The midland journal., 1899-04-21
DEEP SEA TRAGEDY.
Majesty of the Law ns Represented
by Deputy Marshal Failed to
Terrify Sea Captain.

r'Is this the place where you tie up
s&ips?" asked tarry young man,
broaching into the office of the United
States district attorney.
"Do you see any vessels moored
here?" one of the fippant attaches re-
piled. whereat the seaman blushed dim
ly beneath his tan.
"Wot | want is to libel an old Aooker
tie her up for me wages. I'm an
American, | am, just up from Aus
tralia in the British bark Dirtysides,
and | amt going back"
Ibid the skipper abuse your"
II should say he did, frghtful." Here
the victim of brutal treatment on the
high seas eXpectorated copiously and
gazed about for sympathy. ''rhe grub
schedule provided by law called for
split pea soup twice a week, and the
blasted old Scotch villain served out
whole peas instead. That's why | want
the law on him."
Having made his case clear the bused
seaman swore to the complaint, and a
brand new deputy United States mar
shall was sent to the vessel. This dep
uty had never performed this office,
but armed with the writ, a small ham,
mer and some tacks, he set off to post
the document. He found the Dirtysides
lying head on in her slip and climbed
clumsily over the side. Half a dozen
murderous-looking mariners were
scraping the hardwood rail- with dirks,
the mate stood by with an ak in his
hand, and leaning against the after
house was a broad-built individual in
blue, manicuring his thumb nails with
an enormous jackknife.
SIS Capt. Pelter here?" the deputy
asked gently.
That's me-" said the broad man with
the jackknife.
''l've come to attach your ship on
complaint of sailor" he went on
timorously. Where do | nail up the
notice?"
''They usually tacks 'em on the for
ward side of the mainmast above the
top" replied Capt. Pelter, while a
queer expression crept' from out his
whiskers.
''May / ask where that is s?' queried
the deputy. "I'm new at this business"
'FSuttinly," said the skipper, pointing
to the spot indicated. you climb up
them shrouds, crawl over the rim of the
top and there you are"
Thank you, SIR
"Don't mention it, but let me tell you,
young feller' (there was note of SOL
emn warning in the shippers tones),
you'll never live to tack no notice on
my mainmast."
The awful import of the AK, the sui
len squad with drls, and the menacing
attitude of Capt. Pelter burst upon the
deputy, ard his life blood grew chill.
They knew beforehand of the action
against the vessel, and had prepared
for murder.
"Sir," said the deputy, shaking as
with palsy, don't you know that rep
resent the law of the United States?"
81 don't care bloater what you rep
resent" retorted the skipper, turning
shifty eye upon that imposing rep
resentative. Only mind what l tell
you"
"Do you mean to interfere with the
majesty of the law?'
'Pm not saying what mean to do.
Heave ahead with the job That's
your funeral"
Getting himself together with an
abortive display of nerve, the deputy
staggered across to the main shrouds.
1t wouldn't do to back down as long
as no actual violence had been offered.
The scrapers remained at work, the
mate leaned thoughtfuMy on his ak,
and the skipper pared an opalescent
crescent from his left thumb. Encour-
aged by these apparently peaceful avo-
cations, the deputy started up the rig
ging. 1t then occurred to him that the
buccaneers might plant a shower of
knives between his ribs, for he had read
in youth of certain pirates wonderfully
dexterous in the drk-throwing art. To
gain the top. shield his body above the
wooden platform and call for help was
his only salvation.
Marveling to find himself still alive,
the deputy scrambled over the rim.
There a daredevil desire to perform his
duty in the face of death possessed him.
Turning down the corners of the notice
he placed it against the mast, filled his
mouth with tacks and pulled out the lit
tie hammer. AS he drove the first tack
thesharp end doubled back and emerged
close to the point of entrance.
"Devilish hard wood" he said to him
self, in sort of wild delirium.
He tried another with the same re-
suit. Then he struck smart blow on
the mast, which gave out the ringing
metallic sound of an iron tube. An ap-
palling silence reigned below, and when
the buzzing in his ears, caused by the
sudden rush of blood, had ceased the
deputy peered over the rim of the top.
When the deputy reached the deck he
Imply approached the skipper and
looked at the feet of that master mari
ner.
Got any paste?" he inquired. des-
perately.
"No, I haven't" Capt. Pelter said,
kindly, "but the cook'll mix some -four
and water if you ask him, or you might
stick the notice in my d"-Charles
Dryden, in N. Y. Journal.
Bear Meat IS"D: Three Years.
One of the most interesting studies