Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-03-18
THE MILO PILOT.

THE MILO PILOT.
In the month of March, 1912, l
took passage at Marseilles on board
the merchant ship Good Hope. My
own ship was at Smyrna, and thither
the merchantmen was to carry me,
she being bound there after cargo of
fruit. The captain of the Good Hope
was named John Napton, and though
he was a good and careful navigator
he had one striking fault. He was
very quick tempered and sometimes
quite yindictive. But for all this, his
men liked him, for he never failed to
grant them all the reasonable privileg-
es in his power. The first mates
name was Sawyer, true sailor and
an excellent man.
We had a smooth run until we had
passed the southern capes Of Greece
and entered the archipelago, but here
we had signs of bad weather. Capt.
Napton had never been in the waters
before and did not feel quite safe to
trust himself among the Ionian isles
in q long storm, and we had reason to
believe that such storm was coming.
To be sure, the chart was explicit,
but then those are wild tracks to
travel in stormy nights. In pleasant
weather the task is but slight, but it
was very likely to be different now.
Capt. Napton asked my advice. l
told him there were plenty of exper-
fenced pilots at Milo, and that in all
probability one of them could be hired
to go to Smyrna and back for mere
trife. As for the archipelago, though
| had passed through it several times,
l knew nothing about navigating it.
The captain conferred with his officers,
and it was soon arranged that the
ship should stop at Milo and take on
a pilot. On the next morning Milo
was in sight on the larboard bow, and
having run in to the westward of the
Pigeons we hove to off the coast and
made signal. In less than half an
hour we were boarded by half dozen
rough looking fellows, every one of
whom protested to know all about
navigating the archipelago. Among
the number was an oldish man who
gave his name as Marco Midas. He
followed fishing for a livelihood, but
his statements with regard to his
qualifications as pilot were by far
the most satisfactory of the lot. He
offered to 90 to Smyrna and back with
us for S25, and after some further
consultation he was engaged.
Near noon we filled away. There
was but little wind, not more than
enough to run off two or three knots,
and even that was from the north
west and eastward and as near dead
ahead as possible, so the pilot conclud-
ed to make a "long leg" upon the
starboard tack and pass to the leeward
of Siphanto. 1t was A o'clock in the
afternoon when the ship was again |
put about, it being intended to make
run to the eastward between Siphanto
and Serpbo. The breeze had freshen-
ed little and the reel now ran off
four knots. The northern point Of
Siphanto bore about FIVE points on
the lee bow, about ten miles distant.
"I'm afraid we shall have to tack
again" said the pilot, looking anxious
ly on the point of land under the lee
bow.
1--WE can certainly clear that cape
on this tack" returned the captain.
But I'm afraid the ship won't hold |
up to her course" resumed the pilot.
"She must certainly hold up to east
by north to do it, for she makes con.
siderable leeway."
ooh, I'll warrant her to do that"
said the captain very confidently, and
with the air of man who does not
like to have his ship thought incap-
able of doing the right thing.
So the pilot. feeling assured that
thus far all would be right, went be-
low to get his supper. He had been
gone perhaps half an hour, when
there was a sudden shock, and in a
moment more the ship stood still.
Marco Midas FASTENED upon deck,
and was just in time to meet the cap
tain at the companion way.
"What does this mean p cried |
Napton in an angry tone.
The old pilot gazed for q moment
upon the shore, which was yet some
five miles distance, and then he calm
ly said:
cts your own fanlt, captain"
my fault, you lying lubberf"
Certainly it u.s." calmly returned
the pilot.
"Take that, then 70 and in the heat
of his passion the captain struck the
old man a blow that sent him stag
gering half way across the deck. !
Without waiting TO see the effects
Of his hasty outburst. Napton sprapp |