The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-05-12
CHAPTER XVIII.

command was ordered to proceed 10
the East Indies by the western route
through the Stats of Magellan into
the Pacific ocean-it being still I'M
agined, Notwithstanding previous fall
ures. that this route offered facilities
which might shorten the passage TO
the Spice Islands.
The vessels comprising the fleet
were the Lion, of forty-four guns
bearing the admiral's flag; the bort, OF
thirty-six guns, with the commodores
pennant-to which Philip was appoint
ed; the Zuyder Zee, of twenty; the
Young Frau, of twelve, and ketch OF
four guns, called the Schevelling.
The crew of the Vrow Katerina were
divided between the two larger YES
sells; the others, being smaller, were
easier worked with fewer hands Every
arrangement having been made, the
boats were hoisted up, and the ships
made sail. For ten days they were baf-
fed by light winds, and the victims
to the scurvy increased considerably on
board of Philips vessel. Many died
and were thrown overheard; others
were carried down to their hammocks.
The newly appointed commodore,
whose name was Avenhorn, went on
board of the admirals vessel, to report
the state of the vessel and to suggest,
as Philip had proposed to him, that
they should make the coast OF South
America, and endeavor by bribery or
by force to obtain supplies from the
Spanish inhabitants or the natives. But
to this the admiral would not listen.
He was an imperious, bold and obsti-
nate man, not to be persuaded or con-
WINGED, and with little feeling for the
sufferings of others. Tenacious OF be-
ing advised, he Immediately rejected
a proposition which, had 1t originated
with himself, would probably have
been Immediately acted upon, and the
commodore returned on board his YES
sci, not only disappointed, but irritat-
ed by the language used toward him.
A week passed away and the fleet
had made little progress. In each ship
the ravages Of the fatal disease be-
came more serious, and the commodore
had but twenty men able to do duty
Nor had the admiral's ship and the
other vessels suffered less The COM
modore again went on board to reit-
crate his proposition.
Admiral Rymelandt was not only a
stern. but vindictive man. He was
aware of the propriety of the sugges-
ton made by his second In command;
but. having refused it, he would not
acuuiesce; and he felt revengeful
against the commodore, whose counsel
he must now either adopt, or, by re-
fusing it, be prevented from taking the
steps so necessary for the preservation
of his crew and the success of his voy-
age. Too proud to acknowledge him
self in error, again did he decidedly re-
fuse, and the commodore went back to
his own ship The fleet was then
within three days of the coast, steering
to the southwark for the Straits of Ma
gellan, and that night, after Philip had
returned to his cot, the commpdore
went on deck and ordered the course
of the vessel to be altered some points
more to the westward The night was
very dark, and the Lion was the only
ship which carried a poop-lantern, so
that the parting company of the bort
was not perceived by the admiral and
the other ships Of the fleet. When
Philip went on deck the next morning
he found that their consorts were not
in sight. He looked at the compass,
and. perceiving that the course was al
tered. inquired at what hour and by
whose directions. Finding that it was
Inv his superior officer, he, of course,
said nothing. When the commodore
came on deck he stated to Philip that
he felt himself warranted in not COM
nlvYng with the admiral's orders, as 1t
would have been sacrificing the whole
ship's company. This was, indeed,
true.
In two days they made the land,
and running into the shore, perceived
large town and Spaniards on the
beach They anchored at the mouth
of the river, and hoisted English col
ora when a boat came on board to ask
them who they were and what they
roouired The commodore replied
tbat the vessel was English, for he
Lnew that the hatred of the Spanish
for the Dutch was so great that, If
Known to belong to that nation, he
you'd have no chance of procuring
anv supplies except by force. He
stated that he had fallen in with a
snanish vessel, complete wreck, the
whole of the crew being afflicted with
the scurvy; that he had taken the men
ont who were now in their hammocks
below. as he considered it cruel to
leave so many of his fellow-creatures
to perish, and that he had come out
of his course to land them at the first
Spanish port he could reach. He re-
ouested that they would Immediately
send on board vegetables and fresh
provisions for the sick men, whom 1t
- o.