The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-11
LOST AND RECOVERED.


In the year 1859 was employed as seconC
mate on the ship Lady Bliss, which voy
aged between the Cape of Good Hope and
lndla ports She was a stanch, tidy and
well found craft, and Capt. Berry was par1
owner had made the trip from the cape
to Bombay twice when the adventures
am about TO relate had their beginning
The crew numbered twelve men, and as
is usually the case fresh lot of men was
shipped for each voyage. | alone had made
the three trips without change, and this
was because Capt. Berry had taken great
liking TO me. | could have gone as first
mate, being perfectly competent to navi-
gate the ship, but had an operation per
formed on one of my eyes and did not dare
to risk the responsibilities of the position.
AT each trip we had had a new first mate.
and strange one came aboard at Bonn bay
to 20 back to the cape He was introduced
TO me as Mr.. Hall, but il isn't at all prob
able that that was his name. He was big.
strong fellow, thorough sailor, and had
no reason to believe that we should not get
along together. The captain, too, seemed to
like him, and the crew as whole was above
the average
We had been out three days before l
found that Mr.. Hall was queer man. If
the word anarchist" had then been coined
1t was not familiar to the public. The
ideas advanced by the masses today were
then unheard Of The mate began a con-
versation which resulted in making me
suspicious of him. The ship belonged to a
company which owned i've others. Each
craft was known to be well found and well
manned, and could always have its pick of
men for a crew. was more than aston
ished to hear Mr. Hall declare that the
company WAS making too much money
and becoming too much of a power in the
land They were building up, he declared,
at the expense of the sailor No man, firm
or corporation had any moral right to SO
much wealth and power God had design
ed that all should share alike: one man had
no right to roll in wealth while another
wanted for bread, and so forth, and so
forth. He took the same line which all the
well known anarchists and socialists have
adopted and followed since, and | could
not doubt that he was deeply in earnest.
While the conversation led me TO believe
that he was holding dangerous views,
there was nothing for me TO worry about.
As for repeating his words to the captain.
the idea never entered my head
1t wasn't long before Hall sought occa-
sion TO sound me again, and suddenly
made the discovery that be had been tam
perlng with the meu. | had not seen him
talking with them, but two or three of
them assumed such an independent bear
ing that it was plain the seed had fallen on
fruitful soil The crew was made up of
rovers - English, American, Dutch and
Lascars. Not more than two could claim
the same nationality. When we had been !
put five days, and during my watch in the |
evening, ! overheard enough of a CONVEX /
'ation between three of the men TO satisfy /
ne that Hall had deliberately gone TO work |
o create dissatisfaction and a mutinous
spirit had entire charge of the deck at
he time, and having given some necessary
order | watched and saw it obeyed in a |
manner to prove that there was something
very wrong with the men-at least the /
men in my watch Sailors always growI |
more or less, no matter how well situated,
'ut, unless on the point OF mutiny, are
prompt to obey an order In this case the
men lounged forward in an impudent way,
ach one growing below his breath, and
plainly caught the words of one of them as
he said:
Oh the company We are just as
,oOd men as they arcf'
! did not let on that heard il, nor did
reprove them for their want of prompt
less. Had | been sure of Mr. Hall it would
ave been different If he had been talk
ng to the crew as he talked to me then
lad a matter on hand to be handled very
arefully. was veXed and worried, but
ecided TO wait.
Next day in my watch we had to break
Ut cask Of beef from the hold Even
nth the captain on deck smoking his cigar
he men Jagged and exhibited their i'm
udence When the tackle was let down
Trough the forehatch one of the men de-
cended TO make 1t fast 10 the cask. He
used around for five minutes, growing
nj swearing, and when | swung myself
own and sharply reprOved him for his
amt OF energy he ripped out ut me:
"Oh, yes We've got TO break our backs
} pile up the dollars for the nabobs ashorel
hey'd sell the hearts blood Of every Jack
board for a pound noter
Acting under the regulations governing
ny ship, | should have knocked him down.
passed his remarks without word, feel
my heart that the whole crew must be
Fad ripe for mutiny | intended to 20 to
lie captain rs soon as my watch was over,
ut | had waited too long. Just as we
luled the cask on deck Hall came ont of
lie cabin. His appearance was A signal to
lie men to knock of and crowd aft Hall
alked over TO thee plain and calmly said:
Capt. Berry, do you believe that one
an has "A right 10 grow rich at the ex-
snse of another"
"W-what do you mean, sirg" gasped the
,tonished captain
Il mean that ! am tired Of watching,
orking and shaving for the profit of
hers. The company is TOO rich and AFRO
INT. 1t has its foo on too many sailors
scks." 4
Go to your cabin, sirl I suspend you
ON dutyP' shouted Capt. Berry. who was
9TH amazed and indignant
Not 80 fast, captain replied Hall,
niling bland.y. We have concluded 70
Ike charge Of the Lady Bliss We have 4
'cided TO strike for our rights. We have
en slaves long enough"
The captain was syeechless with amaze {
ent. IL had come upon him so suddenly /
at be could not collect his wits. As he y
pod like one bereft Of ear and voice Hail r
i
AS you are part owner you belong TO c
e class which is eating out our lives. We L
I'VE no use for You Men. get the gig [
ady. Now, then. Mr.. Refer. are YOU c
th Us or nsy' =
do you mean that you have taken pos {
ssion of the saipg" asked. {
Exactly" i.
And what is your programmed" b
1--WE have shaved for the company lonS
ougn. we VIII now so into business on | /.
r own account" O
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