The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-07-21
A uRewS0ME TALE
Rev Carries Ebsantes Took a Awful Re-
venxe q HIS Tsrmentsrs.

Rev Carlos Ebsaates Took a Awful Re.
vesye % HIS Tsrmestsrs.
In 1856 her Britannia majesty's fri
gate Vernon, fifty guns, Captain Trav-
ers Boothby, was cruising on detached
duty in the Mediterranean narrates
John r. Rathom In the Chicago Times
Herald. She carried an average crew
Of healthy, hearty tackles, end in the
ships company was q chief cook, Car
los Ebrantes-the only foreigner
aboard. He was Portuguese, 30 years
old, a giant in stature, with a magnif-
cent beard and in the PRIME Of man
hood. They had picked him up two
years before when the Vernon was
commissioned for her cruise, and he
bad made himself a general favorite
with all on board save two men. These
two, Ed Hedges, q boatswain's mate.
and David Allen, another petty Off
Ger, did their utmost by a series of
petty prosecutions to make life miser-
able for the 'Portugee." They spoiled
his dishes whenever they could, insult
ed his nationality and made him the
subject of every ribald jest their foul
minds could suggest, seemingly find
ing the greatest amusement in the ter
rible fts Of temper they aroused.
Cne evening the Vernon was beating
her way toward the English Channel,
and later in the day she dropped
anchor of the coast Of Jersey. On the
same day Ebrantes encountered his
prosecutors on the deck. One Of them
tripped him up against his galley door,
the other kicked him as he fell. The
cook said nothing. That evening the
captain gave a dinner party to the
governor Of Jersey and his staff, and
the captain Of the sloop Of war Petrol.
Orders had been issued that caused
Ebrantes and his assistants to surpass
themselves in the preparation of the
menu. 1t was the day Of the old
fashioned dish cover. Those in use on
the Vernon were ponderous silver af-
fairs, with carved handles, and the
ships name and royal arms engraved
on the top, and etiquette demanded
that at a formal dinner the dishes be
brought on and placed before the cap
tain, who himself uncovered the con-
tents of each platter to his guests.
After he had superintendent the pre-
paration of the principal meat dishes
and only waited for the formal order
to "serve" Ebrantes sent his assistants
out Of the galley. Bound and gagged
in two great -four bins where he had
previously secreted them were Allen
and Hedges. When his kitchen was
closed he opened up the bins and
glared steadily Mt his two enemies.
Both thought that, after this light re-
venge, he was about to let them go.
But they were mistaken. Working
himself into frenzy of rage, he pick
ed up a meat Ratchet, and before they
could attempt a struggle had felled
both Of them like oxen with the blunt
side Of 1t.
Over what must have followed in
the next ten minutes 1t Is not pleasant
to dwell, but at the end of that time,
when the assistants were admitted
back into the galley, Ebrantes stood
He told them he had been preparing
the piece de resistance in secret, and
gave orders for the immediate delivery
Of the first platter to the impatient cap
tain and his guests. A young lad.
proud Of the honor, carried it in
through. the covered way astern, and
walking round the long mess table
placed it at the head before the skip
per and waited at attention for the
removal Of the cover.
Lifting his hand briskly with a smile
of anticipation at his guests Captain
Boothby drew of the cover-and
started back in horror. On the dish,
staring at him with terrified and wide
open eyes, were the CHASTITY heads of
his two petty officers.
The dinner party broke up hastily.
A guard was summoned to search for
The murderer but the marines had no
need to hunt very far. Seated on one
Of the flour bins above the headless
bodies of his victims was Ebrantes,
singing q Portuguese song. Taken be-
fore the captain and accused of the
crime, however, his dismeanor
changed. With quivering lips and
pent up agony and hatred in his voice
he poured out tale Of bitter persecu-
ton, Sights and insults. His story
was substantiated willingly enough by
dozens aboard the ship, including both
officers and men. 1t was this testi-
mony that saved him from yard
arm shrift and subsequently caused
the court martial that tried him to
send him to Australia in penal servi-
tude as a life convict, instead Of con-
demning him to death. The words
dangerous in anger" were placed
against his name in the prison records;
he became q mere number ticketed and
put away from the rest Of the world.
One day in 1885 walked through
the corridors of the big convict prison
IN Frcmantle, Western Australia.
Basking in the bright morning sun
shine and talking soothingly to bat
tered yellow-topped cockatoo was an
old mild-mannered man with snow
white hair and beard. He was cary
ing a model of a ship out of a section
Of malice root with big jack knife.
Good morning; you never tire of
coming here to see us, senor."
what ship is it you are modelling"
why, q British vessel. When /
finish it every spar will be thus and
fhus-a Perfect model. 1 know every
stick and bolt. 1t is sold beforehand to
the collector of customs down In the
port. A beautiful day it is. See my