Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-11-07


lean bark, the Nellie, which was lost at
sea. When, where and how she was
lost he never told, but we gathered
from his rambling talk, when he could
be induced to say a few words, that
with the loss of his vessel had gone
everything that was near and dear to
him.
zone day one of the men coming on
Davies in his berth suddenly found him
gazing intently at small photograph.
When he asked the stranger if it was
the picture of his sweetheart the latter
sprang at him with terrible oath, and
warned him to mind his business and
never again attempt to pry into the
private affairs of others.
ssFrom this incident we argued that
Davies had lost something dearer to
him than his ship. and that perhaps his
mind was little unsettled. We had
much rough weather during the first
ten days of the voyage, and the men
had little time to discuss the new MEM
Der of the crew, but we kept our eyes
on him, and could not fail to note his
strange actions.
when there were storms, or when
Vic villa AoW4Co GAIOuSh tAC S1uS
and the sky was obscured by dark
clouds, the captain of the Nellie would
go forward at every opportunity and
stand sometimes for an hour in the bow
of the ship gazing intently ont over the
water as if watching and waiting for
sail. ~ such times those of us who
got near enough could see strange
wild CLEAN in his eyes, look that al
most confirmed our suspicious of his
sanity.
"Our captain was not a very strong
man, and after a week of almost inces-
SAINT storm he was pretty well worn out.
During this time the stranger seemed
to never tire. He was always ready
when strong arm was needed at the
wheel, or when the captain wanted an
observation or a reckoning made. In
fact, the stranger was such an expert
at the latter work that the captain
soon left all of it to him.
FINALLY. worn out from his long
watch on deck, the captain went to his
cabin as the storm died away to sleep
all night, lea, ing the stranger in charge
of the navigation of the the ship. 1 had
the late watch that night and came on
deck shortly after midnight. The storm
had gone down, but clouds were still
fitting across the sky, and the sea was
running with a heavy swell. There
was short watch on deck, as the men
were all pretty well worn out. l had
just started to go out when the moon
broke through rift in the clouds. By
the sudden light / saw Davies bending
over the open compass box working at
he ,Sfy I sIa<i Ifea
close without disturbing him.
sis the compass out of order?'
asked.
1.-THE man leaped up with an oath and
snatching long knife from his bosom
leaped at me like a tiger. I sprang
aside to avoid the blow he aimed at my
throat. By the time he had turned I
had picked up an iron pin and stood at
bay For moment he glared at me
like a wild beast and then putting up
his knife he went back to the wheel
without a word.
81 went about my work wondering
what the man could have been doing to
the compass and why he had tried to
murder me. By and by Davies left the
wheel and came over to the rail where
was standing. The moon was then
shining clear and bright and could
see all his features. There was a sad,
hopeless look in his face, but his eyes
shifted about in nervous, restless
fashion.
" Forgive me mattel he said, holding
out his hand to me. You startled me
so awhile ago that 1 suppose must been
clean daft for a time. 1 was thinking
of her. and his voice was low and sad
as he spoke. when you came up. 1 can
not sleep and with the work ard the
strain of the storm my head does not
harm you; forgive me, mate, and say
nothing to the captain
'sHe was looking at me with pitiful
appeal in his eyes, and while L did not
trust the strange, silent man, ex-
tended my hand and told him would
say nothing to the captain.
''But soon regretted that promise.
For several days 1 had suspected that
the ship was out of her course, but sup
posed it was due to the storm. When
the clouds had cleared away, however,
and could see the stars realized that
instead of sailing down the coast of
South America, as we should have been
to round the Horn, we were far out IN
the Pacific and sailing east.
watching my chance when Davies
was busy at the wheel, got look at
the compass and found, as had begun
to suspect, that it had been tempered
with. My first impulse was to arouse
the captain and tell him all that had
discovered. Then decided to let him
sleep until morning. as he would be in
better condition for action after the
rest.
"The first mate relieved me at
O'Clock in the morning and told me to
sleep all day if wished. hurried be-
low without telling him what had dis
covered, intending to get two hours
rest and then arouse the captain and
tell him all.
"As I started to go below I turned
for glance at the strange, silent man
at the wheel. 1 found his eyes fixed on
my face with look that said as plain
as a threat, keep silent There was
something so peculiar in his looks and
actions that felt a dread of unknown
danger creeping over me-
81 found one of the men asleep in NV
bunk when 1 got below and turned into
the next one without disturbing him.
In spite of my feeling of alarm l soon
fell asleep and it was daylight when
awohe. had not undressed and leaped
out of the bunk at once to go on deck.
Than 7 raruomh erod that ba1 1,+% 49,