Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-03-24
1T WENT OVERHEARD,
HOW A CAPTAINS FEARS SAVED =
couNrERFElTgR TROUBLE.


Traak THAT Contained Plates far MHk-
ing Msney was in Great Danger Of he
Ing Captured by Governmental Agents.
One Of the most interesting stories about
ocean steamships was told by james Psyn
q number of years ago. IL appeared In
series OF short sketches, which are not now
m general circulation. The narrator was
brought Ia contact with the captain OF a
noted liner. aud seeking to learn OF biz
adventures on the sea was foolish enough
to suggest sbipwrecks as channel Tor bis
recollection.
aSirs'' said the captain. drawing himself
up aud getting very red In the face. what
do we know about shipwrecksf"
After the others apology the captain
added benignly that there was one occa.
sion when lie thought his company's good
record was about 10 be broken. and that
he was the man who was 10 break 1t.
at was ak years or NO ago" began the
captain, that the ship was making her
voyage out. The whole way the sea had
been like duck pond. When about 100
miles from land we picked up q sailing
boat with only one man In it. About half
an hour after the incident was informed
that one OF the passengers wished to speak
with me In privaee upon very important
matter.
"sweli, my man, what Is it,' said sc
verely; we shall soon sight land. have
no time to throw away
"sThat In very true, captain he an
swered; but your time will I've even shorter
than you imagine unless you listen to
what have got to say to you. You will
never see land, much less make II, u you
are not prepared to act at once ON the In
| formation I am about 20 give You. Neg
lect IL and your ship will be at the bottom
| Of the sea in'-he looked at his watch
| yes, in exactly an honr and n half
".Ail right, my man. said l: you may
go. I'll send the ships doctor TO look al
| you;' for of course | thought he was wan
| dering 10 his wits.
| Then what had seemed like anxiety Ii
| his face became mortal fear-genuine alb
| ject terror, such as no actor could hav,
| initiated He threw himself upon hi
knees, and, clasping his hands together
i besought me not TO treat his words with
incredulity.
"'Then why, SIR replied, do you tall
such nonsense about my shipP
because it's true, captain. he groaned
There's dynamite ON board and clockwori
| machinery connected With It. As am !
living man. IL the thing Is not ut onc'
looked to the ship and all ON board OF he
i will be blown to atoms within the time
have mentioned
GOOD heavens. man. tell me ailr
cried, and quickly
may, but I daren't, and I can't b,
pleaded, unless have your solemn prom
ise that you viii never betray me-
"'well. said l. i promise. Now. wher
Is this cursed dynamiter
Zone moment, captain. This ship
insured In London-never mind where an,
how-tor q hinge sum. and have been EN-
ployed to sink her. | brought the ma
chinery, set. TO this very day, In n SINAI
purtmanteau which was sent ON board th
night before she sailed. But, swear +
you, no sooner did ] touch the deck than
repented.'
"'come up on deck. you seoundrel.' erie
I, and identify this Internal thingr
II set twenty men to work at once Z
bring up the luggage on the deck.
"'Quick, quick, my good fellows, Their
win be extra grog for YOU said, ~ yo
turn the things out within the hour
That blessed portmanteau, M it haE
ped, was mt the very bottom Of all
NANCY. Ill looking thing enough ant
though small, as heavy as lead. Nov
just throw that overheard, my line fe
lows, said |. will you, and be careful no
to knock IL against the bulwarks.'
Nobody. of course, questions the order
OF a ships captain when nc sea, and over
wenfwith a splash, but | saw the frs
mate look at the second with an expressio
that conveyed He's mad as clearly rs
he had given words TO II. However, tn
| dynamite was overheard, thank HEAVIER
we were nearing land, and | had othe
things to think about.
"When we were still some way from I'll
] harbor, we were met by police boat, I'll
! chief officer of which demanded 10
, taken on board 10 speak with me-
".Hullop said. There Is no mursie
ing Englishman among my passengers.
: theref'
swell, no. he answered; but I've re,
son to believe there's citizen of th
United States who would neither stick q
! murder nor anything else.'
. '.Then thought OF the dynamite. I
course. and rejoicrd that the villain ha
been discovered without any betrayal {
his secret on my part.
"'you have warrant for his apprehe.
sion, conclnder
".well. no. captain. that's Just my din
/, Guilty, for don't knaw which man IL 4
. but I've an order 10 search the luguaQ.
Information has come by wire that
/ whole plant for forging American ban
, notes is being imported by your ship:
will not be down below, of course, but
! the mans personal luggage In his cabin. ;
"Of course the officer didn't find ths
portmanteau among the personal luy
, gage though am bound to say thar i
looked for IL very carefully.
Q as to the owner Of the article In que
) ton, he slipped on; Of the ship on the dr.,
opportunity. He had intended TO keep tt
, thing In his cabin. only the steward ha
objected and caused 1t TO be taken below
|. That information had been telegraphe
! from England 10 the New York police wa
known To his confederate, who had CON
. out 10 warn him, and they would no doul
!. have saved me all trouble by dropping th
portmanteau overheard themselves, only
was among the other luggage. How to u
Il out and dispose OF Il without discover
was the problem they had to solve. whic
they accomplished by means OF the dyni
mite story. New York Times