The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-09-16
THE ELLA NOBLE.

II was only 10 years old when | ship
ped the first time" said my friend, the
old sailor. 1.-THE craft was a brig called
the Swallow, and she was bound for the
west coast of Africa, having a cargo Of
cotton cloth, boots and shoes, rum in
casks, needles, brass kettles, cutlasses
old muskets and other stuff that could
be readily traded for gold dust, nuggets
and ivory with the natives. In those
days. more than 40 years ago, fortunes
were made in this trade, but times Ne
changed since then.
"Wehad another object besides trading,
for we were instructed to look after the
schooner Ella Noble, which had sailed
for the very locality to which we were
bound and had never returned. What
had become of her was a mystery, for
although she was spoken when within a
days sail of the African coast no further
hdings had come from her, and it was
feared she had met with some fatal dis,
aster.
1.-The crew were mostly made up OF
the toughest men found in shipping of.
6ces and along the water front, for the
voyage was not a desirable one,a as there
was sure to be no little risk of life and
the food could not be the best procurabls
by any I was not at all favor.
ably impressed by my messmates. but
my head was full of foolish notions about
the romance in a cruise to Africa, and !
was more than eager to go. Some of the
romance faded when l was put on salt
rations and compelled to do the duty Of
a common before-the. mast sailor.
"The captain wal a brutal fellow. a:
he needed to be in order to command
such a crew and keep them in subjec.
ton. He had a voice like a foghorn and
a scowl that was black as a thunder.
cloud. The first mate was a Spaniar1
named Corello. He had a fiery temper
and a heavy hand, but l fancied him
more than the skipper.
For some reason Corello seemed tc
take a liking to me, and l afterward had
q to thank my good fortune this was
rue. He was not nearly so hard on me az
he might have been, although l felt that
my lot was quite hard enough.
ut was not long after leaving Dor.
that l observed queer actions among the
sailors. There was a great deal of NUT.
tering, and sometimes | would espy
some OF the men with their heads togeth.
er talking in low tones. did not like
this, and SO / told the mate aboutit. He
looked at me queerly, saying guardedly.
"'Have caire. Zese men no like a tat.
tier. If zey hear you tell things, some
time you get He finished by drawing
his finger across his throat in a significant
manner.
From that time Ifelt sure there was
trouble brewing, but l remembered the
warning and was careful to keep my
mouth shut. My dislike for the captain
increased, and l actually grew to detest
the man after I saw him knock dowD
with a MARINE spike a sick man whom
he had ordered aloft, but who was unable
to mount the ratlines.
During the first part of the voyage
the captain and Corello got along well
enough, and we had sighted the African
coast when they had their first quarrel.
The skipper attempted to bully the Span
lard, as was his custom with the regula,
men, and Corello fared up il an instant.
Hot words followed. All at once the
master grabbed up a light running block
and flung it at the mates head.
The aim was true enough, but Corellt
lodged. Then the skipper caught I'D
Delaying pin and started for the Span
lard. saw a flash of steel, and Corellc
fell back against the main hatchway. a
knife in his hand. With a Spanish OATH
he swore he would cut the captain'.
heart out if an attempt was made tc
strike him with the Delaying pin.
"For a little time the two men looked
straight into each others eyes, and then
the captains hand fell. l expected he
would order that Corello be seized and
put in irons, but he did nothing of the
kind. Instead he retired to his cabin.
and l saw a singular smile playing about
the mates mouth. while I fancied there
was a burning power in his black eyes.
THAT night Corello came to me as /
stood my watch. He touched me lightly
on the arm. whispering:
"Isave you. Don't you be scare whei
the time come Then he was gone.
4 felt that a mutiny was threatened.
md was in doubt about what to do. /