St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1898-04-02

q bargain TO be toWed into port. Wnen |
o. figure was named he declared he
would never pay half that sum, and.
some hot words following, he seized q
pistol and drove the strangers into
their boat. Six or seven days later
the wreck was fallen in with during
q gale by a French ship, but as the
sea- was running too high and the
hulk seemed to be making good wealth
er of 1t nothing was done towards res
cuing the solitary man seen aboard. A
week later she was overhauled by the
English bark lEndeaVor, which had re-
ceived notice of the desire of the own
ers of the cargo. The captain OF the
Endeavor made up his mind to seize
the wreck, rig jury masts and carry
her into port, and a nice plum he would
have had in the way of salvage had
he succeeded. The Highland Chief was
then below the latitude OF the Cape
and drifting to the south. Capt. Nc
Donald, placidly smoking cigar and
seeming to be clear of all anxiety, re-
ceived the mate of the Endeavor in q
hospitable manner, but soon let him
understand that he did not intend to
leave the wreck. If he could get spare
spars at his own figure, and il three
or four men could be had without a
bonus, he would make shift to finish
his voyage, but otherwise he would let
the hulk drift where she would and
end his days with hers. This was no.
more than he had said before, but the
mate of the Endeavor believed that
loneliness and anxiety had affected his
mind to a considerable extent. While
| he was obstinate minded and had a
pride in keeping his word, his whole
fortune was invested In that hulk, and
| it was but natural that he should want
to save it. The captain of the En-
deayor offered him fair terms in several
directions, and it was only after Nc
Donald had rejected them that move
was made. to carry the wreck by force.
The mate returned with four men to
/ back him, and suspecting their inten-
tions Capt; Mcdonald armed himself
| and ordered thsm off. When no atten-
ton was paid to his threats he opened
fire and killed the mate and q common
/ hand and wounded a third man. That
ended any further attempt on the part
of the Endeavor to take possession.
Some 16 days after the tragedy raI
across the derelict for the second time
I was now second mate of the Englisf
brig Morning Star" bound for sydne.
with a general cargo. After we hae
made our sounding and1were ready Il
4 bear up for the Cape, wesgot a fierc
gale from the northwest which drove u
far to the south OF our proper course
The gale lasted for 40 hours, and durint
most of this time we were hoveto. Tel
hours before the gale broke we discoy
cred the hulk of the Highland CHIEF
| about mile to the west Of u.s. She wa
drifting .broadside to the seas, whicl
broke over her every moment and sen
ispray 30 feet high, and why she didn'
, capsize was something no sailor couk
make out. 1t was bad enough with us
4 lying. to under. o storm try-sail an
taking the great seas head on, bu
aboard of that hulk the pitching an,
tossing must have been something
Fearful. We saw no signs of life aboar
of her until the storm abated. The
Capt. Mcdonald appeared on deck. an
took q look at US through his spy
glass. It was the intention OF tn
captain of the 'ssMorning Star" to max
a prisoner of him, and seize the wrec
: In the interests of the cargo owners.
,, was sent away to board her as 500
as the seas would permit, and the pia
was that the four men pulling the boa
: should follow me on deck at the frs
opportunity and rush upon the caI
|tain. The "Highland Chief" presente
d most deso1ate appearance. Much 4
= her bulwarks had been torn away b
the seas, her paint had faded an
, Ipeeled of and her sides sVere covere
with mold and patches OF grass
was helped on board by Capt. M
Il Donald, who expressed no surprise
. nv presence. He was unshayen an
| unkempt, and had wild look In b
eyes, but his talk was rational enoug'
. 6s.I know what you and all of the otl
1 ers are after-the salyage-but ] te
l you that unless T can sail this hui
3 into. a port no other man shall!
| made oath to that months ago, and
] Twill keep TINT oath though I dri
: about for ten yearsl"
= s'tNo one will take me off alivel !
g lmnttered, and he returned to the su
4 I ject Of spars and men. While we taike
II the four sailors boarded the wreck
9. 4 carry out the other part Of the pla
d but one of them stumbled and fell vii
9 a great noise and this was near brin
!. ing about d tragedy. The man jumpt
9 4 for a pistol before Iscould move, al
! at the muzzle Of 1t forced the five
s. Tus to retreat to our boat. That endt
n any chance we had, and after an ho'
al the informing Star" sailed away al
It left him. That was the last time mt
n or wreck was seen by mortal eye. Me
e. of-war hunted for her for months ,al
d q hundred merchantmen kept o loo
y out, but she was never again reporte
e,iIt is possible that she may have be-
) battered to pieces In a storm, but the
e was more Likelihood that she drift
d down into the great sea south OF d
t. Cape and brought up of last among T
p ice-fields. She may hare been cut dov
d by the driving fee, crushed by colliai'
n with some great berg. or she may ha
le been frozen in and will some day q
IS pear before the eyes Of On Antarc'
a exploring party to cause surprise q
q consternation.s II 1t be SO then b
IS captain will be found aboard sof HI
,e perhaps sitting in his chair at tai
t. For bending over hfs Iog-book. but