The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-07
HOW HE GOT BACK.
Duffy's Awful Ride From
Portland.
IN THE DARK FANTAIL.
How the Boys in the Glory-HoIe OF
tie State of California Helped
Him Through.
FANTAIL.


steamers to always Institute a vigorous
search OF the "IantaiI' before putting to
sea.
Mr. Duffy. who was formerly in the en-
ploy of Davis Bros. of this city, resigned his
position some time ago TO 90 to Portland,
Oregon.
II have kept my secret pretty long" said
Duffy, but l cannot hold it any longer.
My story is too good TO keep.
II was disappointed in Portland; busi-
ness dil not pan out rs 1 had expected, aud
almost before l knew 1t became financially
embarrassed.
u tried working in undergrad, but as
the proprietor only paid me 70 cents day
and expected me 10 work with Cinnamon |
quit in a short time.
"One dGy, when looking over the files Of
p Portland paper, l saw an advertisement,
Men wanted as walters on the steamer
State Of California which was then in the
river
Il had never done any mental labor In
my life, but as l had but so cents in my
pocket ana San Francisco was $50 miles
aWav, ! determined 10 make an application.
The following morning | went on board
and asked to see the steward. lie was
big gTuH German, who sized me up as IL he
thought must be crazy. told him my
circumstances, and he finally agreed TO
row morning ana 20 TO work. lie said, turn
ing on his heel and walking away.
y was there bright and early so was the
steward. Report to the second steward in
the saloon, commanded he. went Off on
search tor the 'salo0n,' thinking perhaps
they needed a bartender, but on inquiripg
where the place was of a deckhaud | was
told that the chief OF the culinary depart
m-nt was to be found in the dining-rOGm.
Several men were laying carpets, SO | got
in md 20 u hnnz mi
acquainted, was invited 10 go ashore with
The gang that night, and readily accepted
tie invitation, so As to appear sociable.
That nights fun was The cause Of all my
trouble.
AT ! o'clock in the morning about a
dozen of us were making our way toward
the steamer down TIE Northern Pacific
Railroad track. A big Scutchmon ana an
1TIshman, who had appeared to be the best
Of friends, suddenly became involved in a
dispute, pulled of their coats and CON-
menced to fight like mad. l thought it
shameful that two shipmates should quarrel
In that manner and attempted TO act as a
mediator.
u nave a dim recollection of landing on
my head several yards distant from IN e
mbatants and of being helped back to The
ship with sprained kneecap and a cut
over my eye.
1t was the Irishman who struck ME, but
he was pretty good sort Of a fellow and
utttNA gu ne hlA DOL mean 10 40 IL. he Udu
made friends with the Scutchman and all
hands were trying to get me in condition 10
face his royal highness, the steward, at the
breakfast table.
when the steward cast his eyes upon
me lie exploded like Chinese bOmbshell.
What you been trying TO do? Get ont of
this shipr he yelled.
Il pleaded with him, but he would not
listen TO me. | was doomed, so l llmped
below TO the 'gloIy-hOle' ana told my friends
what had happened
"A hasty consultation was held. The
cooks and walters decided TO stand by me,
aId when the ship was ready to sail to 60
ashore in body and refuse TO bulge until
was reinslated.
The lime drew near for the vessels de-
parture, and as the moments fed, the men
repe ted. One Of them finally came TO me
and said: we have recOnsidered our prop-
oStlon, as 1t would make trouble for all of
US but We have another plan. Come be-
low
I followed him. Het took me through the
glory hUls' ard opened the door 10 the fan
TAN a space above the propeller, seldom if
ever Openrd or used except when the engi-
neer wishes to oil the shaft, which does not
occur once in six months. Get in there
said my friend.
II crawled in with difficulty, for there was
only about three feet of space between the
wall aud tile HoOr. A mattress had been
placed there for NE. | laid down upon il
euAflluB DUN III TIE lHlQu ana Ut5n.
The steward suspected that l was stored
away and had the ship searched from stem
10 stern.
zone time thought my time had come;
tie 'lantaiFs' door was opened and man
crawled IN with an engineers lamp in his
hand. A voice outside said. Look well
along the walls and the man with the
lamp answered back that he would
His outs,Tetched hand came in contact
WIN my face and was on the point of CIV
ing myself up.
Are You thereY he asked. Yes lam.B
l replied tartly.
Well. stay there he said in a whisper,
then shouted out, NO one is In here, sirl'
Well come out them said the outside
voice; the door closed and l was left alone
in total darkness.
Three times day the boys in the glory
hole passed eatables in to me, but suffered
more torture In my cramped up position
than one can imagine. More than once l
was on the point Of crying out and taking
the consequences, but the thought that l
would betray my friends prevented me fl en-
doing so.
The second day cut an alarm of fire. was
sounded. / heard the men rushing about
the decks with the pumps working furi-
ously. The agony Of that moment was
something fearful. There | was locked in
miserable dark hole, and the ship perhaps
burning up! l could stand tie pressure no
longer. yelled and kicked at my prison
door with all my strength, l hammered on
the iron sides of tile ship with the heels Of
my boot-in fact made noise enough to
bring the whole steamers crew to me.
Finally there was a rattle at the lock of my
door, bite face peeTed In and one of the
walters whispered in a trembling voice /:
Keep stu, you gillie. You'll have the
Durser, captain and all the officers here in
minute. That's only fire drill.'
Il collapsed on my mattress and wiped
the cold drops OF persDlratiOn from my FORE
head.
Il had only twenty-fcur more hours TO
stay 10 prison, but il seemed a lifetime.
For exercise | would crawl backward
and forward in my den, lie on lay back and
KICK ana roll round In my limited space like
q drunken man.
u would not have been able to distinguish
night from day had IL not been for the
visits Of ny shipmates with food.
lhey never stopped TO talk, but showed
IN the IooG and slammed the door and
locked 1t immediately. leaving me to make
out as best l could in the darkness
"On arrival at San Francisco could tell
that we were at the dock by the humping
OF the steamer against the wharf. l believe
that was the har piest ~ oment of my life.
Il thought my friends would never come
TO let me out. The reason for their delay
afterWard found out was because the
steward was watching all day on tie
wharf, feeling convinced that had slowed
away aboard the ship.
When reached the light | could hardly
see and my limbs were so stiff that L
limped away like cripple.
On my way uptown | met tha steward.
lie lnoked at ne fercely and said, You
WTttch, knew you was aboard that boat
we've hours among friends aud in
comfottabie quarters fixed me up al right.
but ! SHAH never travel on another fan
tall the longest day live"
--
Robbed on the Street.
John M!tsch, who resides at "a Clemen-
tina street. lost his way while trying to go
home carly YesfPrdnY mnrninr LIE IN