Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-03-03
CHAPTER XVII.
An EVIL Spirit.


We sailed from the Bay OF Matanzas
at 2 o'clock a. m. on the 30 OF April. |
bound for the Cape OF Good Hope,
which We were fsted never TO reach.
The Eugene had been freighted for
that colony with a rich cargo OF mo-
lasses. sugar. coffee. and tobacco. and
arrangements had been made that from
Cape Town she would be chartered for
London. Thus had fair prospect OF
seeing nearly a half OF this terrestrial
globe before repassed my good old
fathers threshold at Elsmere.
earnestly hoped that We might
encounter no more waterspouts or tor
nadoes. as they were not at all 10 my
taste: but from other causes than phe-
nomena or the war Of the elements II
| vas my fortune, or. rather. my mis-
/ fortune. TO undergo such peril and suf-
fering as were far beyond my coneep-
ton or anticipation.
| BY o'clock on the morning OF our
departure the light on Piedras Key
was bearing south by east, sinking into
the waves astern. and going out as we
babe a long farewell to the lovely
shores OF Cuba.
Three OF our men had died OF yell
low fever In hospital. so We sailed from
Matanzas with ten able-bodied hands.
exclusive OF three ship boys, the cap
tain, first and second mates.
In the waters. after the rainy sea-
son, the sky is so cloudless In the fore
noon that the heat of the sun becomes
almost insupportahle; thus we were
soon glad TO resort TO the use of wind
sails rugged down the open skylight Ia
an awning over the quarterback for
GOODNESS. aud to skids for the proven
ton Of blisters on the sides of the brig
hut In the starry night the land-wind
which comes OF these fertile isles
! laden with the rich aroma of theil
r snice- growing savannas. is beyond de
, scrlption grateful and delicious
, without any incident worth record
ing we ran through the sea OF th'
/ windward Isles. thence along the coas
! n, South America. and when we ap
nroached the calm attitudes. as tina
= tract of the ocean near the equator Il
named. we became sensible of the over
n rowering IL crease of heat. while tn
. br.ezes were but tanning ones" a
tho sailors term those which, under tn
A aouhle influence OF the air and motion
~ the hull. are just sufficient to max
!. the lighter canvas collapse and swell
: again.
we we're soon aware of other an
advances than mere heat. for now
eoemed as II there was an evil spiri
on hoard the Eugene, and that nothin
vent right within or about her
;, The crew sulked and Quarrele
= among themselves as II the demon c
y mischief lurked In the vessel, and dali
something unfortunate occurred. ia
wards or braces gave way, by which tn
yards were thrown auckland in on
Instance the brig nearly lost her mair
mast Standing and running riggin
,,ore found to be mysteriously frette'
ana even cut. as II by knife; an
then the crew whispered together
A,tonio el Cubano-that horrid, darI
:, ,,ysterious fellow. whose charaet'
= none of us could fathom.
- twice our compasses went wron
!, aud remained so for days. and befol
n Tho cause was discovered the Euseh
ID had drifted far from her course
;. This varying was inexplicable' UNI
q. u,slop. who set himself to watch, al
;, ,roouently saw Antonio lowering ne'
,,o binnacle at night, unshipped u
:, compass box and found there were col
., oealed near 1t an iron marlinspike
AZ ans side and lump of tailow on u
~ o,her either of which was sui'icie'
ea 20 AFFECT the magnetic needle.
ny " AFTER their removal the compa
..arled as well as before, the ere
~ ~ we're strictly questioned; all vowed
81 W., ignorance OF the transaction, a,
w Antonio summoned every saint IN !.
ns snsn,sh calendar to attest his Inn
rs, sonce but none, however, appeare
~ Ths crew now felt convinced tnS''