The morning call., 1891-10-20
STRANGE If TRUE.
Drugged and Then Chained for
Two Weeks on a SlOOp.
Startling Story Told by Two Young Oakland
ers-Release Granted After Taking
an Iron-Bound Oath.

| TYndall and Joseph SWalley, young YAK
landers, hired boat TO 90 fishing on the
bay. Night came, but they did not return
Monday came and passed, but still no sign
of the missing men, and the friends aud
relatives of both became. alarmed, and ru-
mors that the boat had upset and both were
drowned were circulated about Oakland and
| San Francisco.
Swalley is single man and lives with his
parents on Campbell street. Oakland, a
block or two from where Tyndall lives.
| on the same street, with his wife and
mother. Tyndall has only been married five
months, and his young wife nearly went
crazy. Believing that they were both dead.
Tyndall's father, who Is engineer of the tug
Ethel and Marion. offered a reward for the
recovery of the bodies or the boat.
Posters to that effect were stuck up all
over the water front. but no one
claimed the reward and nothing was heard
of the men, whom many believed had
dIifted out to sea and been picked up by
some coastng vessel. A description of both
was sent to nearly all the ports along the
coast, both north and south. Nothing came
of this and the sorrowing relatives had
given up all hopes of ever seeing them
agnin.
On Sunday night. however, TyndalPs
wife and mother were seated in the parlor
when at about o'clock footsteps were heard
approaching the house and then knock
came at the door. Both women answered
the summons and to their surprise there
stood Fred alive and we'll The young vile
almost tainted with JOY, while the young
mans mother seized his hand and led him
into the house unable to say word.
THEY COULD ONLY GAZE AT HIM.
Had the grave opened and given up Its
dead the two frightened women could not
have been more astonished, and for some
time their emotions were so keen that all
that either could do was to gaze on the huS-
band and son both had mourned as dead.
Al last realizing that it was indeed her
husband returned alive and well, the young
wife threw herself into his arms and wept
for joy.
As soon as the excitement had subsidized
Tyndall was piled with questions as TO
where he had been and what had become of
his companion, but 10 his wife'S surprise he
would tell nothing, saying that he would
tell her in the morning, and more than that
he would not say.
As soon as possible word was conveyed to
TyndalPs father, and he at once went
across to Oakland to see his son, and to him
TyEdall told the following very strange
story OF his adventures during the two
weeks he had been absent
After leaving Oakland about s o'clock in
the morning the men crossed to Goat Island
and began to fish. About 10 O'Clock boat
containing two men came along, and several
questions were asked regarding the fishing.
all of which were answered by Tyndall.
The strangers seemed very friendly, and
when they produced a bottle ard offered
the Oaklanders smile" the offer was ac-
cepted. Both drank and then became un-
conscious, but when they recovered found
themselves in the cabin of a small vessel
with handcuffs on their hands aud their feet
chained to a rngbolt in the floor.
IMPRISONED IN THE CABIN.
The vessel was under way, but neither
could tell where she was going or what her
rig was. The vessel WAS brought to an
anchor some time before sundOwn, and then
one OF the men who had gwen them the
whisky came into the cabin and gave them
some food Tyndall and Swaliey asked him
what he would do with them and demanded
to be released, but were told that if they
kept quiet they would not be hurt but any
attempt to escape would involve them in
trouble. They were given a blanket to
sleep on, and, seeing that there was no
chance to escape, they did as they were told
and tried to sleep.
All night long footsteps could be heard on
the deck above them, IS If some one was
standing guard, and this proved to be the
case, because about midnight the watch
was relieved and another man took his
place Hoping To be heard by some pass
ing vessel both shouted as loud as they
Could, but the man on deck stuck his head
into the cabin and told them TO shout until
they were tIled, as no one was within hear
ing distance.
soon after daylight on the following
morning food was again brought them and
Tyndall pleaded with his captors to set
them free. telling him that his wife would 20
crazy, but they were deaf to his appeals.
At night food was again brought, but the
IN 1.T.
could not eat, aud continued to beg the men
to set them ashore. Tyndall says that for
the entire two weeks they were kept chained
side by side to te floor Of the cabin, while
the supply OF food only kept body and soul
together.
RELEASED UNDER SOLEMN OATH.
4 dozen times they tried to escape, and
almost tore the flesh from their hands in
their efforts to slip the irons off their wrists,
but to no purpose, and at last they had TO
give up. Every day one of the men went
ashore, but always returned before night,
and the watch on deck was kept every
night They had almost given up all hope
Of escape, and fully believed they were to
be placed on board some deep-water vessel,
as that was the only reason they could think
OF for having been thus captured.
About noon on Sunday the cabin door was
opened, and the men who had given them the
whisky entered and told them that the time
had come when they could be released, but
before they could 20 ashore they would have
to take solemn oath never To reveal any
thing about the vessel they had been kept
on board of, or the names or appearance of
the men then>eiv They we're also to
swear never to attempt t6 prosecute them,
or to allow others to do 80.
The prisoners were ready TO do or say
anything in order to regain their freedom,
and promised to do as required Tyndall
says they took the oath on their knees, and
llgF.Q YNrl l.,
which they afterward found to be a sloop,
had been lying at anchor. They were then
told that If they failed to keep their oaths
they would both be killed. no matter where
they went as they would be hunted down
Ike dogs; Once more they were supplied
with food, and soon after the anchor was
hove up and the vessel was under way,
LANDED AT LONG WHARF.
TyndalI says they were landed on the
long wharf, and at once made their way
home. In support of this story both show
the marks Of the irons on their hands and
legs, ana botn look as IL they had been
starved. What became of the boat tEey
do not know, as they never saw it after they
were placed on board the sloop. All efforts
to learn anything further proved unavail-
ing, as both refused TO give description of
either the men that they say captured them
or the vessel they were placed on board of.
1yndalps father says he will leave no
stone unturned to find out the truth, and il
what his son says is true he will hunt the
men down if it takes ten years to do it.
Tyndall and Swalley are said to be sober,
steady fellows, about 81 years Of age, and
not given to roaming about. They are
plumbers, but work in different shops, and
have always borne good regulations.
II what they say is true the only persons
that could have had any object in making
prisoners OF them would have been sailor
b0ardug-house runners, with intent to
shanghai them, but in that case they would
not have been allowed to return to their
homes after having been held fourteen davs.
Sailors are plentiful at this time and the
risk of procuring them out of the harbor
without detection is too great for even