The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18

n Muiiny at Sea. nnd tho 'Retribution that
Followed

Followed T..
oopvrf,,L 1925. " C,u-i,. n L,',i.
To the northwest OF tho Sandwich Islands
rroup chart Of tho north Pacific Ocean show
Bird. Neckcr Gardner an! various other
islands and many shoals. These islands and
shoals are really n continuation OF tho Sand
wich group. though Int Few Of tho islands arc
Inhabited. Some Of them arc little better than
n great mass OF rock hcavcl up out OF the sea.
without verlure or fresh water. while others
arc so difficult Of approach that nariEntors
give them n wlie berth Midway Island is
almost exactly half tho distance between tho
ports of san Francisco an lok ohama. but 300
miles south OF the track OF vessels making
that voyage.
The noon observation taken on board the
bark Harvest Home Of san Francisco nai
pivpn us the latitude OF Midway island when
aman aloit reported n ships boat dead ahead.
We were then headed south southwest, but
not making over four knots an hour Tho
boat had neither mast nor sail. nor was tho
man sitting In her stern sheets making sig
nails. had him TN Ter tho glass while he was
yet two miles away. Tho boat was Captains
gig provided with n single Tai- OF oars, and
the man was taking things with astonishing
GOODNESS. ile was castaway. OF course,
though he acted more Ike Il man who was
drifting about with fish line over tho side.
In 80 cases out OF 100 tho man in tho boat
would have stood up and Cestured and
shouted. fearful that we might pass him hy
even by daylight. hut as | watched this man
saw him bite of fresh chew OF tobacco and
survey the bark in "A critical way. line was
got ready. and rs we passed him within twenty
feet 1t was hove and caught and made fast.
and directly no was alongside. Everybody
was astonished 10 find the boat well stocked
with food and water and to SEQ the man come
aboard as calmly as IL We had been lying in
harbor. II" was at out 80 years OF age. dark
faced and sinister. and gave his name asJohn
Williams. lie claimed TO bo an American.
born and reared in Ecuador.
Tho sto.y told by Williams was not IN i'm
probable one but mono of us gave him credit
for truth. lie claimed to 90 Captain o! an
English brig. The Swallow. which had been
chartered to CONVEX 200 natives OF the BONN
Islands. OF tho coast Of Japan. to Cure Island,
next TO tho west Of Midway. The island was
sa 3 reached. no said. but tho natives were
not pleased with it and demanded to be re-
turn ed to the Bonins- There was n row about
1t in which ono man was killed. tho two
mates sided with tho natives, and he was put
ashore to SHIFT for himself. They left him tho
boat and provisions AMI sailed away. and In
stead of stopping on the island he had pulled
away to the north to get into tho track OF
ships. Tho story was ilshy from start TO fin
favorable IMPRESSION Of the stranger We
had. OF course. to accept his story or to pre-
tend to- / would give moath's wages to
know tho facts in tho case. but have no hop.
OF ever solving tho mystery. There was no
English brig on the Japanese coast called Tho
Swallow. None OF the residents Of the Bonin
Islands had leon taken away by any craft
The Captain and puzzled over tho matter FOR
some time. and finally decided that Williams
had been Captain OF S0ine craft and the crew
had mutinled and sent him adr!tt Either that
or he had ru ed away from q craft on fire or
about to founder. leaving all others 10 tako
cn.c OF themselves. frum the look OF things
been a1ioat over three or four days.
Courtesy demanded that the stranger: he
Ing an officer. should become a guest Of tho
cers. but after Il day OF two he insisted on DO
Ing duty As an all. seaman. TINS Mas sur
placed in my watch. and a boy who was OF
little use was turned over to the cook us as
the start. He had not been aboard two hours
when it fell calm. ana dur!n. the next thirty
hours we did not gain q mile .! Wrestling. When
the breeze came again it was foul for. US, and
the observation taken ut noon on tho sixth day
the West o, Where p ed H him ~ NJ W H
had shown himself u thorough sailor, end
though our distrust and dislike, 9f min
struck up. = friendship with the men for
ward. Alutny is such a rare thing at sea
dozen different occasions caught wi!Iiams
EARNING 1t with tho men OF his watch. and l |
the leader OF the ocastle. but there was uoth- |
ing TO call Tor rrnroof We had n full crew and
EnorTins down aboard Of tie Harves S'I HON..
while discipline was strict. the sailors had the |
ssst Of sTas ana fair Ins 1sng
huaily haprcnr! aboard o! Us: but you should. |
remem err what a sniior is He is. rs = ruic.
uneducated. childish. slperst tious. easily led.
and always inimica to his officers. no matter
Whether they treat MN good or bal Give
wages, and only two hours work in twenty
four. ard he wonlIi blast tho weather. con-
He would DO no more il overworEed. under
fed. poorly paid. and EnocHed down twice a
William, had no sooner got among tho mon
tnEh pc ., Logan ga fe t "I great eaSmrs
treasure 60 n sailor nnd you can bring him to
mntiny. The amount o! money WAS given ut
several N. lion dollar. and Mil.ams, claimed
bly, never occurred to one OF tn" men to ask
why ~ didn't go to the Captain with his story.
and try to nrGnnrs, Tor the removal o. the
treasure. but il it did he had sonc answer at
hand. He propos"A taking poss.rss!9n Of tbs
curing the great wealth. and then using her to |
get to EnG,anI,, A" to the officers and sub
be cast aJIrit IN mid-oc"an to take their
cchh41n,rr%s 1 Wo nfd a ergo valued at
line. ami MARSHALL is!Hnd-. get wha- h" "oull. .
nud then look out Tor h,ms"f SoTGrtly '!it T
he do his work among tn" cr. ~ MT not Tho .
8 iGhtrst hint %! whn was \ ,i@s on Wa wnIt"i
Mt. He enlisted eight Of tie m"n in MS cause. .
and on tn" seventh day %! II + comm. HhOar.!. .
and white The lap'nin and w"r" eating din
hes. the imnX came, The s"ront nat" was
KclZcd. h0unt, and gagged, and an alarm WAS
raised that he hal fallen overheard. Both "t
us rushed from! the ca4ln. to pe bounced on
AMI made prisoners Il was surprise al. .
aroun and no insolencc wa, of!"ro any y:
u. When Capt Holt demanded IN eNpnna- /
ti"n Williams enlightened lin. lie sad:
". nrc in possession OF tho bark. We are
going after n great treasure. which Is to he 4
equally divided between man and man. 1t was I
M no 10 tails to you, for yOn would have .
srocrd ut my story. 1t was agreed TINT none /
OF yo,I should De hurt. and we have kept 10 the !
agreement"
l. v hat DO YOU intend to do with us? %
Send YOU hIrilt within a hour"
Where is yolr Treasure island."
" vii! not tell YOU"
III yon really know Of a hurled treasure.
why not lct Us sall tho snip there aud share
with yomi"