Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-03-06

~N~NstsAA3 'Fob dS Haul DCCOlAiG lIIGQ Ol the lonely situation, and wanted to strike a bargain to be towed into port. When figure was named he declared he would never pay half that sum, and some hot words following, he seized a pistol and drove the strangers into their boat. Six or seven days later the wreck was fallen in with during a gale by Q French ship, but as the sea was running too high and the hulk seemed to be making good wealth CT of it nothing was done towards res cuing the solitary man seen aboard. A week later she was overhauled by the English bark Endeayor, which had re- ceived notice of the desire of the own CTS 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 tho latitude of the Cape and drifting to the south. Capt. Me Donald, placidly smoking a cigar and seeming to be clear of all anxiety, re- eeived the mate of the Endeayor in a 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 if three or four men could be had without 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 Endeayor believed that loneliness and anxiety had affected his mind to considerable extent. While he was obstinate minded and had 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- deavor offered him fair terms in several directions, and it was only after Me Donald had rejected them that a 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 them off. When no atten- ton was paid to his threats he opened fire and killed the mate and 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 l ran across the dereIiet for the second time. 1 was now second mate of the English brig Morning star," bound for Sydney with a general cargo. After we had made our sounding and were ready to bear up for the Cape, we got fierce gale from the northwest which drove us far to the south of our proper course. The gale lasted for 40 hours, and during most of this time we were hove to. Ten hours before the gale broke we discov- cred the hulk of the Highland Chief about mile to the west of us. She was drifting broadside to the seas, which broke over her every moment and sent i spray 90 feet high, and why she didn't eapsize was something no sailor could make out. It was bad enough with us, 1 lying to under storm try-sail and taking the great seas head on, but aboard of that hulk the pitching and | tossing must have been something i fearful. We saw no signs of life aboard l of her until the storm abated. Then Capt. Mcdonald appeared on deck and i took a look at us through his spy glass. It was the intention of the captain of the Morning Star" to make a prisoner of him, and seize the wreck in the interests of the cargo owners. was sent away to board her as soon as the seas would permit, and the plan was that the four men pulling the boat should follow me on deck at the first opportunity and rush upon the cap tain. The Highland Chief presented most desolate appearance. Much of l her bulwarks had been torn away by the seas, her paint had faded and peeled off and her sides were covered with mold and patches of grass. I was helped on board by Capt. Me i Donald, who expressed no surprise at my presence. He was unshaven and unkempt, and had a wild look in his eyes, but his talk was rational enough.
 q know what you and all of the oth- CTS are after--the salvage-but I tell you that unless I can sail this hulk into port no other man shall! I made oath to that months ago, and I will keep that oath though I drift about for ten years!"
 'No one will take ne off alivei" he muttered, and he returned to the sub- ject of spars and men. While we talked the four sailors boarded the wreck to carry out the other part of the plan, but one of them stumbled and fell with Q great noise and tllis was near bring ing about a tragedy. The man jumped for a pistol before I could move, and at the muzzle of it forced the five of us to retreat to our boat. That ended any chance we had, and after an hour the Morning Star" sailed away and 1 left him. That was the last time man or wreck was seen by mortal eye. Men of-war hunted for her for months and a hundred merchantmen kept look out, but she was never again reported. It is possible that she may have been battered to pieces in q storm, but there was more likelihood that she drifted down into the great sea south of the !