Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-13

which darkened the stars and clrcuTnscrlDed
the vision The man at the wheel had
nothing to DO, and though the lookout was
wide awake, as 1 convinced myself as soon
as took charge of the deck, there was nc
reason to believe that anything short OF a
sudden breach by whale would put US IN
danger had killed about half an hours
time when I was hailed by the lookout. As
1 went forward he said:
MIR. Haskell, it seems to me that catch
queer sounds over the starboard bow, and
wish you would listen with me.
what do you mean by queer soundsl'
asked as went forward to the heel of the
bowsprt with him.
why, sir, it's like man crying out for
help, only he's long way of. heard 1t
as soon as l came on watch.''
All the others in my watch had tumbled
up as soon as l did, but with the exception
of relieving the wheel and lookout there
was nothing to be done, and the others
were sleeping as they sat with their backs
against the bulwarks.
I listened intently four or five minutes.
but caught no sound, ana was about to turn
away wnen the lookout raised his hand in
warning, and l plainly heard the sounds he
had referred TO. As there was no air stir
ring, it was difficult TO locate them. As
they came but family, 1t was hard to judge
what caused them. On shore you might
have called them the cries OF night birds or
TIE croakings or frogs At sea when such
sounds come to your ears, you Instantly
think of wrecks drifting about or people
dying of hunger and thirst in small boats.
1 remained right there until the sounds
were repeated twice. over, and then [ agreed
with the lookout that they came TO US over
the starboard bow. Being satisfied that
the cries were from someone in distress,
called the captain, and he ordered me to
send up two skyrockets and burn port fire.
These things would be a reply to the cast
always, and II they were on a wreck and
could not reach US, they would feel assured
that we would stand by them and begin a
search as soon as daylight came.
All the men in my watch we're aroused,
and all gathered in the bows to listen for
any further calling. The sounds came every
few minutes, and in about an hour it was
evident that the castaways were coming
nearer. In fifteen minutes more we could
make out mans voice shouting; Bark
ahoy-ahoy For Gods sake don't go
away and leave me.''
l now burned another port fire. and be-
fore my two hours were up we could family
make out a craft of some sort to the west
of us, while the voice of the man sounded
almost as plain as if he were aboard of
us. He shouted the same thing over and
over, and 1 finally answered him and asked
him to be patient for an hour longer. We
might have lowered a boat and made an in
vestigatiOn, but to tell you the truth every
one Of US was bit nervous, and the thing
had an uncanny look. We didn't propose
to run into any trap in the darkness. After
my answering the man he became quiet,
and we heard no more from him for a long
time.
Although my watch was up at O'Clock,
not one of US turned in, and the old watch
also kept the deck We wanted to see day
light come and investigate the situation.
Between 2 O'Clock and daylight the strange
craft we had sighted through the gloom ap-
preached US so near that one could have
thrown a stone aboard; that is the two
crafts approached each other, drawn to-
gether by that peculiar magnetism of the
salt waters on two wooden bodies which
men of science cannot explain. 1 have seen
the same thing in the case of two water
casks, two small boats, and even of two
dead and floating human bodies.
When daylight finally came, there she
was, only 800 feet away, 5roadside on, but
her bows pointed the contrary way. She
was a small, snug brig, with all her canvas
properly slowed and everything allow and
aloft in trim condition. A man was leaning
over her bulwarlSs, looking full at US, as we
were at him, and not word was spoken
for five minutes From the moment we
caught sight of him we decided that he was
all alone on the brig. BY and by Capt.
Davidson called to him from the quarter
deck:
Brig ahoy? What brig is thai2r
No answer from the man leaning on the
rail.
Brig ahoy9 What's the matter1''
The man moved bit, but never opened
his mouth to speak.
As the brig had no signal of distress fly
ing and was apparently all right. the con-
duct of the man struck US most singular
After a brief consultation with me the
captain hailed again:
you there, on board the brig-what do
you want? Have you gone daft, that you
cannot understand and answer me2''
If the man had been stone figure dashed
to the rail he could not have remained more
quiet as far as we could see.
Lower the boat and board him Mr.. Has
kall!'' snapped the captain, as he lost his
patience. Hes the queerest sailor and |
this is the queerest adventure I've had to
do with. Better take your revolver along'' |
In ten minutes we were under the bows |
Of the brig. AS soon as we left the bark |
the man suddenly disappeared. As l caught |
her chains and began climbing up he ap- |
Deared on the bows with a capstan bar to |
oppose me. However, when l covered him |
with my revolver he retreated, and as 1 |
reached the deck he disappeared down the |
companion way. l called up two men and !
followed him. They armed themselves with |
main cabin we found the fellow slowed |
away in the captains stateroom. He made |
10 resistance, but we no sooner had him
)ut than he began weeping and begging of |
IS not to harm him. For time we thought
lie had lost his reason, and believe he had |
| close call for it. After couple of hours,
however, during which all of US treated |
lin with the utmost kindness, he began TO /
mend, and before the day was over we had
he most of his story. But for the proofs
It hand we should have passed it by as a
arm to amuse sailors of watch.
This was Novembe, as have told you.
Eight months previously the brig had sailed
nut of Sydney on her way to New Zealand.
liter leaving her port she had not even
'een spoken, and weeks before we found
Ter she was listed as probably lost. Every
hing went fairly well aboard for the first
week out, though the winds were light and
ontrary. Then the mate Of the brig, who
rom all accounts was q brutal fellow.
'egan knocking the men about in d way |
which bred a mutiny. The leader of the
nutiny was perhaps hoping for trouble, and
erhaps he schemed to bring it about,
avirg plans of his own TO further At any /
ate, mutmy took place, but without
loodshed. The captain and mate were
emit adrift in the gig, having food and
7ater TO last them for two weeks, but
rovided only with oars. They were never
card of again.
The second mate knew a little something
# navigation and though he was not the
eader Of the mutiny he joined in with the
len and was afterward made captain The |
lea was to have "a good time and the
rig was headed up for the Feejee islands.
here were five men, boy and the cook in !