The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-09-15


to Philadelphians, particularly the
younger ones, says Times writer.
hadn't been aboard her two hours
when got it straight that had best
give wide sheer to Mr.. Andrews,
tho mato, for he'd give man double
duty for nothing at all, sock him in
the brig for half US much and, when
his hellishness took that bent, lam
him about with fists or feet or even
Delaying pins or anything his hand
came to. There were some pretty
black spots in his history, my mates
told me, und one was OF man he'd
laid out several years before on the
John +. Burton brig by knocking him
down and splitting his skull against
a ring-bolt The poor devil had come
athwart the ugly mates hawse by
being dumb about orders, Andrews
was tried and got of through lack of
evidence against him, but you can't
run up against o sailorman to-day
who ever heard OF the case but
whatll tell you the mates MUIR
derer.
was at the wheel one night in the
irst watch. The air was warm and
springy and tho moon and stars
were on. pretty bright except for
few scudding clouds with their bel
lies full Of showers. About half an
hour after four bells. just as was
trying to whistle ana think of some
thing pleasant, the pucker came out
OF my lips and my heart plopped
down like sounding-lead when l
heard screams. They were close by,
like they were under the vessels
counter and, mixed with them, was
another sound like drowning
man gurgling in his throat and trying
to get cut words that went the
wrong way.
The noises stopped all of sudden
and when raised my head my eyes
looked into the eyes Of man | knew
was not of onr crew. though he was
dressed like n common sailor with n
brown Tam O'Shanter on his head
and red shirt on. His position
was the queer thing though. |
couldn't see his feet and legs and his
arms seemed pressed close to his sides,
but the upper half OF his body stuck
out from behind the mizzenmast at an
angle OF almost forty-fve degrees.
He had blue eyes. straggly, uncurried
looking whiskers, and very broad
shoulders. I'd pick him anywhere
for a North Scotsman. He was look
ing straight at me with sad, pitiful
expression and / stood looking back
till read in his eyes that he would
give the world to speak, but for some
reason couldn't But even then ]
wasn't satisfied there wasn't some
hokey-pokcy going on, so | put the
wheel in tcckcts and went forward to
get Dan Blake. mate of my watch, to
take it fer few minutes while |
squinted about AS went forward
the figure swung slowly round the
mast. keeping its eyes upon me till l
turned my back on it to speak to Dan.
! got him TO take tho wheel on an ex-
cuse and climbed the rigging for a
squint down the mizzcnmast but
when squinted tho thing was gone
and neither II nor the noises came
again.
First thing next day had to slush
down the foretopmast, and, In going
up the rigging. ! clumsily upset u
pint or so OF oil on the freshly holy
stoned deck. The mate bore down
on me in jay, cursing and damn
ing while ! cleaned the mess up He
kept It up as | climbed tho rigging
again, and yelled: You cursed
young son Of someone, II you do that
again III brain yc."
I'm pretty patient but this was too
much for me, and. almost before
could think what was doing. /
turned my bucket upside down and
dumped tho whole business on the
clean deck below. lie went clear
crazy with rag0 and started up the
opposite ratlines after me.
Hold on. Mr.. Andrews" said.
"You needn't como up I'm coming
down.
When l got down he was frothing
like mad dog and camo at me with
an Iron belaylhg-pin. There was
deadly murder IN his soul as surely
rs Il was In his eyes. and ! knew 1t
and didn't care a. I waited for him
with FIVE inches OF my clasp knllc to
stick through his cowardly heart. for
mine was like n Clint for that word
about my mother. On he came till
no was well within n inthom of me
and was just lcaning TO spring on
him and give him tho steel, when
wc both suddenly stopped short
Why no stopped don't exactly
know. Why I did WINS because u
largo. invisible hand at tho end OF
very strong arm put Its Hat palm
against my breast and held me. brace
us did with all my strength against
H. could feel III. heel OF H. the
bail Of tho thumb and every out
spread iingcr-but 700 nothing.
stopped striving against IT whom
saw the change la Andrews face.
llc had turned white as death with
the body sweat starting out all over
lie was looking my way. but no, Mt
mc-apparcntly over my right shout
lcr---with such look OF fearful
horror ms hope 10 noy"r SEQ again
on d human face. Slowly his arm
came down, thu pin dropped from
his iingors aud no backed away. with
his staring look still over his shout
dor. In such nm awful sgony Of terror
that I actually pitlcd tho nun who.
only u minute gone. hnl II In heart
TO kill me Finally no got 10 the
companionway. dowa which he
stumbled or fell. and chat was the
last saw Of him on beard or since
Three weeks ago. I'm tho city river
front. ! ran against u mahogany.
faced. iurtlc.backod Scotch sailor.
man. who. / discovered. had been
with Andrews aboard che John T.
Burton,
.,Dld You know tho man tho m ate