had changed, and the ics
forms precious quick In these latitudes whom
It oucs begins. Tho captain naturally wanted
to hang on to the last for the chance OF en-
other haul.
One bright afternoon. Just after eight balls.
I made up the log, - part Of the first OH
car's duty. and carried II TO the captainS
cabin.
knocked At the door. and, - nobody an
swered, walked in.
thought it odd the captain hadn't a.
swered me, for there b was, sitting ct hi
desk. With bis back 10 me- writing.
Seeing be was employed, told him l hAd
brought the log record Of . shipS doing,
vessels spoken, knots made, etp. during each
twenty four hours-lAid it On the tabls b.
hind him. and, a. he made NO reply, walked
out
went on deck, and the first person INST
was the captain.
was puzzled, for l could not make out
how he could get there before me.
How did you get up heref' said; II -
lefs you writing IN your cabin
II have not been In my cabin for the last
half hour" the captain answered; but
thought he was chatting, and didn't like It.
There was some one writing At your dsak
just now" said; Iii 1t wasn't you, you bad
better 60 and SEQ who it was The log b
made up. have left il in your cabin, DIR"
and with that walked rather sulkily away.
had NO idea Of being chaned by the cap
tain, TO whom had taken dislike.
Mr.. Stowell," said the captain, who NV
was nettled, you must certainly have bssa
mistaken, my desk is locked But coma, veil
20 down and SEQ about it"
followed the captain into the cabin Ths
log was on the table, the desk was closed and
the cabin was empty.
The captain tried tAe Aak-it vas locked.
You see, Mr.. Ssowell," he said, laughing,
you must have been mistaken; the depk h
locked
was positive "Somebody nay have
picked the lock-" xaid
But they couldn't have CLOSED II axain.~
the captain suggested; but to satisfy you
will open it and see II The contents are ssfe,
though there il not much hsrs 70 tempt Q
thief
BE opened the desk, snd there stretched
: right across twas . large sheet Of papsr
with The words Steer n w." written in -
odd, cramped hand, - II written wAils the
veoel was laboring in . heavy -
The captain looked 81 The paper, and tAae
handed it TO me.
You arc right. Mr. Stowsli; somsbody
has been here. This Is soms hoax. II I and
the lubber Ill have him ksslhauled for this,
u he freezes for it"
We at there soms tins loogsr talking, and
trying to gueo what could b. The objsct Of
such Joke. II joke it WA
tried TO identify the back Of IL man
bad seen sitting at tbs desk writing with that
Of any Of the crew.
l could not do IL. II d true had fra
taken the man for the captain, bat Row peinu
OF difference suggested tbsma.lvsa had not
looked very attentivsly It tie figure, but
still was under the impression that the coat
vas brown and IL hair. which appsarsd
undar ths cap, seemed, - I rsmsmbsrsd il.
70 have bean Longer and winter than tAs Can
tAinh
Not 70 appear 70 suspect my oas in par
tacular, the captain d<srninsd to have upl
IN the crew. We bad thsm up, one By 90
We examined thsm nd nAds I'll thoep VIZ
could. write write "stssr N. W. but ~
gained no clev. Ths nyse~y rs0ainsd a
oth~ my1ary Of tAs So
That evening I at drinkiag my groe with
H. captain In ths cahia during sss sseosd
o63ors watch. We vws nsithar of q n
eiinsd to b talkasivA Wsnnoksd in aIsuca.
and saeA Of - ~ haFist In our ovIl
thoagAA
1Uisd to think Il AsaA, q ~ seusA~s II
Aoassy. ana ~ aseD - Daunn aahme.
- ~ plsasRs h vulh - = - - -.
- ss.aai ess ~ ~ sAsseAs aassSs