Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-22


BILE. but they cut aud hacked him until
he lost his hold and fell TO the deck. His
body was thrown overheard. deck and
cabins cleansed of blood stains and about
sundown the schooner. with twenty-five
men. was headed for the Philippines.
Tho rest OF the gang. numbering seven
or eight. followed with the native craft.
boiled large quantity Of meat and got
the best supper possible. and was glad
ton.
We had q brisk wind all night and
during the next forenoon. and at about
O'Clock wo reached an anchorage on
the east side OF tho main island and
within quarter of milo OF the beach.
Tho native craft passed Us and entered
the mouth OF river. From what could
gather she was going to bring out men
and cannon TO tho schooner. hunt
was made through tho schooner for gun
carriages. and the discovery Of the small
arms seemed To put the fellows In good
humor. There was about $4,000 In gold
aboard in the cabin. and this was count
ed out and divided pro rata, or in some
other satisfactory manner "a We lay at
anchor. Then was ordered to draw a
pailful Of wine from "A cask In % sort OF
lazarctto or store room reached from the
galley. The cook might have known Of
tho presence of the vino there. but did
not had never looked into tho place.
There was n tin pail holding about ten
quarts In the galley, and this filled and
carried TO the main hatch, with several
glasses, and everybody proceeded TO help
himself. Now that wo wcr0 at anchor
oil discipline had ceased, and one man
was as good as another. Thsy wero
prowling all over the schooner and per-
fectly at home.
Tho wine must havo tickled their
palatcs nightly, for second pailfui
was soon demanded. II was while was
drawing It that noticed the barrel had
no bung in II, and | wondered why tho
wine had not soured. retired to the
galley as soon as had filed the second
order. nnd for half an hour there was u
good deal of loud talk and laughter All
OF q sudden. while I was rejecting ON
the situation, and perhaps crying bit
In my sorrow and anxiety. 1t struck me
that things were wonderfully quiet. |
looked ont OF the galley TO see half a
dozen figures lying on the deck. and
later on, when had summoned courage
to walk the length Of the schooner. !
found every man aboard apparently
sound asleep. Their breathing was Ia
bored. but supposed this was tho result
Of too much drink. The night had come
down dark and gusty, with the wind
directly of shore, and as the sleepers
continued 10 lie quiet some strange ideas
came to me. was tempted to take one
Of their knives and begin killing. but
doubted my nerve. Tho yawl was at
the davits, and planned to lower It and
let the breeze carry mo out to sea.
held TO this idea for few minutes.
and then surrendered It for another
would swim ashore and hide In the forest.
had TO abandon that scheme as well.
for saw at glance that the tide was
running out strong. was wondering II
should not start fire in tho forecastle
or cabin when discovered that the craft
was under way. She had her light anchor
out and had been tugging heavily under
tido and gust. The chain had ground OF
against some sharp edged rock or the pin
had slipped from shacklc. II was prob.
ably tho latter case. as heard q splash
as OF Tho end Of tho chain falling from
the hawsc hole. Sho drove of stern first
and then. ~ she began TO swing about.
stepped softly back TO the wheel, put 1t
over 10 get her oil. and then extinguhshed
the two lanterns on deck and the lamp
In the cabin. am not boasting Of my
nerve In stepping over the sleepers to do
this work or of my sagacity In getting
the idea. was working like one In a
dream md c0uh hardly have identified
myself
What occurred between the time put
out the ligh,s and day light next morning
never can clearly remember. The
schooner took care Of herself for sny
effort Of mine. and think ! went into
the galley and crept behind the stove.
At least crawled out Of that contracted
space soon after daylight. In response to
call. | suppose was called to pre-
pare breakfast for the pirates, but was
no sooner out OF the galley than saw q
large ship hove TO a quarter Of mile
away while ono OF her boats. with Ave
men ~ Il. was alongside the schooner.
must have looked and az ted like stupid,
for ~ u couple of men came over the
rail on" oi til'1i gave me "a hearty shsk-
Ing and growled out
"iou idiot. CSl I YOU get your tnou.h
OPEN
There were twenty-five men lying on
the decks AMI in the cabin sound asleep.
No! bead! Every one of them dead aud
cold and the only living thing aboard.
II took soole time 10 explain matters and
yet ut all the pa ticulars. hut with what
] could tell them and what they could
zee Il finally hsame plain To all. That
barrel Of wine had b.en dosed with some
deadly drug The cook must have done
IL previous to the attack. or the hung
had been left on, by another and SONS
poisonous reptile had crept In to die. No
one could tell for certain. but the drink.
ers were all dead. and all had died in
sleep The ship was English. and the
schooner was over thirty miles oil the
land. One Of her majesty's men -of-war,
assisted by a civil functionary. attempt.
ed an investigation. but nothing came
OF It. Our crew had been slaughtered
and the schooner captureL. but she had
ra<,a injured l,cr.rlf ap,l l,r,,,.,It ..U