The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-16
WE'RE IN DISTRESS.
How q Captain Now in This Port
Evaded Custom Rules in Hayti.
He Made a Bluff, IL Worked and He
Got or With Good Sized Fine.

The captain OF a schooner now lying at
this port told story of an adventure he
once had in Hayti that Is worth repeat
ing. As he commands the same vessel,
and may get a charter to the same port at
some future day his name and his ves-
sels will be withheld.
81 sailed from New York to bring back
logwood from Cape Hayticn and had
pleasant trip until down below Hatteras.
Then for several days adverse winds kept
us from running up to Wilmington, but
finally we got into the river and took q
tow TO the city.
ave loaded lumber, and shippad
bright little Haytien boy who had been
with me on previous trip TO act as cabin
boy. i had as passenger friend OF mine
who was going out for his health.
"We had q delightful passage and late one
afternoon we came In sight OF our desti-
nation.
at was coming up dirty looking and as
we had fair wind the temptation to run
in was too great to be overcome.
"All the West Indian ports are closed ut
o'clock and it IL serious offence
to enter port after it is closed.
but / was feeling tired OF being at
sea, and not liking the looks OF the
weather, we doomed along into port by
the deep shadows of the mountains, and
dropped anchor.
"Not until 1t bit into the mud did fully
realize what had done, but 1t was too
late to back out. | ordered the mate to
| pour salt water into our water butts on
deck while went below and with siphons
started the butts in the hold.
"As hastened up on deck saw the port
officer being pulled off amid considerable
confusion and ! stood by to receive him.
AS he swung up on the rail he seized the
vessel in the name OF the republic and or
dered me to appear the next day.
"Thcn / begun, Il am an American citi-
zen, captain OF an American ship. We
are out OF water and my men are dying OF
thirst. For 4s hours Heaven forgive the
lie-we have gone without water and
we must have it. / demand to he allowed
to go ashore aud replenjsh. put in here
in distress and according to the treaty OF
my country / demand the release of this.
vessel ana insist upon supplies
"This didn't seem to phase the cuss at
ALL and he merely bowed gracefully,
shrugged his shoulders and smiled at me.
al demand TO see the American Con-
sui" l said, knowing that il didn't carry
| IL out the bluff wouldn't work. My men
must have water and they shall have 1t
| tonight
"He walked quietly to the butts, dropped
in the dinky and pulled it out full, his
eyes sparkling.
"'What is this?' he asked trium-
phantly.
"'Water,' Ireplied shortly, salt water.
| We went through a gale and our water
was washed and our butts below sprung q
leak and we haven't DROP
"He seemed a little shaken and my mate
backed me mp by demanding of me fres h
water In a voice that was rs cracked as his
face. The look of misery he put on most
upset me and when my passenger crawled
on deck bowling for water he weakened
perceptibly. The little cabin boy danced
around talking French glibly and bowling
for thirst.
"The officer went below, kicked the
empty butts which resounded noisily,
| and finally espied butt that in my haste
| had overlooked.
"My heart sank and with q smile OF
| triumph he tapped 1t and out gurgled
| plenty of water. He raised some to his
| lips and took a good mouthful, which he
| spat out Immediately with an awful face.
81 was saved.
"You know water rots three times be-
lore IL Is nJ 10 drink NJ sea. w die ~ ls
| changing 1t would make an army mule
sick. That bait was changing and had
his visit been delayed until morning
would have been lost.
al gszed triumphantly at him, turned
| on my heel and walked on deck. As he
came up the companion way / said, Il
must have water tonight and to my re-
| lief he gave his consent.
81 ordered the long boat out, tumbled
! In a cask and went ashore. 1 went to the
American consul, who was a tall, elderly,
| good looking negro, and told my
story and asked for bis interference.
"lIe was very intelligent fellow and
has the honor OF being the Oldest official
in the diplomatic employ of the
| United States. He gave me two
dozen bottles of Milwaukee lager.
and said, 'On your life don't touch
our water. 1t will bring on the fever.
! You must not touch it while you're on
the Island. No one drinks water here.
And no one does.
"The next day ! was fined 800 In Ameri-
can gold which paid under protest and
which hope to get back some day. |
looked into the prison or calaboose
the next day, high walled,
no rooted, flag bottomed pen where /
might have rotted to death IL 1 hadn't
'put in In distress, and thanked my lucky
| n