Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-04-12

myself were placed In MS Watcn,
For the first three days out nothing
unusual occurred. The men did their
work as well as could be asked for, and
were so respectful as to create surprise.
Every thing was on the surface, howev-
or. When out of sight in the fo'castle
the men were growing and cursing
worse thaa before. One afternoon-it
was on the fourth day, l believe-I was
aroused from my sleep during my watch
below by conversation between Bob
and man named jackson. They knew
was in the bunk, but believed me to
be sleeping soundly.
This is the plan as l have thought it
out" Bob was saying. after we have
got the brig we will cruise to the east
ward for spell. While l can't shoot
the sun or figure up or get our latitude
and longitude, can see a chart as well
as any one, and the log will tell us how
far we have run. We know that all the
islands are to the northeast Every
one is down on the chart. Beyond them
is the Atlantic The island | am after
is not down on the chart. 1t is north
east of Trinidad, and may be two hun
dred miles away.
Don't Miner know?" asked the
other.
Never heard of it, but this is his first
trip this way"
'Is he agreed?"
Certain. He is to be first, you Sec
ond."
But all are to live alilIe?"
Correct. We are just officers in name.
We all eat in the cabin, sleep where we
please, and share and share alike. No
body is to set hisself up as better than
anybody else"
That's fair. And the captain and
mate are to go?"
"Of course"
and the man who gives it away diesp'
"Pll warrant you that l cut his throat
with my own hands!"
The men presently went about their
business, but l made the pretense of
sleeping soundly until called to relieve
the other watch. was all in tremble
at what had heard, and was also all at
sea as to what course l should pursue.
While it seemed the proper way for me
to go to the captain or mate with my in
formation, the reader must not overlook
the difficulties in the way. 1 should
have no opportunity to speak with Mr..
Parker, during the watch, and
how was 1 to get below to inter-
view him or the captain without
being seen? Had only part of the
men been in the conspiracy 1 might
have succeeded very we'll, but as it was,
all eyes would watch me. They had not
taken me into the plan because l was
only boy and of no account, but if they
had any suspicion that l had picked up
information they would watch me closs'
ly enough. Iplanned I dozen different
ways to reach the captain or mate, and
that 1 did not put the latter on his
guard was his own fault. One night
during our watch he called to me to
bring him something from his state
room. Bob and his friends were for
ward at the heel of the bowsprit, and as
1 came out of the cabin Mr. Parker was
at the water cask. AS l reached him /
whispered:
81 should like very much to speak to
you or the captain, sir"
''If you don't get forward I'll speak to
you in a way you'll remember for a year
to come!" he growled in reply.
No doubt he imagined that had some
complaint to make; but had he permit
ted me to speak the words it might
have prevented the tragedy which fol-
lowed. His rebuff discouraged me from
approaching him again, or from seeking
opportunity to speak to the captain,
and from that night on felt quite posi-
tive that some of the men were always
watching me.
We had favoring winds and a fair pas
sage up the Caribbean Sea, and one
night l heard Mr.. Parker say to the cap
tain, as that official was about to leave
the deck, that Trinidad would be on our
starboard quarter by daylight. We were
not to call there, but round the island
and head to the southeast. This was
soon after twelve o'clock and shortly af-
ter my watch had come on deck. 1t was
fine starlight night, with a five-knot
breeze, and there was little work for the
watch to do. l was at the wheel, for /
could take my trick in fine weather with
any of them. About one o'clock Bristol
Bob, who was in his bare feet, came aft
to the foremast and sang out. though
not over loud and in very respectful
voice:
'Mr. Parker, the brig seems to have
picked up a lot of floating wreck stuff
acrose her bows. viii you please come
forward?"
The mate growled out something and
disappeared from my view. Five min
utes later Bob and the entire
remainder Of the crew came aft
in body, all in their bare feet /
couldn't make out yet what was going
on, and Bob took the wheel from me and
said:
boy, run down and tell the captain
that Mr.. Parker has been took very sick
on his watch"
Some of the men chuckled a bit over
this speech, and then mistrusted that
the mate had been killed. On the in
stant / made up my mind to warn the
captain. 1 found him sound asleep, but
half dressed, and as soon as he was on
his feet l told him what had overheard