Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-16
NUMBER

his first visit to Il convict ship he was
naturally curious. He witnessed the op-
erations Of gang taking their morning
wash up, and almost by accident heard
some one speak the name Of York. He
instantly turned to me and asked:
Have you got mate aboard by that
manner"
"No, picked up man by that name
at Cape Town, who claimed TO have
been third mate OF whaler, bnt he 10
acting as a guard over the convicts.
Light hair, blue eyes, large nose,
two front teeth gone, great talker''
THAT fits him.
Its the same burned skunk left
there six weeks ago." he hotly ex-
claimed, land I've been mad ever since
that / didn't break his neck before
dumping Kim ashore. II that chap il
with you, look out "
What's wrong with him''
Everything. He's not only the
greatest liar on land or sea, but has q
heart as black as "a pirates. Why, the
internal sooundrel had talked half my
crew into a state Of mutiny before l
got on TO his little game. A guard, is
he? Well, he isn't any better than those
he looks after. and it's my opinion you
can watch him too closely.
Here was.coniirmation Of my darkest
suspicious, and il will be lifelong re-
gret that ] did not take advantage OF
tho opening presented. Captain Holt
could have been hired 10 take York
away by force, and with him out Of the
sh ip the convicts would have probably
given up their plan. think 1t would
have been au easy matter 10 exchange
six or eight meu with him for cash
consideration. and that would have re-
moved all anxiety and insured = safe
voyage.
You ask why didn take these steps.
First. because Captain Clark opposed
them, aud, secondly, because the result
would have been an official inyestiga-
ton. Had we encountered an English
man of war the case would have been
far different / had suspicious, but no
positive proofs. To have forced York or
any OF the sailors 10 exchange into the
whaler would have been an arbitrary
act which would have cost u dear with
out we could prove justification. Again.
Mary Williams and Haskell were the
only two people aft who had suspicion
Of anything wrong, and all Others. IN
cluding the doctor. would have protested
and could have been used as witnesses
against US
was, however, on the point OF ask
ing the American 10 keep Us III sight
for couple of days, on pretense that
we were making some alterations IN the
quarters OF tire convicts, when he stated
that he should run To the east for new
cruising ground. IL turned out even
better than that. At noon, when he
was about three miles in our wake. the
wind fell and n dead calm came on
which lasted that afternoon and night,
all the next day and up 10 midnight OF
the second night. During this calm.
with the whaler in plain view, no
ticed that almost every man Of our crew
carried an anxious, excited look, but
they were unusually humble in their
demeanOr.
York was asleep when the whaler's
captain visited Us. but took care 10 drop
Holts name so that it would be carried
forward 10 him. He also doubtless iden.
titled the whaler a. soon as he set eyes
OH her, and il was plain enough that he
was greatly disturbed. After bit he
made opportunity to speak with me,
and when / did not tell him that his
name had been mentioned he was evil
IDENTIFY much relieved.