The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-10-22
A Man Of Nerve.

served Frank Millish, q member OF
the Story-tellers' Club, in session
at the Southern. "He was an old
schoolmate of mine, and invited
me to make a voyage with him
from Liverpool to Rio Janeiro. AS
I was in poor health and needed a
vacation, I eagerly closed with the
offer. He had a crew of nineteen
men, all Portuguese except the first
mate. He was worse than a Por-
tugee-he was a coward. The ship
was swift sailer and we had val
liable cargo of British merchandise.
When about 500 miles from our
destination one of the men revealed
to the Captain plot that had been
formed to murder him, together
with the first mate and myself,
make the port of New Orleans and
there dispose of the ship and cargo.
The Civil War was raging at the
time, the Confederacy was in sore
need Of supplies, ships and able
seamen, and at such times officials
are not inclined to be captious. II
ment $1,000 apiece for the men. 1t
was now 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
and the devilish plot was to be put
into execution that night. The
captain called the first mate into
his room and stated the situation.
The latter wilted like starched
shirt in thunder storm. He was
frightened out of his wits, and cried
like historical schoolgirl. The
Captain looked at him in disgust,
and told him to go to his room and
lock himself in, advice which he
followed with alacrity. Then he
called the crew on deck, sat down
on coil of rope, lit a cigar, and
said: Well, boys, I understand
that you are going to make me
walk the plank tonight and take
charge of the Sea Gull yourselves.
The men looked at each other but
made no reply. Now he contin-
ued, as cody as though ordering his
dinner, I want to say right here
that I have been expecting this. l
haven't a bit of confidence in Por-
tuguese. Good wages and kind
treatment have no effect on them.
They are born cut-throats. There
is not a man of you that would not
disgrace a yaller dog by his COM
pany. have fixed for you. In
the hold of this ship is 100 pounds
of giant powder connected with the
mates room by an electric wire.
The moment you raise hand to do
violence on this ship he will touch
the button, and there won't be a
splinter Of the Sea Gull left as large
as match. Now, you id cow
ards, you miserable traitors, you
sneaking cutthroats, here | am lay
= hand on me if you dare! Refuse
to obey my orders if you see fit.
Swing out your black flag whenever
you please. I'm ready to hit the
clouds whenever you are It was
tho most completely cowed gang of
villains I ever saw. He walked
through the crowd, threw himself
into q hammock. and was soon
sleeping as peacefully as an infant.
The mate kept his room, sick unto
death with craven fear, while the
men tiptoed past it, believing him
to be q fiend incarnate, eager for an
excuse to blow the ship to pieces" !"
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
A rather reckless Biddeford, Me-,
man is said to have devised q
scheme for catching trout by the
Wholesale, which did not work as
we'll as he thought. lie thought
that bomb exploded in the brook
would bring all the fish in it to the
surface, SO that he would only have
to pick them up. He provided him
self with . bomb powerful enough
to blast q schooner out of water