Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-09
A Duel Under Water.

peake Bay, between Cap Henry
Light and Hampton Roads.
"We had come down from New
York, and were pretty spruce young
chaps in those days. Now it SEEM
ed, although neither of us knew it,
that we were both thinking consid-
erable of the same girl. We had
been aboard wrccking schooner
about the size of this one for nearly
two weeks, when one Sunday | was
overhauling my things in the fore
cas'le, and was just taking out IA
picture of the little one that Id
left up home. Bill came along,
and, looking over my shoulder says,
'Hullo, chum, who have YOU got
there?
Says |, as honest as could be,
handing him the picture, That's
the woman hope will be my wife
some day
"'Your wife, says he, as he took
the photograph. Ny stars! That
is Nancy Stewart! and glancing up
] saw Bill staring at the picture
with his face as white as new gaff-
top-s'l. Then thrusting the like
ness into his pocket, he hissed
through his clinched teeth, No,
Tom Baxter, she will never be your
wife! and, turning, he sprang up
the steps out of the forecas'le before
| could stop him.
"As you may imagine, ! was boil
ing mad, and surprised as well. |
followed Bill OH deck, and saw him
sitting on Arr-cask with both
hands up to eface. | approached
him, and, touching him OH the
shoulder, ! asked as gently as |
could for the return of my picture.
"As he looked up to me the ex-
preston of his countenmce was
that of maniac; his features were
distorted with either rage or an
guish. | know not which.
"'Come. come, | said after q
pause, during which my chum glar-
ed vacantly at me. Give me back
the photograph
THE answer | received was q
blow, and down went as though
shot, with Bill OH top. | was consid-
erably stronger than he was in those
days, and soon got the best of the
affair. | held Bill down on deck
with one hand at his throat, and
with the other pulled the picture
from his pocket, but in so doing il
was torn i'll two, and | only secured
one-half. At this infant our ship.
mates separates us, and for the rest
of that day we avoided each other
as much as possible,
"On Monday morning, as We
were dressing ourselves side by
side as usual, ready to go down tC
work, | could hear Bill muttcring
under his breath, and just as hi'
tender was screwing on the face
piece to his helmet | caught a most
maligant look upon his features, but
he uttered no threats aloud.
my companion had scarcel.
reached the bottom ere was in TIN,
water and rapidly descending. lhat
made up my mind to give Bill 81
wide berth as possible during th'
1
day, and began my labors stripping
off the copper from the wreck wei
aft, while he was amidships.
I'VE had been down perhaps hall
an hour, and was beginning to fee
little more at ease, when all al
once | heard a slight tapping on IN,
copper helmet, and hand was
placed upon my shoulder ] hat
been kneeling, but quickly rose to my
feet, and turning, saw Bill standing
before me; but his aspect sent chill
to my heart. He was extending to-
wards me knife, the blade oi
which he touched with one finger
and then pointed to my weapon
which hung in my sheath at my belt
81 comprehended his meaning
II was challenge to mortal com.
bat. But what place for such an
encounter! am ashamed to admit
however, that after the first brie1
instant of surprise | began to fee
an insane desire to overcome ant
subdue my rival, even though il
was in struggle to the death.
$50, dropping the short iron bal
with which | had been working,
drew my knife in turn. On seeing
this move, Bill reached forth one
hand and grasped mine, which h,
gave convulsive pressure, and ther
waved me back to prepare for ac
tion.
"Now began the battle. Th'
thrusts, as you must know, were
somewhat impeded by the pressur,