New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17
ON A CHOLERA SHIP.
PLAGUE, MUTINY AND HEROISM ON THE
HIGH SEAS
From Chambers's Journal.

slightest stir. T. e dea rs continued with alarm
ing 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 at so much healthier
mouths and noses mufTed in carbolic saturated
towels, constituted the burial party. These
men, penetrating tween decks, dragged the
. cOrpSeS up the hatchWay, across the deck and
pushed them through the gangway doors, just
as they were, for there was little time ana less
| inclination to them up in canvas, as had
been done at the outset Being unWelghted the
bodies refused to sink; the sharks moreover,
did not appear to fancy them, and, being i'm
PEELED by the same current they kept by the
ships side, bObbing up and down, rolling over,
their backs, now face up. in the most
horribly greWsOme fashion. We in the cuddy
were fast Incoming dernOraIiZed as we'll: then
the wretched Punjabis crowded at the doors
/ and appealed TO us in pteous strains, invoking
Allah to grant wind, and imploring us to
pray to God with the same object. What could
do? We told them that should hail the
first steamer and get her to tow into wind
which would not only fill our sails but blow the
cholera out of the ship. In the mean time we
eXhorted them to be patient and obey the doctor
in all things.
Several steamers passed, going in the same di-
rectiOn, but too far off TO communicate. At last,
on the tenth day Of the calm. we sighted a two
funnel steamer bull down in our wake. She
came on slowly and as she drew abreast of US
about mile away We hOisted our distress sig /
nal and anxiousy awaited the result In a few
minutes she replied, WhereupOn We displayed
whole line of bunting; on reading which she
altered her course and ranged up TO within
Steamer ahoy," shouted our skipper through
his trumpet. What steamers that"
West Indian." beloved voice from the /
others bridge; "Jeddah to Bombay What /
,,zenobia Annesley Bay to Bombay"
What's the natter"
cholera! VIII you tow through the
Straits?"
Sorry we can't. Port engine broken down;
much as we do to get along ourselves Can |
we help you otherwise? Have you doctor?"
Want Medicines"
mo, thanks; have lots Goodby."
"Goodbyr'
In another minute she put up her helm and re-
Sumed her course.
There's no 'eIp fort but to wait for the next
True, there was no help for it, so we put on .
the best face possible and called fOrtj- .
tude and patience to aid us
Presently the crew again came aft this time
on their own initiative. their demeanOr more +
truculent than before. Whether the disappoint-
ment had irritated them or whether owing TO F
the existing disocated state of affairs, they had
managed 10 gain access to the spirit room, do /
not know, but their bearing now was mutinous [
Captain HutchinSOn!' called LampSey rough /
ly from the main deck.
''WeI?" replied the skipper, going TO the rail- .
whittier all followed him.
we amt a-gotn' to stand this here no furrer
We amt"
Amt yer? Suppose you think as that there
steamboat with 'arf a lung could a towed a
twelve hundred ship-do yer?"
What 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 ANTI Jest along the /
focastle and take Whit o the stink as comes |
through the cracks in the bulkheads and then |
say if Christian sailOrmen can stand it any
lOnger!"
lave patience. can't yer? Another steam
boatH be along presently, and Wen stop 'er."
We calkilate We've driftei pretty consid- /
cradle out O. the course. and ne'er a craftu be /
a-comin' this way, so we've made up minds |
what ter do, and have come to give yer all
chanst in wild US
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"
'YeS2'
They'll all be Gead afore a week so will us |
if we stop here The ship is sartn TO be picked /
up by some darned salvager."
well, all | ave To say is" replied the cap /
tain, leaning over the rail and speaking i'm |
pressively, that the first touches lift or [
tackle III put a bullet through i'm as sure as I
God made little applest'
4 guess more nor one can play at that camel" |
exclaimed Lampsey, shaking his fist at the cap
tain. Come on, matesl" he added to his fell !
lows, and the whole crowd made off to the fore [
castle \ storm brewing and we unani- |
mouSly ranged ourselves the side of law and |
order l and the ether passengers fiShed out our |
reVOlVerS, loaded them, and stuck them in our /
belts: the skipper similarly armed himself and /
the officers. and several of us descending the |
poop ladder east loose the two small brass guns I
which the ship carried, and trundled them into /
the cuddy. Rob Corsy. the steward and the lad +
Ross all aft. while the crew altered in Z
clusters the forecastle head, appeared to be I
We were in the cuddy, talking over the state OF
aft <f, y.-f,. 4 ~