The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-13
JAIL RIGHTS RESERVED

but saw no chance there, Tor the SlO0p
had been afore me and set the islanders
dead against me; so l slid In by Ferguson
Island and through Ward Hunt Strait to
Collingwood Bay, where L thought of put
ting in for a spell, but had no chance there
either, for the natives of them parts are
about the most uncivil savages you could
wish to meet, although in the main they are
tall fne fellows to look at,
81 expect that they don't chivey on to q
white fellow as kindly now as they may
have done at one time, for they lie too close
10 the German settlements and know more
about the neighbors which they have got
for masters. They wouldn't let us land. but
followed US along the bay, showing battle
trout each time tried 1t on.
"After this left that part in disgust and
beat round 20 the settlement on the Augusta
river, Lor. Mates, that is a place if you
like, talk about Melbourne springing up
like a mushroom, it amt in IL with the way
these Germans go TO work. l sailed along
mile after mile OF land all under cultiva-
ton, gardens, farms, terraces. townships
why the whole country seemed to be build
ing houses, digging and trenching and road
making, and never a blessed native to IN
terfere with them In their work. l saw
crowds of them at work in the fields and
gardens, fat "Fritzesn with their broad
beamed "Fraus" helping them, and their
little kids rolling about In the dust, while
for scsrecrows they had a naked, savage
hanging up here and there on the branches
of the ringed cotton trees, but never a
woman or child. l guess that they set to
work and cleared them off first. before they
cut down the trees, at least that's the only
wav that could account for 1t.
"Then got round to the main settlement
with its harbor orammed full of ships I'M
loading fresh emigrants with their tools
and stock and baggage, for they take every
thing out with them, or else filling up with
cargoes of native produce. 1t was lively
scene and no mistake, and looked as If they
meant business
"AsI was sailing in, for wanted squint
at the town, was met by one of the custom
house boats and boarded. Not a man
among them could speak English, but as
soon as they saw that was O stranger, the
officer took possession of my smack and
made signals TO shorefor an interpreter, who
when he came aboard asked me all about
my business, and told me that I'd have to
anchor outside until he could get instruc-
tions from the commander as to what was to
be done with me. Thinks to myself this is
as bad as quarantine, and different TO the
fashion we use them In Australia, but every
country DO its own customs, so yielded and
anchored where he told me, while he left me
to 60 ashore to report l expect in the
charge OF half dozen marines.
"After an hour or two waiting, with the
sun going down behind US, saw boat
once more put of with my interpreter in il
along with another regimental looking cove
and two or three soldiers sitting with their
muskets ready, besides the boatmen who
were pulling, they came aboard and /
showed them into the cabin, when began a
regular court-martial of me. what right l
had to put into their port, was | sent by my
government to spy upon them, or had l
come for pleasure only.
81 tried to answer ali their questions as
best could, and not wishing to make my
self appear TOO small afore them, told
them that l held an Office in Port Moresby
as missionary pilot and that was then on
my way from one Of the stations north, and
had put in for provisions which l was
willing to buy from them If they would sell
to me.
''The interpreter told this back again TO
the officer, who said that he would let me
kno " IN the morning, but meanwhile was on
no account to leave my ship, or else they
would treat me as an English spy. found
out also that had made mistake by say
ing belonged to the missionaries.
81 had heard that the Germans were a
praying lot and l thought that they'd treat
me better for telling them this, but they
told me pretty square that missionaries were
the last Kind they wanted there, so that I
was vexed at my own Grass stupidity
However, | promised them that I'd obey
orders. 80 the two went OFF after glass all
round leaving me In charge Of the soldiers
and water police.
ut was fine dark night after they had
left, so had nothing to do except look over
at the lights of the beer shops ashore, aud
listen to their bauds. l grew regular
melancholy, aud at last made up my mind
for swim. Who're we lay was about two
miles off shore, but could easily do that
and back again, aud as for sharks. care no
about them than do about herring when
I'm In the water; SO seeing that my keepers
were paying no sort Of attention to me,
just slipped down to my cabin, and, putting
some loose change in my pockets, walked
along to the bows aud dropped gently over
board.
az struck out Eleisurely, without being
missed, and got ashore all right, and was
just giving myself shake on the strand
when a couple of policemen collared me
and marched me off TO 'quod, when. after
the governor had seen me, and whom no.
tioed was the military cove, he clapped me
into a cell, and left me to think over it un-
til the next morning.
1T wasn't pleasant, nor friendly as we
treat them when they come over TO our
country, bus 1t was something like what I
might expect II landed at Port Moresby /;
SO contented myself that they didn't
know who 1 was, which was comfort, and
also that | wasn't likely to meet any one
who did know me here.
1.-THE next day they had me up afore the
governor and all his officers, "A regular court
house full, making such fuss over me as If
| had been conspiratoF threatening the
downfall Of Germany. You never saw
such suspicious lot as they are. They ex-
amined me, and put me through my fac
ipgs, entering all that told them In several
books, asking me what we were doing on
our side of the Owen Stanleys, and badger
ing me until l was like to drop with hunger
aud thirst, without even Offering me bite
| or sup. aud at last gave me my choice,
either to be shot as political spy or else
clear out Of the land without looking back.
II at onceidxed on the running game, on
which, after blindfolding me aud clapping
me IN irons, they carried me back to the
| smack, which they had overhauled for
seoret papers. After this they warned me
that II they sighted me again near their
| coast they would sink me straight away.
| You take your oath, mates, that wasn't
| sorry to put to seq away from this Jealous
| settlement even although the weather out.
side was rough aud looked like storm com
ing on.
"And so it was, for had hardly got out tc
| seq and clear of the reefs, than it came on, q
regular southeaster tornado which took ms
all my time to keep her nose to the wind
afore night came ana swallowed up the
land.
"What night that was after the daylight