The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
CHAPTER ".
ON BOARD THE ALASKA.

d AS Cn1neSe Jimmie, one OF the bedroom
y stewards Of the mail steamer Alaska
concisely put 1t. there was NELLY he
:. play up topside this boat" She wa
I crowded with passengers. all. to agai
s quote Jimmie, first chop 'cep one fel
. low-no CANNON; and all bound 10
home via Australia and New Zealand
To mention only a few of the distinguish
, cd tourists in charge Of Captain Robert
' on this especial trip. there were tn
l Duke and Duches Of Plinlimmon (ne
: Glitter, Of Chicago, Lord John Wardoul
an elderly aristocrat on his travels; thu
Grenfell H. Joneses (oiD; the Stoep val
, Beers New York Six Hundred; tn,
Pullman ]. Boggses (railways); together
with the whole Of the celebrated Crysta
Palace Opera Company.
Try and imagine the commotion, then
: amongst these fine people when,
couple Of days after leaving Honolulu, II
was discovered that all, or, at any rate
the best portion, of their jewelry was
missing!
AS usual on each trip, the Alaska's
passengers had been directed to place
their valuables in the ships strong room
otherwise her owners would accept nc
responsibility. So the Plinlimmon fam
lily diamonds, the celebrated Grenfell H.
Joneses pearls, the price Boggses emer-
aids and rubies. the historic opal neck
lace OF the Van Bocrs, in addition to
many other less celebrated gems, includ-
ing those owned by the ladies of the
opera company, were given over to the
care Of the purser for safe keeping.
Contrary to the usual custom in most
British mail boats. the captain of
the American-colon Alaska held the
only key to the strong room. Nor
was there any duplicate. And every
Saturday afternoon it was his Gus
tom to visit the big steel chamber with
On the very first occasion of carrying out
| this duty after leaving Honolulu 1t was
discovered that the shelves were swept
as bare as tooth Of every article ex-
| cept garnet necklace belonging to Mad
| anne Francesca Perdita (soprano), which
the thief had apparently declined to ac-
cepts at Its owners description of ruby"
Poor Captain Roberts nearly had an
apoplectic fit when he realized the terri
Bile thing that had happened to him And
there was nobody with whom to share
the responsibility. Nor. il any purpose
could have been served by SO doing, was
there any possibility of keeping the mat
ter secret, as some Of the personages bad
made application for their jewels to ap-
pear with at fancy ball that very night.
So that, presently, the scene in the Alas
ka's saloon fully justified Chinese Jim
mics archaic criticism.
AS for the men, they took refuge in the
smoke-room whilst the captain was being
baited below. And the only soul to take
his part was the young and pretty newly
made duchess-also one of the heaviest
losers
"oh." said she. to the clamoring crowd,
give the man rest, can't you? What's
the use Of you all making such a song
about the things? That won't bring 'em
back, will it? Let up awhile, and try get
the hang of the contract before you drive
the Cap clean OF his chump. Here, Duke"
she cried to her husband. who was in
their stateroom, you go with the captain |
and get that old Wardour and couple Of |
others and try and thrash out who's the |
smarty. You can bet there's some swell |
snide amongst us: and we'll have to fix |
him. Take it from me, l amt going to |
lose those stones if 1 can help; but It's |
no use raising Robbery and doing moth
ing. only break the skipper up worse'n |
he Is already
The Duke. a pale. manufacturing
man. to whom the Glitter mil
lions had come Just in the nick Of time to
keep him out OF the Bankrutcy Court,
obediently stepped forward, and taking
the captains arm led him away from the
raging babel of reproachings. sobbings.
and wailings of which he had formed the
objective centre.
AT the council presently held in the
Lord Wardour was the first to |
propose offering a reward, putting his
name down for ESQ AS he very truly OBJ
served. 1t was OF little use attempting
more radical methods until all others had
failed. A search, for instance amongst
some four hundred people would pretty
surely be futile; might also only have the
effect of frightening the thief into drop
ping his booty overheard. The reward, be
thought, should be offered uncondition-
lilly. Probably the thief would be found
amongst the stewards or other saloon
servants: and he would be but too glad
o get rid of the plumber for a round sum. |
Pullman ]. Boggs. on the contrary. was
Ill for drastic measures-threats and a
borough searching-first of all the three {
lasses, then the quarters Of the crew and
iremen. But, after a lot Of talk. the ma
ority came round to Lord Wardour's ;
Jews. and 1t was determined to offer a
eward of f500 which was subscribed ON
he spot-the Duke giving half the sum. :
Then the key Of the strong room was 1
landed round for inspection, the captain .
EXPLAINING that, to the best of his belief. {
/ had never been out Of his possession {
t least. he had not missed it. And as =
hose gentlemen present were aware !.
avlng often seen him doing so when they
IGNORED his stateroom with their pres .
nee, O. nights for quiet game of euchre :
1T was his invariable custom to take the !,
ey out of his desk and place it beneath !.
is pillow. always locking it up again in .,
he morning |
THAT" remarked Lord Wardour. u
midst laughter, seems to me to narrow u
own the enquiry somewhat"
His lordship was a man apparently well a.
asst middle age, whose thick brown hair -
,oked as II 1t had been sprinkled with =
Dur, some of which had stuck on In patch =,
): his heavy moustache. too, was much
rayer on one side than the other, whilst -
ut of yellow. bilious face pair Of :,
ark eyes peered through gold trimmed -,
He walked with a slight | ~
mp, and 1t was rumored that. although :,
sole possession of deck cabin he was -
,mparatively poor man. Also that he al
Id passed much Of his time in the East, e.
hich fact was held to be accountable a,
r the way in which he treated his bed =,
,om steward, Chinese Jimmie, whom he =,
vore at necessarily, and had once or q,
5ice even struck for some alleged care y,
ssness. Naturally. Jimmie resented =,
is sort of thing and complained to the m
lrser But as the "darned Chow IVES I %
lily working his passage he got no re- dr
'ess. And some one who had, out OF g,
ere curiosity, enquired the reason for in
s lordship's harsh treatment OF the m
'oy," he explained succinctly and salts M
ctorily, Because do hate dam Chin bs
- Which statement, voicing that of all of
e Americans on board met with espe- m
al approval as emanating from a mem In
r of the effete and prejudiced British We
istocracy. ba