The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
A LOAD OF SALT.
How "A Famous Took on Its
Cargo for Cuba.
Leslie's Weekly.

LeSlleS weekly.
Among the several small vessels whose
n1DuSterlng expeditions to Cuba nave oc-
caSioned this government so much annoy-
ance and expense, few nave been the SUBJ
ject of so much watchfulness, or kept GUS
toms collectors awake at night as fire.
Quently as the Woodall.
This trim little vessel has been inter
cepted and overhauled several times; her
cargo and clearance papers were subjected
TO the SeVereSt scrutiny; and though the
government officials knew, by a sort of in
by floating rumors), that the Woodall was
not the innocent craft she pretended to be,
nothing could ever be proved against her.
A story told by a machinist, anent an es-
cdpad of the Woodall at a time when her
peculiar actions first attracted government
attention, might throw considerable light
upon a subject whose mystery has baf'
fled the wit of many a clever official.
Il suppose you know all about the bayous
and inlets running up from Vermillion bay
not far from the salt minis of southern
hunting?" began the machinist. well, l
had been doing some work at the salt
mines when word come that a vessel was
down in the bay wanting all the men it
could get, to load up.
II went with some other men. A few
were turned back, but most of US were put
on to the job of loading sacks of salt on to
the Woodall, which lay out in an arm of
the bay as close to shore as she could get.
1T was common enough for boats TO run
up in the bays to take on salt or lumber,
but what l thought queer was a lot of box
cars lying up in the woods on a. temporary
track. How they came there an what they
come for 1 wanted to know. 1t warn't so
long till / did.
I'VE hustled that salt on board lively, /
tell you. 1t was hard work, but good pay.
Saturday the cap'n come along an says:
Boys, / got a job for you to do, an every
man that amt willing to swear he'll keep
his mouth shut can git.
I'VE all swore.
See them box cars?' he says, pointing
to the track in the woods. / want every
Loot nna y fh0O0 nnrlnodG cfnuya6 in tho
Woodall before Monday morning. Kin you
do it?'
We'll, Sir, the first load we took out to
the Woodall sure was a surprise. The
Woodall had a false bottom as long an
near as wide as herself, laying up there
SsaIt! Well. 1 should smile! smelt
mighty like powder, an looked mighty like
sweated all that night an all day Sunday
an Sunday night. We was nigh dead for
sleep, only snatching a minutes rest o
an then, an goin' at 1t ag'in. We s~prinkled
we wasted good salt promiscuous around
there.
Monday mornin', soon as they could git
to us, down come the custom-house officers.
Got wind about extry hands and rushed job,
an they was bound to find out the whole
down in the bottom Of the bay lay that
cargo of powder an lead, an we was just
loading the last few sacks of salt on TO the
Steam was up an everything ready for
a start. The officers took a look at the
empty cars an then went on board an
overhauled the cargo. Nothin' but salt,
AT last they went away, lookin' dissatis-
fed, an one of 'em says to me; Looks like
you fellows wasted a heap O. salt around
here
Salts cheap says I.
'"Twarn't no time before the Woodan had
that false bottom UP an in tow down the
bay.
"'where was she goin'?' Ask me some
thin / know"