Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-11-28


from the start seemed to take kind
Of dislike to me for come unknown
reason.
Several times the FIRST day found
the Spaniard coming from the cap
tain's cabin. He did not see me. an6
| had the watch and rather late saw
his eyes directed at me with a sort
of snake-like look that was unpleaS-
ant, but | did not pay much atten-
tion. The second night we were out
| said something to him He started.
glared at me and turned and went
dawn the ladder.
But the captain was raging when
he came ON deck the next morning
Like most seamen he liked his grog
about once in so often and always
had it on board Someone had taken
one Of his bottles the night before,
and the worthy skipper was furious
and declared he would thrash the man
who stole il. Whoever took it had
probably thrown the empty bottle
overheard, for the captain searched
all the berths and his was not to be
found among the various TASKS which
most of the men carried.
But / guess we all suspected the
Spaniard. and the captain even
charged him with it in the first heat
of his wrath. He, of course, denied
it, but none of us believed him. and
the skipper cursed him right soundly
for black villain though he did not
carry out the threat. The Spaniard
got livid and muttered something and
went off, but | believe he thought |
told the captain of meeting him the
night before and swore to get even.
Several insignificant but mlucky lit
tie accidents served to increase his
hatred of me ON the voyage, though
did not know how very much in
earnest the fellow was. But we had
one rather stormy time and would
probably have come to blows had not
The captain interfered. After that he
kept still, but looked black, and |
guess his mind was made up to settle
me if he could
We made our trip all right, as
that was the season when the sea is
at its very quietest. The captain had
the spot pretty, well located, which
was not so difficult as you might
think, as there were several islands
at a distance that gave us bearings.
So ON the morning of the fourth day
after we set sail we dropped anchor
in the vicinity of the wreck Then
the men took to the boats and began
-. L. ! i.
examining the bottom with an instru-
ment called the water glass. This
is only tube, one end of which is
put below the surface. when you can
look through and see objects below to
surprising depth.
At last one of the boats located
the old ship, and the other, in which
happened to be, went around to the
spot and we all took look. When
I gazed down through the glass at
first ] couldn't see anything, but at
last made out the outlines of black
mass lying below. The water was
clear, and we could get faint view
of the wreck. We brought the brig
up nearer. and then began to rig the
tackle with which to work. / have
not told you that the ship was loaded
with miscellaneous merchandise, some
Of it quite valuable. 1t was also said
among the men that there was con-
siderable money that had belonged to
the captain down somewhere in his
cabin, but that did not influence us
much, for there was little hope the
divers could go into the old wreck to
look about, as we had no diving APP
paratus necessary for so long time
under water
The way we were going to oper-
ate was like this. 1t was thought
that when the ship foundered a big
hole was stove in her hull. She lay
in about ten fathoms of water, partly
on her side. 1t was hoped the divers
could go down and fasten a rope to
many of the bales through the open
ing in the side, and these would be
drawn up by the men in the boats.
OF course there was only very brief
time for them to work before they
would have to come up for breath,
but they were skillful and could do
quick work under water.
When we had made our prepara-
tions the two divers got ready to 60
down. But in lowering one of the
boats the Malay bruised his leg so
badly that he could not dive that day,
so the Spaniald went alone. He
stripped entirely and was rowed out
over the wreck. ] was in the boat,
and was compelled. to admire lis
slim form, il was so sinewy and grace
full. He stood in the stern of the boat
and seized the weight which would
help him to 60 down and would then
be drawn up BY a cord. and took the
leap. ! had the glass and watched
him as far as ] could.
1t looked SO easy that / made the
rash remark I thought | could do it
myself. ] was laughed at, whereupon
| got a little excited and declared /
would try it anyway. Pretty soon
the diver came I'D little purple in
the face, but not much winded He
had gone down TO the wreck, and
briefly said it was not much broken
up. Then one of the men asked me
II / was going down and take a look,
with a wink at the other that fixed
my determination to 60 If / should
drown. had been down half as far
without much inconvenience, so I
stripped of my clothes and began to
draw in long breaths to I'll my lungs.
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