San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-03

ucu WOulu nave no merry vi ulo IL
failed to do their bidding / well knew,
yet felt it my duty to make some at
tempt to thwart their plans. But Unjust
have time to think, and to gain this it
was necessary for me to appear as passive
as possible, not to excite suspicion. As
soon as the robbery was discovered i
knew that the Jeanette would double
on her course and try to run down the
robbers, and there might be chance of
my arresting them if managed matters
rightly, but any attempt to deceive my
captors would be dangerous undertake
ing, and should l be discovered would,
IN all probability, cost me my life Know
ing this, recognized the necessity of
using thc greatest caution in what did.
''The night was still dark, with
heavy mist hanging over the sea, afford
ing an excellent opportunity for the boat
to escape the vessel. 1t was fully two
hours before Peters would allow even
match to be lit to look at the compass to
ascertain our course. Then the boat
was headed for the northwest.
'The night passed, and when morning
dawned the sea was still covered with
dense fog On taking my bearing /
found, as near as could calculate, that
we were 81 dogs. 10 minis. north latitude,
and 122 degs. "a minis. east longitude.
This would make our. position about 40
miles east by some 80 miles south of the
island Of Fornosa, and nearly 800 miles
east of Hong Kong. By keeping on a
direct western course could readily see
that we would miss Formoss full thirty
miles and follow in the wake of the
Jeanette AS reflected on this fact it
suddenly occurred to ME that might
mislead tie robbers as to our true posi-
ton, and while pretending to pilot them
20 Formosa ! might induce them to con-
tinue on toward Hong Kong, thereby
providing possibility of encountering
the Jeanette But scarcely had this
resolution taken place in my mind when
Peters approached and began to exam
inc the chart, asking me to show him
our position.
elm response to his request l pointed
to spot one degree north of our true
position, venturing the remark that we
would reach the island the quickest by
keeping in due western course.
"He mado no reply to my remark, but
after asking a few questions as to the
probable distance to the island he turned
to his men and gave orders for the boat
to be headed for the north.
"My heart sank within me at this, and
for moment believed that my decep-
ton had been discovered. However, the
next moment he explained TO the men
that it was his object to get as far out of
the track of the Jeanette as possible be-
fore making for the island.
"Being thus treasured, ventured to
suggest that the Jeanette would most
likely search for Us among the Bosher
islands that lay close to us ON the south,
but Peters cut me of with the pert re-
mark that was not brought along to
give advice. This left me with no
alternative bat to quietly submit to be-
ing carried away beyond the possibility
of encoute-ing the Jeanette.
"My knowledge of the island to which
we were bound was Of the most meager
character, and ell could recall regard
ing it was that it lay some thirty leagues
off the coast of Fu-Kina, province in
southeastern China, and was infested
with tribe of savage and warlike ma
tives.
"All that day we continued our course
to the north, then turned westward, and
two days later sighted the rock bound
coast of eastern Formosa. Continuing
our course northward for several leagues
we entered narrow inlet, and passing
up this for four or five miles, we landed
in 6 secluded spot, where we disem-
barked and concealed the boat under q
clump Of trees that overhung a narrow
neck in the little bay. p.
"In a level spot about 200 yards from
the shore camp was made, and here
we remained for three days before /
learned anything regarding the future
plans of my captOrs. Then, from what
l overheard from Peters in his converse
ton with the others, learned that we
were to remain in concealment there for
three or four weeks, perhaps, when
small vessel-a smuggler on the Chinese
coast. | gathered-commanded by an
old friend and pal of Peters, would ar
rive and carry us to Australia. In order
to carry out this plan one of the con-
spirators had been left aboard the jean
nette, and on his arrival at Hong Kong
he was to sec the smuggler. whose ship
would probably be at that port, and &C
quaint him with the business on hand,
and pilot him to the place agreed upon
on the west coast of Formosa. What
disposition was to be made Of me in the
meantime WAS unahlA to learn hrt |