Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-09-15

very GOOD Eu!nCr.
''The mate replied with civil offer
to tow tie disulan.led clipper to port.
No you don't" cried the red-faccd
man, getting still redder IN the face.
You don't play any of your salvage
jobs on 1ne!'
The result Of the brief conference
was that we finally steamed away,
leaving the hulk wallowing in the
trough of the sea. A few days later
the breaking of small part Of the ma
chinery compelled Us to steer for the
nearest harbor, which happened to be
that of Port of Spain. Trinidad. Well.
wonld you believe it, while we were
there that identical ship which we had
left dismasted wreck ten days before
came sailing into harbor with every
spar erect and royal yards across.
There is specimen CT stewardship
for you. We didn't admire the man
ners of the captain much, but l must
confess that the shipping OF the three
spare lower masts which she carried on
deck and the getting of the other sticks
| back in place was one of the best
pieces of 'sailorizing' / have ever heard
Of.
sit don't require a great deal of skill
to ride out gale. or make your way
from port 10 port. but let a ship meet
with an experience of that kind and it
will prove whether she is manned by
seamen or landlubbers. faint much
of job to talk about, but you try to
upright heavy spar without tackle
above to do it with, and you will real
ize what an undertaking To is.
The narrator finally found a period,
and his listener, who was more inte r.
ested in the fate of the man who was
in danger of being hange' for killing
himself than in the details of seaman
ship, asked if the case had occurred on
that trip.
No, that took place On my next
voyage across from Boston. l will tell
you about it now. 1t was my first COM
mand. The second officer of the vessel
his name was Williams-was consid-
erably mixed up in the case, SO it Will
DE necessary for me to tell you some
thing about him first. He was an IN
considerable liar, for one thing. i re-
mem Der once his telling story of 4
fellow who fell overheard from the
main yard one night when the ship
was in gale of wind out in the China
seas. Williams says a boat was lowered,
but failed TO find the man for the simple
reason that wave had carried him
close under the counter, and when the
stern sank in the succeeding swell the
seaman caught on one of the afterport
sills. and with a desperate effort
climbed through and fell over into the
pantry in dead faint, completely ex-
hausted by his struggle in the water.
No one had seen the self enacted rescue,
and after q half hours search the boat
returned and the ship went on her
course.
when the man regained conscious
ness, he found himself surrounded by
all the good things of the captains
larder. and immediately set about help
ing himself. lie liked the unwonted
luxury so we'll that he made no effort
to let his presence be known. He re-
manned there six days without being
discovered. and then one bright, calm
day he concluded to leave his cramped
quarters and go back 20 duty.
''Natching his opportunity, he quiet
" dropped overheard, and as soon rs
the becallued ship had drifted a short
distance away, he began shouting at
the top of his voice. The noise at
tracted the attention of the crew, who
came rushing aft to find out what the
trouble was. Those who were super
stitious crossed themselves when they
saw the familiar face of their lost ship
mate as he leisurely swan alongside and
clam bered on board.
'''In the name OF Heaven, where did
you come from?' breathlessly exclaimed
the skipper.
"'Captain,' said the man, cheerfuljy,
i have been swimming after the ship
for six days, and have jYt caught her
Hello. As l live, it is nearly twelve
o'clock, and l have an appointment at
noon, sharp.
Cant stop to tell you the rest that
story now. Sail tomorrow, you know.
Call on me when get back. Good-by."
N. y. Times.