The Portland daily press., 1893-06-09
SOME ODD STORIES.
An Awful situation-The Sea Captains
Story-A Case Where the Mind Was
Quicker Than the Hand-The Insane
Russian Sailor,

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Russian Sailor.
copyright. 1888, by American Press Associa-
toni
''What am about to relate,' said Cap
tain Gordon of the American bark Orient
as we sat at dinner few days ago, chap
pened last February and in this year of
grace 1898, but if should live to be as old
as the antediluvian patriarchs that last
voyage from Hong-Kong must ever remain
as vivid in my mind as il it ended yester-
day. A
'sOnly shipmasters and merchants inter
ested in our carrying trade with India
China and Japan know the difficulty of
keeping crew in a foreign port, even when
they have contracted for return voyage
Sailors who may be fairly responsible in an
American port often become worthless.
drunken wretches in the east. Desertions
are common, and frequently the most care.
full captain will find himself suddenly short
handed on the eve of his departure. This
was my condition when early last Febru-
airy had finished taking in cargo and was
waiting for the turn Of the tide to hoist sail
and head for San Francisco
''Three of the men on whom had relied
most were missing, and as could not wait
for them decided to visit our consul and
see II he could help me out. found at, the
consulate two men who were ready to ship.
One was aSandwich Island Kanaka, and as
these men are usually good sailors shipped
him on his own terms at once. The other
was a tall, dark bearded, powerfully built
Russian of 40 who spoke fairly good Eng
lish, and he had that indescribable some
thing about him which to my trained eyes
told that he was an able and efficient sea-
man. His nameswas Nitski. He had been
in hospital with brain fever, SO be said, but
was now quite well, and his papers showed
that his character was above the average.
Nitski was anxious to get back to Riga in
Russia, but ca my showing him that his
chances of doing SO from San Francisco
were better than from Hong-Kong he de-
cided to sign and go on board with me.
Il had with me my wife and daughter,
the latter girl of II, who had broken down
bit from overstudy, which was my rea-
son for giving her six months cruise.
I'VE had a fair breeze and pleasant wealth
er till we reached the one hundred and sew
entieth meridian west from Greenwich,
when we plunged into a gale from the north
west that soon increased to a hurricane and
sent the white caps up as high as the fore
yard.
1.-THE third day of the storm my wife
and Lola-Lola is my daughters name
crawled on deck to get a breath of fresh air,
for the cabin had become foul and sitting,
and 1, worn cut with SO hours of continu-
GUS watching, went below to get some sleep.
II was relieved by the flrst omcer, ana as
descended the companionway saw that
H. L L
wheel. Up to this time the Russians con-
duct more than eqtaled my expectations.
Although very reticent and not inclined to
be familiar with his shipmates, he was not
sullen, and he was alert and prompt in exc
cutting all commands, so that while was
resting-this was about Q In the afternoon
Il felt comforted by the thought that the
right man was at the helm.
II had been asleep about an hour and
half when / was aroused by continuous
rapping at my stateroom door.
"'Hellop called out as sprang to the
floor and began hastily dressing. Who is
there?'
It's mer replied my wife in tones full
of agony.
II now noticed that the ship was pitch
ing so that could hardly keep my feet,
and from the loud tapping of the sails and
the swish and crash Of loesened ropes felt
sure that for some reason-though it seemed
to be the act of a madman-the ship was
brought plumb into the eye Of the wind.
"'What is up?' I shouted as opened the
Soor.
with white, haggard face my wife
reeled in and stammered as she fell faint
ing into my arms:
"'Lola, Lolap
II laid my wife in the berth from which /
had just risen, and hastily summoning the
stewardess to 60 to her aid I fairly flew to
the deck. On reaching there I needed no
one to tell me what had happened.
''There was no man at the helm. The
officers and crew stood in a frightened
group at the head of the companionway,
and aft near the wheel stood the Russian,
his right hand holding aloft long, gilt
tering knife and his left arm encircling
Lola's waist.
''The brave girl was pale, as you may
well believe, but she retained her presence
of mind making no effort to tear away
and speaking soothingly to the wild eyed
maniac who held her.
''At such times q minute is an age, and
mans mind works faster than the proven
bal lightning. took a step toward the
Russian, but he was quick to detect me.
"'Come one foot nearerp he shouted with
an oath, at the same time posing the
knife above the girls heart, and I'll kill
her and leap overheard with herp
"'You mustn't do that, Nitski; I am
your friend, and my daughter is your friend.
Come, let me send man to the wheel, Or
better still, take it yourself
6 trTtha vuhao1 10 rnipat The cyir1 iu 11,{poy