The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-16

buried in MS utte pochtt9- MS zoo ---
sisted OF an old cloth coat. a loose rather
dirty. flannel shirt, pair Of breeches held
10 the hips by an old belt. steamboat
cap. the inside Of whose peak was pant
ell a brilliant green. and a pair OF SNORT
WeIlingtons into which the enas OF Hl9
trousers We're thrust.
Whilst I listened I found his looks en-
Ter into his story as an element of spirit
much as a ships fgurehead quantity and
magicaly carved grows into the whole
life of her and rests upon the mind as
the dominating memory Of the fabric.
His nose was broken his eyes were deep
sunk. mis- beard was yellow, eager. short
and thickest. and curled outwards like
q shovel. He was a dry and harsh old
man like 10 a parched pea with nifty
wears of seafaring. 1 called upon this
sailor. believing that he alone could solve
the mystery, and he answered the in
slant 1 inquired if he could do so. YES,
sir" and pulled a piece Of worn news
paper out of his side pocket.
This is the piece" he began, they
nut in about it, They make her an
American. Lie number one. They call
her a brig. Lie number two. ! ought 70
know. for 1 was her second mate. She
tons belonging to Liverpool, and the
niece they put into the papers about her
was this" said the little sailor man,
putting on a pair of glasses. Ten years
ago a British merchantmen saw YES
sci with all sail set, yet something was
wrong. They boarded her. Everything
was in order, fire burning in the CAREY
dinner untasted and scarcely coiu' ca ~
intact, the well dry, no one living or ueau
ri no been
ND to within a short time of the PERIOD
OF her being boarded. There was not a
drop Of blood, a lock of hair "A disorder
ed cabin, or anything 10 snow lhe slSH
of a struggle. From that day not the
slightest clue has been obtained. 1et
she has been a lucky snip ever slhCe.
Noov." said the little sailor with excite
ment Shaping the sheet OF paper, II
have contradicted this yarn over anu over
again. / have given the public the truth,
and still the papers insist upon lnseI my
this piece Just as if 1 didn't exist, or had
nc right to speak.
I'VE had been out fortnight homeWarI
bound, when man in the morning Watch
coming aft to me, says:
There's a queer sight to be seen IN
tine fox sic, sir;
" What is it? said l.
Rats on the booze.
1.-The weather was quiet, and ! thought
I could safely leave the deck Tor rev
minutes and going forward, l Stepped
&c requested into the topgallant forecas-
tie and saw two rats moving ABOUT IN
q strange fashion. They seemed TO grope
and reel. and even as watched anosn ll,.a
huge black rat came out from somewhere
in the dusk and this beast moved, sway
ed and clutched at the deck as 1t crawied
slowly. a.. 49,, ,,ro,,o,, a ,ood
pght was made by the fOrecastle hght'
and the rats were distinctly visible. 5eN-
eral of the watch on deck stood looking
0' They appear to me to he blind said I.
That's Just 1t. sir said the man VINO
had called me forward, and stepping up
over cU r'' lis ewes, and this he did TO. the
other and TO the third rat, but none show
ed signs Of fear. They were DInd.
Very uueer-all three Of them, TOO:
NIust have poisoned themselves somehow
Ssid Better catch and fling the beasts
overheard and with that l returned TO
w. The Po0p name of the ship was the Middle
eer we were a company of fifteen men
forward. The master was CAPT. Ma ifi
James Fairman, hrst mate, anu an ber ss
Tarbush is my name, secohu ol nei' a.
@ 1iaiI,S a week after this incident Of
the rats. the mate said 70 me- when
came on deck to relieve him:
The carpenter and the COOK are botn
connplaining of their sight. They say tnat
the atmosphere appears TO be STAINED VIII
ink. and the sky waves in most gnaSlly
xyav 10 both men If they look long up at
The SKYE
..vIIa AIRED no doctor. and the captain,
~ whom of course, the seamen would
look on any occasion OF sickness was IN
able to form an opinion MOI U 0n erfuliv rap
id with the poor fellows I0E P9It5i6 81 ~
that they complained on the MS onu;aS S IL
were helpessly blind on the I9lIow VIZ yao We
dsv. sitting and crying, unable 10 move
without being LED. -. l., ,,,bicb +bei,.
sight utterly failed them l,,1 un[ dar Thev
Svere fellows wild with fear, half-bloods IN
color. and they came aft in terror 70 the ne
captain / stood by and listened. one Oh
them said, pointing TO his eyes:
Pm going to lose the vision out or
these like them fired rats, and the COOK
and chips. Itll be hard case; capt a. ,;
What shall a man do if he lose his eyes 7?
"T cts have a look at ye,' said the cap
tain and he turned him to the sun, ana
Deered into his face, but saw no more, 1
warrant, than trace of sunken, DUBIOUS
ielNes soaked, stained, encrimsoneq by
The poisonous drinks of the beachcomber' )
sSThere was nothing to be done for them.
second man. our sights going to be
noisoned out of us If we don't leave the
vessel and the poor fellow with sweep
~ his hand across his hairy brow, as
though to clear his sight, sent uull heaN-y
look round the sea.
''There was nothing to do done for them
When they went forward the captain said
10 me- 1 reckon it's the sweating OF the
cargo that's doing this mischief There S
nO1E0n
ed stuff BY heaven, things are turning
a bit dim to me. Q, my God! he cried
with an ashy pale face. 1 see what tins
men mean, and have got the disease. The
atmosphere swims in a thin sort OF ink
does it do so to you2-is the sun bright
with you? and when l had answered yes
he dashed his hand to his forehead, cry
ing. ooh, my God, oh, my Godr and walk
Cd with uncertain steps and with an all
or distraction to the companion-way.
Now began the truly awful part of thi.
tremendous incident of the ocean. 1t was
not enough that Capt. Martin should 20
dark that night, losing his sight till, al
he told me, he couldn't see the flame o
the cabin lamp, as il swung in the lit
tie cuddy At two bells in the middle
watch, two nights after, it being my look
out. the poor unfortunate man came OF
deck and stood in the companion way
calling for the officer of the watch. ! RAJ
to him and asked him what | could do
He said.
Give me your hand, Tarbush, and Leaf
me to the ships side abaft and clear of tn
mizzen channels. What's the vessels rat
of going?
80 About seven, sir. A handsome, reg
ular sea and the main royal on, too. Blu
it is so bad with you, captain, said ! "a
] lead him to the rail- according to hi
request, that you can see nothing?i
90 L m blind he gasped. i m blind. Lool
after the ship, sir. I'll call you when
wish to return below