The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-23

soundings down in that neighborhood,
sighted the wrecked sealer, and though
the sea was terrific boat crew under
the leadership Of the chief bo' suns
mate, was put off from the wer ship to
succor the sealer crew. The chief
bO sun mate was not man notable
for nerve. He had, in fact, shown
the white feather in two or three mix
ups he had with other chief petty
officers of his ship, and he had lost
prestige among the men forward for
this reason. When the man-o' war
got within hundred feet or so Of
the sealer, which was rapidly going to
pieces, the crew Of the succoring boat
saw, with considerable disgust, that
all hands aboard the scalcr, including
the skipper, were boiling drunk, and
were standing maundering TO one
another, waiting for the last lurch Of
their ship, instead Of making an effort
to clear the life boats of the davits.
1t was impossible for the war ships
boat to get alongside the wrecked
sealer on account Of the giant seas.
The chief bo'sun's mate, who had
hitherto lacked the nerve to take his
own part in fo'c'sle squabbles, didn't
intend to let it go at that, however.
He leaped suddenly into the sea, and
he had navy pistol stuck into the
bosom of his mastering shirt when he
leaped. When he drew near to the
distressed sealcr the seas slammed him
against the ships sides time and
again before he was able to clutch at
rail chain to pull himself aboard
He succeeded in climbing aboard final
ly, howevcr, and then he made race
forward to where the crew, including
the skipper and mates. we're huddied
around rum cask, soaking themselves.
The chief bo' suns mate hoped into
the middle of the gang of drunkards,
whipped out his big navy pistol and
made the bluff Of his life. The bluff
went.
"Cut away the boats, yc sots, and
take chance, or I'll put an ounce of
lead into every drunken dog Of yc !"
he yelled.
He covered the crew with his gun
as he spoke, and his attitude sobered
the men. They numbered out of the
foe sic and, despite their half help
less condition, they got two long boats
clear of the davits, and all hands,
nineteen men in all of the sealer's
crew, got at the oars in the nick of
time. The bo' suns mate went along
in one of the long boats, and, followed
by the man-o' wars boat, they all
made for the American war ship,
which was hove to quarter of mile
away. The sealer went to pieces ten
minutes after the crew had left her.
The crew was taken to Honolulu by
the war ship. The chief bo'sun's
mate was afterward regarded by his
shipmates as man who could only be
carried along u certain number of
knots.
Commander Thomas, formerly of the
gunboat Bennington, had his life
saved aboard that ship by Chingalese
mess attendant il an odd sort Of way.
He was doing bit Of inspecting on
the berth deck, aft, one afternoon,
when the executive officer Of the ship
came to the head of the after berth
deck ladder and shouted down below
to anybody within hearing:
is the captain below there p
Commander Thomas heard the call,
and, without making any reply to the
question, started from the pay Office
for the ladder, intending to go above
to the main deck to see what the first
lieutenant wanted. The hatch right
at the foot of the ladder had been
oaTeiess'y left open by seaman who
had gone forward for bit Of gear, aad
it was dark On the berth deck. The
commander had his eyes raised to the
head of the ladder, anyhow, as he ap-
preached the ladder, and had ne made
another step he would have plunged
to the bottom Of the deep hatch and
been mangcd to bits. He was ares
ted by hearing piercing voice behind
him cxclaim
Damn the shippers eyes Damn
the shippers eyes T.
With his foot still raised to take
tho step that would have plunged him
into the hatch, Commander Thomas
turned his head suddenly.
who's that p he asked.
Then the Cingalese mess attendant,
leaping out of the darkness, he'd the
skipper clutched by the sleeve, and
iorl-od him honL e.orr A. 80. l.x.I