Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-21

Tho neet under Admiral Rymelandt's
command was ordered to proceed to the
East Indies by the western route, through
the strait of Magellan into tho Pacific
ocean-it being still imagined, .notwith.
standing previous failures, that this route
offered facilities which might shorten the
passage to the Spice islands.
The vessels composing the fleet were tho
Lion OF "A guns, bearing tho admiral'a
flag; the. bort of SO guns, with the com.
modore's pennant-to which Philip wal
appointed tho Zuyder Zee Of 30; the Young
Frau of 10, and a ketch Of 4 guns, called
the Scheyelling.
The crew of the Yrow Katerina were
divided between the two larger vessels;
the others, being smaller, were easier
worked with fewer hands. Every arrange
m having been made, the boats wers
hoisted up, and the ships made sail. Fox
ten days they were baffled by light winds,
and the victims to the sourvy increased
considerably on board of Philips weasel.
Many died and were thrown overheard,
and others were carried down 10 their
hammocks.
The newly appointed commodore, whose
name was Ayenhorn, ven on board Of the
admiral, to report the state of the vessel
n to suggest, as Philip had proposed to
him, that they should make the coast Of
South America, and endeayor by bribery
or by force to obtain supplies either from
the Spanish Inhabitants or the natives.
But to this the admiral would not listen.
He was an imperious, bold, and obstinate
man, not to be persuaded or convinced,
and with little feeling for tho sufferings
OF others. Tenacious of being advised, he
Immediately rejected a proposition which,
had it originated with himself, would
probably have been Immediately acted
upon; and the commodore returned on
board his vessel, not only disappointed,
but irritated by the language used toward
him.
What are we to do, Captain Wander
decken? you know too well our situation
1T is impossible we can continue long at
sea; If we do the vessel will be drifting at
the mercy Of the waves, while the crew
die o wretched death in their hammocks.
At present, we have 40 men left; in ten
days moro we shall probably have but 20;
for as the labor becomes moro severe, so
do they drop down the faster. Is it not
better to risk our lives In combat with the
Spaniards than die here like rotten sheeppn
II perfectly agree with you, commo-
dore," replied Philip; but still we must
obey orders. The admiral is an infsxible
man."
And a cruel n l rave a great mind
to part company in the night, and II he
1nds fault, I will justify myself to the di-
rectors on my return"
do nothing rashly. Perhaps when day
by day he finds his own ships company
more weakened he will SEQ the necessity
of following your advice"
A week had passed away after this con-
versation, and the neet had made little
progress. In each ship the ravages Of tho
fatal disease became more serious, and, as
the commodore had predicted, he had but
30 men really able to do duty. Nor had
the admiral's ship and the other vessels
suffered less. The commodore again went
on board to reiterate his proposition.
Admiral Rymelandt was NOT only .
stern, but a yindiotiye man. He was
aware of the propriety of the suggestion
made by his second in command, but hay
ing refused it, he would not acquiesce;
and he felt revengeful against the commo-
dore, whose counsel he must now either
adopt, or by refusing 1t be prevented from
taking the steps SO necessary for tho pros
orvation Of his crew n the success OF his
voyage. Too proud to acknowledge him
self In error, again did he decidedly refuse,
and the commodore went back to his own
ship. The fleet was then within three
days of the coast, steering to the south-
ward for the strait of Magellan, and that
night, after Philip had returned to his
cot, the commodore went on deck and or
dered the course of the vessel to be altered
some points more to the westward. The
night was very dark, and the Lion was
the only ship which carried a poop lantern,
SO that the parting company of the bort
was not perceived by the admiral ard the
other ships Of the feet.
When Philip went on deok next morn
ing, he found that their consorts were not
in sight. He looked at the compass, and
perceiying that the course was altered, in
quired at what hour and by whose direc-
lions. Finding that it was by his superior
officer, he Of course said nothing. When
the commodore came on deck he stated to
Philip that he felt himself warranted In
not complying with the admiral's orders
as it would have been sacrificing the
whole ships company. This was, indeed,
true.
In two days they made the land, and
running into the shore, perceived a largo
town, and Spaniards on the beach. They
anchored at the mouth of the river, and
hoisted English colors, when a boat came
on board to ask them who they wero and
what they required. The commodore re-
piled that the vessel was English, for he
knew that the hatred of the Spanish to the
Dutch was so great that, II known to be-
long to that nation, he would have no
of procuring any supplies except
by force. He stated that no had fallen in
with q Spanish vessel, a complete wreck,
the whole of the crew being afflicted with
the scurvy; that he had taken the men
out, who were now in their hammocks be-
low, as he considered 1t cruel to leave SO
many of his fellow creatures to perish, and
that he had come u OF his course to land
them at the first Spanish fort he could
reach. BE requested that they would Inn
mediately send on board vegetables and
fresh provisions for the slck men, whom
1t would be death to remove until after Q
few days, when they would be a little re-
and added, that In return for their
assisting the spaniards, he trusted the
would also send supplies for his