The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-04-14
he'll throw a danper on this fsstivs
necktie party"

InerG was SUN on u-buOre DreekS
and quite heavy sea running. But we
never thought Of the danger Of swamp.
ing as we showed off in the captains
dingey which we found on the beach.
BY good luck we got beyond the break
ers, without shipping very much
water, and then IL was long pull and
strong pull, with the boats bottom
slapping the chop sea till the craft
trembled in every fiber 1t was pitch
dark into the bargain, and the wind
that blew smacked strongly Of eter.
nal SHOWS But we could see the red
CLEAN of the vessels port light, and
for that we pulled. At last we were
alongside.
Watch ahoyr' yelled Charlie, as we
pulled under the stern.
AYE, aye, sir; what's up?' came the
answer.
Call the cannery boss, quick!
There's trouble ashore"
In less than FIVE minutes the super
intendent and foreman were both lean
ing over the bulwarlss.
Whats the matter ashore?" 1t was
the SUPPLEMENTARY gruff voice.
"The fishermen are on a drunk and
have started out to hang the China
boss, sir. He's hid in the store, but
they won't rest till they have him." we
answered.
He muttered something angrily be-
tween his teeth and seized a rope.
"Going to hang my China boss!" cried
the cannery foreman. II have q word
to say ON that deal myself. Wait till
l get my Winchester" he added to the
superintendent, who was already bind
ing ropes end to the rail preparatory
to coming aboard the dingey.
A minute more and we were scudding
toward the shore before the wind. A
big breaker deluged us as we struck
the beach, but nobody spoke word.
All was silent and dark around the
buildings, but the glimmer of lantern
was visible against the black base of
the cliff that rose abruptly hundred
yards from the house. A confused
and frightened gull cried plaintively
in the darkness among the jagged
rocks above.
"QuiclS! OF we shall be too late"
| whispered the foreman rs we sped si-
lently toward the murderous group.
The outline Of ladder was visible now
against the dark wall of rock. beneath
which stood two barrels with board
across their tops. A rope hung from
the ladder and swung in the night
breeze, casting its moving shadow on
the gloomy cliff. On the platform stood
| a burly form; on the ground, tied hand
| and foot Law poOr Mono Ho
caught the words: "Come up here.
you dog" followed by piercing shrek
as the murderer dragged the Chinaman
upon the platform by the hair, slipped
the dangling moose about his neck, and
leaped to the ground with sneering
| laugh:
"All ready, boys!" 1t was Jim's hoarse
| voice.
At that moment the foreman beside
me raised his rifle and shouted:
''The first man that moves from his
tracks gets rifle-bullet through him"
There was a sudden pause; then voice
from the group called out:
"Who are you?"
you'll never live to know who we
are if you move u foot" cried the
superintendent in voice that was
instantly recognized, then, addressing
me, he said: go and cut that China
man loose"
moved forward to obey, when, with
muttered oath, Jim Murphy kicked
the barrel from beneath the doomed
man. At the same moment a rifle and
revolver flashed in the darkness and
sent their thunder reverberating along
the rocks. A hoarse groan was mingled
with the screams of frightened sea-
birds on the cliff above. A fox leaped
from among the rocks and sped down
the open beach.
Jim Murphy lay across salmon
barrel-dead.
l cut down the unfortunate China
man, but life was extinct; his neck hao
been broken by the fall.
Utter silence fell upon the awei
group surrounding those still forms, 9
moment ago so hostile toward eact
other, now lying side by side so peace
fully. alike unmindful of The tlicllerinl
lanterns rays that fell into their wide
eyes. Around us lay the wild, ferc,
scenery of Alaskan crags and glaciers
over us the thick darkness, and in oul
midst that mightiest mystery
At length the superintendent spoke
"This is bad beginning" said he
sadly. Then, after pause, he added
81 suppose we'll have to call it quits
you can go and turn in now.'' Th'
men silently obeyed. We were ncarl,
= thousand miles from the neares
court of justice, at Sitka. The super
intendent had to be law-giver. judg
and executioner on that desolate coast
To try TO give up the whole party o
criminals to justice would mean tn
failure Of the yhole expedition. S
the matter was simply dropped.
The Cinnamon buried their dead wit
heather rites--sprinkled rice and san
shoe (gin) on the grave and burned al
the dead mans possessions OH tn
mound. All the spectators were give
pieces Of money wrapped in paper
! for good luck.
The fishermen carried their burden t
the grave in silence, and buried it will
out any rites. AS the shovelfuls c
sand rum mbled down upon the rnde pin
box, Mike slowly took the pipe frol
: his mouth and said:
Jim could stan more whisky N an
man ] ever knowed; he could carry
. beautiful.
4 A murmur of admiring approvi
went around the grim circle; the rigf