The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-25
ON A CHOLERA SHIP.
Plague, Munity and Heroism on the
High Sens.
From Chambers Journal.

water; the snip rolieu gentIy on tne oily
swell. with all her sans-even to the roy
ais-set, to catch the slightest stir. The
deaths continued with alarming rapidity,
and then, as Lampsey had said, there
was actually nothing wherewith to
weight the corpses. The steward, Ross,
the Scotch sailor lad, and one or two of
our own private native servants-under
the stimulus of reward paid down on the
nail az SO much healthier mouths and
noses muffied in carbolic saturated tow
els, constituted the burial party. These
men, penetrating tween decks, dragged
the corpseS up the hatchway, across the
deck and pushed them through the gang
way doors, just as they were, for there
was little time and less inclination to sew
them up in canvas, as had been done at
the outset. Being unweighted, the bodies
refused to sink; the sharks, moreover.
did not appear 10 fancy them, and, being
impelled by the same current. they kept
by the ships side. bobbing up and down,
rolling over now on their backs, now
face up in the most horribly grewsome
fashion. We in the cuddy were fast be-
coming dernoralized as well; then the
wretched Punjabs crowded at the doors
and appealed to us in piteous strains,
invoking Allah TO grant us a wind, and
imploring us 10 pray to God with the
same object. What could we do? We
told them that we should hail the first
steamer and get her to tow us into
wind which would not only fill our sails,
but blow the cholera out of the ship. In
the meantime, we exhorted them to be
patient and obey the doctor In all things.
Several steamers passed. going in the
same direction, but too far off to com
rnunicate. At last on the tenth day of
the calm, we sighted a two-funnel steam
er hull down in our wake. She came on
slowly, and as she drew abreast of us
about mile away we holsted our dis
tres signal and anxiously awaited the re-
suit In a few minutes she replied,
whcreupon we displayed whole line
Of bunting; on reading which she altered
her course and ranged up to within speak
ing distance.
steamer ahoy!! shouted our skipper
through his trumpet. What steamers
that?"
aWest Indianw beloved voice from
the others bridge; "Jeddah 10 BOMBAY.
What ships that?'
"Zenobia Annesley Bay to Bombay"
"What's the matter"
Cholera! Will you tow us through the
straits?''
ourselves. Can We help you otherwise?
Have you a doctor"'
Yes"
Want medicines?'
mo, thanks: have lots Goodby"
"Goodbyv'
In another minute she put up her helm
and resumed her course
There's no 'elp fort but to wait for
the next" said the skipper.
True, there was no help for it, so we
put on the best face possible and call
ed on cur fortitude and patience to aid
US.
Presently the crew again came aft, this
time on their own initiative their demean
or more truculent than before. Whether
the Disappointing mt had irrilated them. or
whether, owing to the existing dislocated
state Of affairs, they had managed to gain
access TO the spirit room, l do not know,
but their bearing now was mutinous.
Capt Hutchinson" called Lampsey
roughly from the main deck.
.Well?" replied the skipper. going to
the rail, whittier We all followed him.
we amt a-soin to stand this here no
furrer-we ANTI"
"Ain't yer? Suppose you think as that
there steamboat with arr a lung could a
towed a twelve hundred shiP-do yer?'
What we thinks or doesn't think amt
neither here nor there. but tell yer what,
this. ships a coffin--she is, and We amt
a-goin to stop in her-we amt. Jest
yer come along to the fo'castle and take
a Whit O. the stink as comes through
the cracks in the bulkheads, and then say
IL Christian sailormen can stand it any
lcnser!'
Ave patience. can't yer? Another
steamboatll be along presently, and Wen
stop err
I'VE calkilate as we've drifted pretty
considerable out o the course, and nee
a craftll be a'comin this way so we've
made up our minds what ter do, and have
come 10 give yer all ehanst in wild as"
well, out with it! what ave yer made
up yer minds to do?'
TAKE to the boats. and leave the tub
and the niggers to themselves"
"Yes?"
They'll all be dead afore week. so
will US il we stop here. The ship is sar
tin to be picked up by some darned sal
wager"
well, all ave to say is replied the
captain, leaning over the rail and speak
ing impressively, that the first as touches
lift or tackle I'll put a built through
i'm as sure as God made little apples"
81 guess more nor one can play at that
gamer' exclaimed Lampsey shaking his
fist at the captain Come on, mates! ne
added to his fellows and the whole crowd
made off TO the forecastle. A storm was
brewing and we unanimously ranged our
selves on the side of law and order. l
and the other passengers fished out our
revovers, loaded them, and stuck them in
our belts; the skipper similarly armed
himself and the officers and several of
us descending the poop ladder cast loose
the two small brass guns which the ship
carried. and trunded them into the cud-
dy Rob, Corsy, the steward and the lad
Ross all came aft, while the crew gather
ed in clusters on the forecastle head. ap-
peared to be deep in consultation. Thus
there ensued lull. We were in the cud-
dy talking over the state of affairs, Ross
at the wheel. and OKelly, the chief mate
on deck looking out for steamers The
poor plegue-stricken Punjabis frequently
came to the dor and asked If there were
any signs of a wind, for they had evil
IDENTIFY become imbued with the truth of
what we had told them earlier in the day
that a breeze in all proba bility would
rid them OF the scourge. The atmosphere
was dense and hot without the slightest
breath of air, and We sat anxious and
watchful, expecting at any moment TO
come to open loggerheads with the crew.
Below therew suddenly called O'Kelly
through the skylight
"'Ullow responded the skipper
Sure, sir, ID look black and threaten
ing to the west; It's breeze of wind. I'm
thinking"
At the welcome words we all followed
the Captain, and rushed on deck. The
mate pointed TO the west. and, true
enough, the horizon in that direction pre-
scented dark brown aspect. There was
something in the air, too-in the oppres-
sive stillness-that presaged an atmos-