The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-02-11

dyin' down, but 1 s'pose you and Pache
want some fun Start yer whistle,
and turn loose"
Up the steps bounded Laramie, and
with ringing whoop as a prelude be
gan whistling a clear, musical trill,
while Pache, growing out: Dance,
dance, ye white ]ivered coyotes" sent
a bullet through the outer edge of the
chief mates boot-heel.
Dance" repeated Laramie between
bars of the music. ''Crack. crack"
went thi pistols, while bullets ratified
around the feet of the men on the
hatch, and Laramie's whistle rose and
FILL on the soft morning air.
The sun, who had looked on many
scandalous sights, looked on this, and
hid his face under cloud, refusing tc
witness, for never before had the ethics
of shipboard life been so outrageously
violated. A squat captain aud two
six-foot officers, nearly black in face
from rage and exertion, with hands
clasped over their heads, hoped and
skipped around a narrow stage to the
accompaniment of pistol reports har-
moniously disposed among the notes
OF whistled tune, while bullets graz
ed their feet, and an unkempt, dis
figured and sore headed crew looked
on and chuckled When the mate,
weak from loss of blood. fell and roll
ed to the deck, the leader stopped the
entertainment.
"Now, gentlemen" he said, in his
serious voice, I'm called Pecos Tom
and Pve had considerable experience
in my time, but this is my fust will,
human creaturs SO weak and thought
less that they'll drug and steal three
men without takin' their guns away
from then. And so on account O. this
sbiftless improvidence. l reckon this
boat will-have to turn round and &C
| back"
They rolled and kicked the two
mates to the rail, lifted the captain tc
his feet, and said, significantly:
Give the right and proper order to
yer men to turn this boat round"
With his face working convulsively
Capt. Belchior glanced at his captors
at his eager, waiting crew-at the
wheel without a helmsman-at dark
ening of the water on the starboard
bow to the southward-up aloft, and
back again to the three frowning
muzzles so close to his head.
zone hand to the wheel-square in
main and cro'-jack yards" he called
lie was conquered.
With hurrah which indicated the
sincerity of these orders, the crew
sprung to obey them, and with fore
yards braced to starboard and head
sheets flat, the ship Wilmington paid
off, wore around, and bringing the
young breeze on the pot quarter
steadied down to a course for Sandy
Hook with the captain, with bands re
leased, but still under the influence OF
those threatening pistols, worked on,
from the mates dead reckoning. TheI
he was pinioned again, but allowed to
pace the deck and watch his ship
while the two officers were kept un-
der the rail, sometimes stepped upon
or kicked, and often admonished or
the evil of their ways.
Early passengers on the East river
ferry boats were treated to a move
sight next morning, which they ap
preciated according to their nautica
knowledge. A lofty ship, with sky
sails and royals hanging in the bun
lines and jibs failing ahead like flags
was charging up the harbor before ;
humming southerly breeze, followed
by an elbowing crowd of putting
whistling, snub-nosed tugs. It wa!
noticeable that whenever a fresh tus
arrived alongside, little white cloud.
left her quarterback and that tug sud
denly sheered off to take a position il
the parade astern. Abreast Governor.
island halliards were let go, as wer,
those OF the jibs, but no clawing up o.
hauling down was done, nor were AM
men seen on her forecastle deck get
ting ready lines or ground tackle.
She passed the Battery and no th,
East river, crafts of all kind gettiDs
out OF her way-for it was obvious
that something was wrong with her
until. rounding slowly to a starboart
wheel, canvas rafting and running
gear in bights. she healed straigh
for a slip partly filled with canal boats
Then her topsail halyards were let g,
and three heavy yards came down b,
the run. breaking across the caps, ant
amid a grinding, creaking and crash
! ing OF riven timbers ana deafenin.
din OF applauding tug whistles sh
plowed her way into the nest of cana
J boats and came to stop.
Then was dejira. Down her blacl
sides by ropes and chainylates, to th
wrecked and sinking canalboats. som
with bags or chests, some without
= came sailor men, who climbed to tn