The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-05-12
PHANTOM SHIP
The Flying Dutchmon.
~Ur-N CAPTAIN MARRYAT

lows in the last stage or That norrlu
disease-their teeth having fallen out,
gums liberated, bodies full Of tumors
and sores-was quite sufficient, and,
hurrying up from the lower deck, the
officer FASTENED on shore and made his
report.
In two hours a large boat was sent
off with fresh beef and vegetables suf-
ficient for three days supply for the
ships company, and these were imme-
diately distributed among the men. A
letter of thanks was returned by the
commodore, stating that his health was
SO Indifferent as to prevent his COM
ing on shore In person to thank the
governor, and forwarding a pretended
list Of the Spaniards on board, in which
he mentioned some officers and people
of distinction, whom he Imagined
might be connected with the family OF
the governor, whose name and titles he
had received from messenger sent on
board; for the Dutch knew full we'll
the majority of the noble Spanish fam
flies-indeed, alliances had continually
taken place between them previous to
their assertion of their independence.
The commodore concluded his letter
by expressing hope that in day or
two he should be able to pay his re-
spects and make arrangements for the
landing of the sick, as he was anxious
to proceed on his voyage of discovery
On the third day a fresh supply Of
provision was sent on board, and so
soon as they were received the COM
modore, in an English uniform, went
on shore and called upon the governor,
gave long detail Of the sufferings OF
the people he had rescued and agreed
that they should be sent on shore In
two days, as they would by that time
be we'll enough to be moved. After
many compliments he went on board,
the governor having stated his inten-
ton to return his visit on the follow
ing day, If the weather were not too
rough. Fortunately the weather was
rough for the next two days, and it
was not until the third day that the
governor made his appearance. This
was precisely what the commodore
wished.
There is no disease, perhaps, so
dreadful or so rapid in its effects up
on the human frame, and at the same
time so instantaneously checked, as
the scurvy, If the remedy can be pro-
cured. A few days were sufficient to
restore those who were not able to
turn in their hammocks, to their for
mer vigor. In the course of the six
days nearly all the crew of the bort
were convalescent, and able to go on
deck, but still they were not cured.
The commodore waited for the arrival
of the governor, received him with all
due honors, and then, so soon as he
was In the cabin, told him very po-
litely that he and all his officers with
him were prisoners. That the vessel
was a Dutch man-of-war, and that 1t
was his own people, and not Spaniards,
who had been dying of the scurvy. He
consoled him, however, by pointing out
that he had thought it preferable to
sacrifice lives on both sides by taking
them by force, and that his excellen-
cy's captivity would endure no longer
than until he had received on board
sufficient number Of live bullocks and
fresh vegetables to insure the recovery
of the ships company; and In the
meantime not the least insult would be
offered to him. Whereupon the Span
ish governor first looked at the com
modore, and then at the file of armed
men at the cabin door, and then to his
distance from the town; and then call
ed to mind the possibility of his be-
ing taken out to sea. Weighing all
these points in his mind, and the very
moderate ransom demanded, he re-
solved. as he could not help himself, to
comply with the commodore's- terms.
He called for pen and ink, and
wrote an order to send on board inn
mediately all that was demanded. Be-
fore sunset the bullocks and vegeta-
bles we're brought off, and so soon as
they were alongside, the commodore,
with many bows and many thanks, es-
corted the governor to the gangway,
complimenting him with salvo of
great guns, as he had done be-
fore on his arrival. The peo-
pie on shore thought that his
excellency had paid a long visit,
. but as he did not like to &C
knowledge that he had been deceived,
nothing was said about it, at least in
his hearing, although the facts were
soon we'll known. AS soon as the
boats were cleared, the commodore
weighed anchor and made sail, we'll
satisfied with having preserved his
ships company; and as the Falkland
islands, in case of parting company,
had been named as the rendezvous, he
steered for them. In a fortnight he
arrived, and found that the admiral
was not yet there. His crew were
now all recovered, and his fresh beef
was not yet expended, when he per-
ceived the admiral and the three other
xaSeaIe In tho 0fin0