The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-08
The Alaska Pirate.
A Piece of Amateur Detective Work
That Rescued Couple, of Run
Always.
BY CHARLES f. BRIMBLECoM.

BY CHARLES r. BRIMBLECOM.
Late in the summer of 1897 I arrived in
San Francisco seeking my fortune. The
huge. massive buildings. the splendid
stores, the glittering equipages. the glare,
the noise. the hurrying crowds. almost
| hewildered me, and 1 felt that around al
most any corner the fortune 1 was seek
ing must be awaiting me. But it strange
| ly eluded my eager search. For many
| days 1 vainly asked for employment as a
salesman, bookkeeper or bank clerk. for
I felt competent for almost anything,
having just graduated from the high
| school The small sum of money I pos
sessed began to shrink alarmingly. and
my gorgeous dreams to wear a sickly and
faded hue
| The Klondike gold excitement was at
| its height and many vessels were sail
ing for Alaska. 1 often went down to
| the water front to see these expeditions
depart. There was usually large crowd
| on the wharves, and the steamers got
under way with flags flying and whistles
| blowing, and the hardy Adventures on
the decks wildly waving hats and hand
| kerchiefs. Then the crowd gravely drift
| ed back into the city with here and there
| a sobbng woman. An ardent desire came
| upon he to embark for the Klondike, but
| had not enough money to pay the fare,
| much less 90 procure the necessary out
| fit, without which it was utterly folly to
| start So 1 was compelled to abandon
| that idea.
One day while walking one Of the
| principal streets I saw in gilt letters ON
<he upper windows of a large building
the words, Detective Agency" A brill
| liant thought came to me, putting to
/ flight my temporary encouragement.
| Why not apply for employment as a de-
| tective? There was evidently a great
variety of work open to a shrewd and
| clever young man in that capacity, and
| believed that at last the read to fame
| and fortune lay before me.
| I climbed two flights of stairs, and ar
| rived at a glass door on which was In
| scribed: Chiefs Office. Walk In"
entered. A short man with gray mus
| asche stood beside a large office desk. He
| looked at me inquiringly.
| II wish to see the chief" l said.
What do you want TO see him for?" he
asked, with a perceptible Irish accent
II would like to get employment as a
| detective" I replied.
The man sat down at the desk and sur
| Veyed me keenly.
I'm the chief" he said But you're
|
boy. 1t takes exparyience and plenty of
| sand, and often a handy knowledge of
| sun-fghtins to be a detective"
II wish you'd try me, sir" 1 said cour-
| ageousy. I'm young. but l can learn"
True enough" he assented. We'll. I
don't mind giving you little trial Are
YOU willing to take your life in your
hand. me boy?"
Yes, sir" l answered seriously, trying
| 20 avoid turning pale
Very well," he said approvingly. Nov
, of course, you've heard all about the
Klondike gold mines. They're very rich
and the steamers that come from there
are every one loaded with gold-millions
and millions of dollars. Now, there are
train robbers on the land, and there are
pirates the sea. and what finer haul
! for a pirate. do you think, than one of
those Alaska steamers loaded down with
gold dust and nuggets? Now listen care
fully. 1 suspect that there's bloody
| band of pirates fitting out an expedition
| right here in San Francisco for the pur-
pose of capturing some of those steamers.
1 want you to go out and discover them
IL you can Find out where their vessels
| is and how big a crew she carries, and
all about It, But be careful! One false
move, and likely as not you'll be found
floating in the bay tomorrow. Good bye,
and good luck to you"
l reached the street and paused in a
convenient doorway to collect my
| thoughts. Here was work cut out for
met at first resolved to begin by pur-
chasing large pistol, but further refec-
ton assured me that 1 would have to de-
pend on shrewdness and skill to win sue
cess. To obtain good results 1 must re-
main unsupported and undiscovered by
the pirates. So 1 set out for the water
| front.
Cd oil fEa yhorx l.
on the alert. 1 examined two vessels
that were loading for the North, but ev-
| erything about them seemed honest and
| commonplace. l continued my patrol and
at last, at a small remote wharf 1 found
a steam schooner bound for Alaska. Her
name was the Gadhy, and learned that
| she was to sail that very afternoon.
| Something about the craft 1 do not
know why. aroused my suspicious. The
sailors were as busy as ants loading pro-
| visions and stores. l approached and
| tried to engage one of them in conversa-
| tion but he repulsed me in rude and sur
| ly manner. A large new deckhouse had
been built on the schooner. evidently to
| accommodate quite a number of men.
Even at that retired place there were
| few idlers gazing and gosspng. I Joined
| them, and sat down on an overturned
| boat, determined to watch everything that
| occurred. The first confirmation to my
| suspicious came from two roughly dressed
| men who paused near me.
| They say the Gadhy is going to Cop
| per river" said one, with kind of sneer.
| They can tell that to the marines"
| Nav" replied his companion. she
| draws too much water. She couldn't git
| within twenty miles of the mouth"
| And they laughed as they walked away
| In an hour or two some heavy cases
| were brought down and carefully hoisted
| on board. They were marked Mining
| Machinery" but from their appearance
| suspected that they contained cannon
Dinner time came and passed, but l still
| remained at my post OF observation. The
| sailors were working with greater speed
| and toward 4 o'clock a large party of men
| came down and went on board. They were
| hardy, rugged looking fellows. Some OF
| them carried guns, and in at least two rolls
| Of blankets 1 discovered heavy revolvers
in holsters. Among the passengers l saw
| boy about my own age. He wore a fur
cap and heavy wooden coat of Arctic
cut He carried a Winchester rifle on his
shoulder, and a big revolver and sheath
| knife in his belt. large, shaggy black
dog kept at his heels. He strutted about
very proudly, although the other passen-
| gers guyed him great deal.
1t was now past the hour for sailing,
and everything seemed to be on board
yet there was a long delay, and at last