The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-02

Something was wrong with the papers
Of the Norwegian bark Record. which ar
rived Sunday Al Port Townsend from Tai
canuano. Guatemala DR.. Kuhn, of the
Puget Sound health board could not un-
derstand 1t. He boarded the Record on
her arrival and began examining the ships
papers. The crew list did not tally with
the men known to be aboard. After puz-
ziing over il for some time Or. Kuhn spoke
TO one OF the crew.
Where's the captain7'' he asked.
THE captain" was the response az the
mate addressed: which captaing'
Which eapttainZ Why. capt oleson.
TO be sure"
Yes. l know. bat which Capt. oleson9"
DIR. Kuhn was mysfified- Bring me the
man who naylgaIed the snip from Tafca-
huano.' sc said impasicntiy.
The mate laughed and went away. Soon
he returned with Capt. oleson. The face
OF the man who navlgated the Record
from Taleahuano was wreathed In smiles.
There was evidently some mystery. The
doctor was resolved that no attempted
piessaniries should turn him from thor
ough investigation.
Are you master OF this yeSsetF ne
asked irpresSively.
II was until we got 20 Cape Flattery
last Friday" said the captain. winking
surreptitiousiy at the mate.
what happened them" DIR. Kuhn spoke
win enforced caimness.
WELL another surreptdtious wink.
when We got of Fla;tery a gale came
up. and while the wind was bowling in
the rigging and the waves were climbing
over tse rail and trying 10 steal ride, a
stranger came aboard. He came right in
the midst of It. He wasn't hurt bit
From the first minute he showed UP /
was out of il. He was boss then, he's
boss now. and for all / can tell he'll be
boss for a long time"
The health officer looked from captain
10 mate and from mate TO captain.
what's this fellows nane?'' His voice
was soft. IL these men were crazy he
wished to soothe them By every means in
his power. When the answer came from
both sailors simultaneously. "oleson." the
doctor felt more than ever the need Of
gentle speech. So he said, this mans
name is oleson. He came aboard in a
storm. He's master of the ship. Can you
take me 10 this man? am the health
officer, you know. and must see him.
The mate nudged the captain. and the
captain nudged the mate. Then both
laughed and said. Come on" They led
the doctor down to the ca bin. At the en-
trance both paused and looked back. The
physician was a brave man. but such an
extraordinary proceeding was beginning
IL htk Ot MS HttNtr ne TIC Sto-
ries ne had read Of pirate crews: murders
tn cabins such as the one he was about
to enter. of trap doors through which one
plunged headiong into filthy hold. there
~ be murdered by waiting cutthroats.
Then he followed the captain and mate
into the cabin and looked about cautiously.
A door opened OF the cabin into the cap
tains room. On the captains bunk lay a
woman. and on the woman's breast was a
tiny bit OF animated flesh. baby .Here
we are. doctor" cried the captain. str.ding
10 the bunk and stnderly turning aside a
portion OF the covering that the little face.
with the bright. laughing eyes. might be
seen. Here's Capt. Oleson. Here's the
fellow that came aboard IN the storm
Here's the fellow that runs the ship-Ciod
grant that ne ever may. And here's his
mother. my wife" Or. Kuhn bowed
feehly. Then the baby began TO crow glee-
fully and the little group in the cabin
laughed with the diminutiye captain of the
Norwegian bark Record.
He had been born at sea on Friday No
vember =. while the vessel was lahorsng
of Cape Flatfery In one Of the most furi-
GUS storms OF the year.