The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04


there was no doubt that Kettle and his
crew had saved a shiplOad of panic
stricken foreign emigrants. The pride of
race dubbed through the British daily
press in prosaic long primer and double
loaded bourgeois. There was no saying
aloud, We rejoice that an Englishman
has done this thing, after having it proved
to us that 1t was above the foreigners
strength The newspaper man does not
rhapsodies. But the sentiment was there
all the same.
The Flamingo was worked into dock,
and a cheering crowd surged aboard of
her in understandable thousands Strang-
ers came up and wrung Kettles unwilling
hand and dropped tears on his coat
sleeve; and when he swore al Them they
only wept the more ana smiled through
the drops. 1t was magnificent splendid,
gorgeous. Here was a man who said
that England would never lose her proud
place amongst the nations when she could
still find men like Oliver Kelly-or Ket-
tle-or Cutie. or whatever this man was
called, amongst her obscure merchant
captains?
Even Mr.. Isaac Bird caught some of
the general enthusiasm, and withheld for
the present the unpleasant remarks which
occurred TO him as suitable, touching
Kettles neglect of the firms interest, in
favor of parcel of bankrupt foreigners.
But Kettle himself had the subject well
in mind, and whilst the crowd was cheer
ing him he was figuring out the value of
the jettisoned cargo, and whilst pompous
Mr. Isaac was shaking him by the hand
and making a neat speech for the ear
of casual reporters. poor Kettle was con-
juring up visions of the workhouse and
pauper corduroy.
But the fates were moving now in a man
ner which was beyond his experience. The
public. which had ignored his bare exist
ence before for all Of a lifetime suddenly
discovered that he was a hero. and that,
too, without knowing half the facts The
press, with its finger on the publics pulse
published Kettle literature in lavish col
umns. 1t gave twenty different "eye-
witnesses accounts" of the rescue. And
finally it took all the little mans affairs
under its consideration, and settled them
with a lordly hand.
"Who pays for the cargo Capt Kettle
threw overheard" one paper headed an
article while another wrote fervidly about
"Kettle ruined for his bravery" Here
was a new and striking side issue. Should
the weeks hero pay the bill himself OUT
of his miserable savings? Certainly not.
The owners of the Grosser Carl were the
| benehting parties, and It was only just
that they should take up the expense. 50
the entire press wired off to the German
firm, and next morning were able TO pub.
fish a positive assurance that, of course
| these grateful foreigners would reimburse
ali possible outlay
The subject of finance once broached it
was naturally discovered that the nero
toiled for a very meager pittance; that he
was getting on in years. and had a wife
and family depending on him-and-
promptly there opened out the subscrip-
tons lists People were stirred, and the
lists totaled up TO f2.400. which, to some
people, of course, is gided afiiuence.
Now Capt Kettle had endured all this
publicity with a good deal of restiveness.
and had used language TO one or two in
reviewers who managed to ferret him
out which fairly startled them; but this
last move for a pubic subscription made
him furious.
IF they call meeting to give me any,
thing. said he, I'm chuck the money in
their faces and let them know straight
what | think BY James, do they sup
pose I'VE got no pride? Why can't they
| let me alone? If the Crosser Carl people
pay up for that cargo that's al. l want
But the eternal healer time, soothcd
matters down wonderfully. BY the time
| the subscription list had closed and been
! brought together, the Fiamingo had sailed
| for the Mexican Gun, ana Wnen nef cap
| tain returned to find a curt. formal letter
! from a firm of bankers, stating that 70 AGO
| had been placed 10 his credit in their es-
! adjustment he would have been more
than human if he had refused it And
! as a point of fact, after consulting with
| madam his wife, he transformed it into
houses in that terrace of narrow dwell
| ings in Birkenhead which represented the
rest of his savings
This house property was alleged by a
| sanguine agent 20 produce at the rate of
| els per annum apiece, and there were thir-
| ty-six houses. The trade connection" in
| the Mexican Gulf had been very seriously
| damaged. AS was somewhat natural, the
| commercial gentry preferred TO send what
| they had by boats which did not contrive
to meet burning emigranr liners. Ana
| then che second part OF the prophecy
evolved Itself naturally. Messrs. Bird re-
! lleved Capt Kettle from the command,
handed him their check for wnges due
there was no commission 70 be added for
such an unsatisfactory voyage as this last
and presented HIM their best wishes for
| his future welfare.
| Kettle had thought of telling the truth
In print. But the mysterious law OF libel.
which IL is written that all mariners
should dread and never understand, pre-
vented. SO he just went and gave his
views to MIR. Isaac Bird personally and
nrivateiv. threw the ink bottle through the