The San Francisco call., 1897-11-08

yersation, though nobody but the ones
concerned In the conspiracy even dreamed
that anything tragic was to be the result.
Everything went well until August 9.
At that time. about ii :45 A. NJ. the third
mate, Joseph Anderson, happened te
catch sight OF a thin stream OF smoke
issuing from the forehod. The bark was
then about sixty miles southeast OF st.
George Island.
An alarm was given, all hands called on
deck and the force-pump made ready.
The lower deck matches forward were re-
moved and thick volume of smoke
poured fourth. There proved to be two
sources of the fire, both being located in
the lower hold-one in the forepeak, the
other forward OF the main hatch. After
vigorous effort on the part OF the officers
and crew the fires were both extinguished.
An inquiry was at once begun IS to the
author or authors of the affair and the
men were sent to see the captain one by
one. Little bg little the details came out,
until Digman finally broke down and con-
fessed the whole thing. His words were
then put IN writing by himself at the cap
tain's order.
Dlgman confessed that he, together with
the other two, wan ed to 90 to the klon-
dixie. They thought if the ship got on fire
they could make Unalaska, about 100
miles away, in the small boats, and from
there take larger vessel up the Yukon.
In order that the plan might stand bet
ter show OF success the men stole a tve-
gallon can OF turpentine from the hold.
This was poured on two piles OF wood, tar
poured over the hold and fire set to the
lot. The bottom Of the bark happened to
be damp, owing to the fact that it had
grown leaky, or nothing on earth could
have saved her from obstruction. AS it
was, only prompt action sItficed 10 do it.
When Jones learned that the plotters
were all known he also broke down and
confessed the whole plan. Kruger how
ever, has refused to say single word. All
the men were placed In irons and solitary
confinement for a fornght; then Krueger
was locked up in the after galley and sull
Kept In irons, only being allowed on deck
ct regular intervals for exercise, but the
other two men were allowed the freedom
of their limbs on deck during the day.
They, too, were locked in the sail pen"
at night. Kruger was treated more
harshly than tle rest on account OF the
fact that he wanted to make sure work of
the matter and use the bomb launches to
blow the side out OF the bark. This pro-
cedure, If carried TO fruition, might have
killed every man on the ship, including
the plotters themselves.
The bark Is now anchored off the Arctic
Oll Works and up 10 late hour the men
were still in confinement, being watched
by the first mate, Sparks and a seaman.
They will be surrendered into the custody
OF the United States Marshal to-day.
The bark took twenty-one days to make
this port, starting from Bering Sea Octo-
Der u. She taught seven whales and
brought down 10, 800 pounds of bone and
900 barrels Of oil, consigned 10 H. J.
Knowles.
A Tabitian sailor named George Can
trino, whose health failed him on the vov-
age, jun ped overheard in the Bering Sea
on the night of July % end was never
seen aiterward.
First Mate Sparks says he believes that
the whalers caught in the ice off Point
Barrow may be out now. If they are yet
In the ice, the officers say, a relief expedi-
tlon from here might not be effective. In
the interest Of humanity, however, they
would like to see it tried.