Passaic City record., 1891-09-19

the mast TO STEADY nlUsclI. tuiuh Ao
was looking about to see if he could find
anything of the other boats. Just how
II happened no one could tell, though
three of US had our eyes on him when he
suddenly pitched overheard. We were
still pitching brlskly about, and perhaps
it was sharp dive of the boat which
sent him to his death. If he rose to the
surface he did not call out. He simply
went right out of sight and never even
called out as he was going.
Little or nothing was said that night
IS to who should command the boat, but
morning had hardly dawned when there
vas a row about it. Being lad not yet
,ut of my apprenticeship, I was of course
out of the question, but each OF the three
,tlser sailors was determined to act as
captain. From words they came to
blows, and another horror fell upon us.
The three young men were drawn into
-he quarrel, and the six had savage
light with such weapons as could be laid
hold of. 1t was dead calm, with the
sea quieted down, and couple of great
sharks were lying off our port quarter.
No one had seen them, nor did any one
see them until two of the young men
were knocked overheard. 1t wasn't ten
seconds before both were seized and
drawn under. The horrible climax to
the row cooled the men off at once.
One of the sailors had been stabbed in
the back, another badly hurt about the
head, and the third young Englishman
had his right arm broken. Nor was this
the full extent of the calamity. In their
fight they mad knocked the water kegs
about, and lost us nearly all their con-
tents, and a good share of our bread had
been ground up under their shoes.
The sailor who had been stabbed took
command of the boat, and when things
had settled down breakfast was served
out. We had not to exceed two gallons
of water and dozen biscuit, and the day
was hot and without breath of air
The water ought to have been
doled out drop by drop; but no sooner
was it seen what small quantity was
left than Davidson, the one in command,
declared that each should have his share
on the spot. Their injuries had made
the men terribly thirsty, but the water
was fairly divided and each one drank
his portion. After that the sailors lay
down and went to sleep, and the young
Englishman, whose name was Hearne,
came over to us and we tried to do some
thing for his arm. You can guess that
it was little we could do, however, and
he was soon suffering terrible pain.
The aunt I now heard called Mrs.
Morton, while the grown girl was ad-
dressed by her maiden name, Edith.
Before noon the aunt took very sick, and
we were terrified at our helplessness.
She was soon in high fever and raving,
and we hadn't even drop of water to
give her. Hearne was also mad from
thirst, and feeling that the sailors had
brought destruction upon us all ne would
have killed the three while they slept
had not restrained him.
Davidson was the first to wake up.
His wound had begun to iniame and his
throat was dry, and he held the water
kegs up in hope to find a last drop.
They were as dry as bones and he uttered
deep curses as he threw them overheard
at the dorsal fins of sharks circling around
us. When night came it was still calm.
The aunt was still raving and sick unto
death, while Hearne had crawled into the
bow of the boat to suffer alone and in 81
Ience. The sailors had sat up, cursed
their luck and lain down again, and
had gone among them and taken all their
knives and concealed them in the stern
sheets.
About o'clock the aunt sunk into a
;tupor, and all of US slept for some time.
We were finally awakened by Davidson
getting up and hoarsely calling for water.
IN his torment he caught sight of Hearnc
n the bows, and he rushed forward and
seized him. I raRto pull him off, but
before could reach him both had gone
overheard. They went down grappled
,ogether, and though stood with the
ooat-hook ready never caught sight OF
hem again. The two other sailors sat
up, asked me what had happened, and
,hen fell back and slumbered as soundly
IS before.
Morning came to find the aunt dead,
md, fearful of what would happen when
,he sailors awoke, 1 prevailed upon the
girl to let me lift the body over the rail.
she protested at first, but when l told
aer my reasons she turned away and I
committed the body to the deep. 1t was
sunrise when the sailors awoke. With
leader those men would have suffered and
endured for a week and made no com.
plant. They no sooner saw that the
calm still continued than they began
,ursing and threatening and they looked
At the girl with such wolfish eyes that
she covered in terror. Presently they
went forward and sat down close together
and talked in whispers, and the girl crept
over to me and said:
81 know what they are planning.
They intend to kill mel"
/ gave her one of the knives and told
her l would protect her to the last. If
hadn't had the knives think she would
have been so terrified that she would have