West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-03-11
CHAPTER TX.
THE cApR AND BEYOND.

hCaltn, ana thcrc WAS nothing TO find
fault with. BY going before the proper
authorities and making statements and
affidayits and delaying our voyage for
AN investigation ! doubt not that we.
could have had Or Haxton removed and
secured competent man in his place
Tho rub was, rs L have heretofore OK
planned that such action would make
trouble for the bark The authorities
had the power TO cancel our charter and
transfer tho prisoners with the voyage
half completed, and that meant heavy
loss and certain disgrace.
/ may tell You that before reaching
the Cape the captain had very plain
talk with the doctor. That the man had
been trying to do his best no one could
doubt, but there was no hope that no
would prove himself the right man in
the right place. With the officers of the
ship backing him and assuming authori-
ty such rs competent official would
not have permitted it was hoped we
might get through. 1t was all settled
before we sighted Table mountain that
40 one ashore should get the slightest
mixing that everything with US was not
as we could wish for
we felt ii necessary to get u man il his
place This duty was left TO me, and |
set about it with tho resolve TO make
no mistake. There were 90 sailors in
Cape Town anxious to ship. and after
looking them all over 1 selected man
about 30years old named Samuel York.
He was an American and had been
third mate of a whaling ship Owing
10 IA misunderstanding with his captain.
Which he explained 20 his own benefit,
he had quit the ship when she put in at
the Cape. | sized him up TO be n high
spirited but very decent fellow, and my
Judgment was aftcrward confirmed by
Gaptain Clark.
York at first fatty and Indignantly
refused to take the place, as L rather ex-
pected he would, the pay being small
and the occupation one which true sail
or considered degrading, but after Civ.
ing the subject days reflection he de-
clded to accept. He put it on tho
ground that he stood better chance of
getting ship at Sydney or Melbourne
than at Cape Town. In taking that man
aboard was making mistake which
L should never cease 10 regret, but WHOM
one acts according to his best judgment
you can expect no more. L may tell you
Here that York deliberately lied TO me.
knowing that the chances Of exposure
were vcgy slim. He had been third
mate Of "a whsler, but had boon broken
and set ashore for insu bordination.
Soon after landing he had engaged in q
quarrel ana had been out Of Jail only q
day when | came across him. In accent
Ing the position he had plan in view.
Before leaving the Cape the iron
cages were carefully inspected and thor
oughly oyerhauled and q close search
made Of the prisoners. Each convict
vas Intercepted and examined as to
MS state Of health, and not one of them
bad complaint to make. A first class
mdiamgn could not have shown clean
n bill OF health. No convict ship ever
resumed her voyage under more favora.
Die auspices, and for "a week 1 was al
most care free. During this time had
kept pretty close watch on tho new
guard York, as / was in duty bound to
DO, but had seen nothing to find fault
with. He was cheerful, obcdicnt and
apparently yigilant, and no more could
DO asked for. The first thing to excite
my suspicion, or l may better say my
curiosity was ia his asking Haskell for
Oar latitude and longitude and after
ward consulting a chart Of the Indian
ocean which hc had brought aboard
with his dunnage After the noon OBJ.
servalon had been worked out we made
no secret Of il among tho passengers.
several Of whom had charts ana wore
Keeping the run Of the ship Had York
Il Iefsftf q. 30. ....
be was prickiug of the run for his own
satisfaction should have thought moth
lug strange about jt for he was an in
tehiBont man, and I had an idea that
De understood navigation fairly well.
Ills sailor instinct as well ~ q desire TO
post himself was excuse crouch. He
had asked Haskell In acouHdcntiul way
- give him the figures, and no had con-
suited bic chart in @ secret manner.
Il don't like the man" continued
Haskoll after giving me the above in
formation.
"Bct why?" ] queriod.
It's hard 20 say, but tho feeling g.
hero that Doe isn't dead right. FL asks
great many questions. but never an-
"Fer5 any. He's got very rly way of
pumping q man. He and I haven't
tHken ~ each other at all, but Le has
pumped the other guards and .lmc Of
the -alioIs until Doe 81 posted ou what
ever has happened since wc left the
channel He's done litue c1se when az
dnty and not asleep bit to ask oues.
tions.
What particular thing does be- seem
most au2igus ~ know a51uty'
f..HH /.