The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-07-07
ON A CHOLERA SHIP.
Plague, Mutiny And Heroism On The
 High Seas.

Plague, Mutiny And Heroism On Tht
 High Seas.
 Now came a most trying time Not 2 breath of wind ruffled the surface of the water; the ship rolled gently on the oily swell, with all her sails-even to the royals-set, to catch the slightest stir The deaths continued with alarming ra- pidity, and then, as Lampsey had said there was actually nothing wherewlth to weight the corpses. The steward Ross, the Scotch sailor lad, and one or two of our own private motive servants under the stimulus of reward paid down on the nail at SC much head their mouths and noses mufiled in car bolic 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 l little time and less inclination to sew them up in canvas, as had been done at the outset. Being unweighted, the bodies refused to sink; the sharks, moreover, did not appear to fancy them and, being impelled by the same cur rent they kept by the ships side, bob ping up and down, rolling over now on their backs, now face up, in the most horribly grewsome fashion. We in the cuddy were fast becoming demoralized as well; then the wretched Punjabis crowded at the doors and appealed to us in piteous strains, invoking Allah to tN pray to God with the same object. What could We do? We told them that we should hail the first steamer and get her to tow us into wind which would not only fill our sails, but blow the cho- lera out of the ship. In the mean time we exhorted them to be patient and obey the doctor In all things.
 Several staemers passed, going In the same direction, but too far off to com municate. At last, on the tenth day of the calm. we sighted two funnel steamer hull down in our wake She came on slowly and as she drew abreast of us about mile away we hoisted our distress signal and anxious ly awaited the result In afew minutes she replied, whereupon we displayed a whole line of bunting: on reading which she altered her course and ranfed up to within speaking distance.
 Steamer ahoy," shouted our skipper through his trumpet. What steamers that?"
 West Indian!' beloved a voice from the others bridge: "Jeddah to Bombay What ships that?"
 'Zenobia; Annesey Bay to Bombay" Whats the matter?"
 Cholera! Will you tow us through the Straits?" Sorry we can't. Port engine broken | down; much as we can do to get along ourselves, Can we help you otherwise? | Have you a doctor?" Yes"
 Want medicines?" I
 'No, thanks; have lots. Goodby" "Goodby."
 In another minute she put up her helm and resumed her course.
 There's no 'elp fort but to wait for the next" said the skipper.
 True, there was no help for it. so we put on the best face possible and called on our fortitude and patience to aid us. Presently the crew again came aft,
  lemeanor more trucuent than before. Whether the disappointment had irrita- ted them, or whether, owing to the ex- sting dislocated state of affairs, they 1ad managed to gain access to the spir- t room, l do not know, but their bear ng now was mutinous.
 Captain Hutchnson!" called Lamp- ;ey roughly from the main deck
 'Well?' replied the skipper, going to he rail, whither we all followed him. We ain't agon' to stand this here no 'urrer--We ain'tl"
 "Ain't yer? Suppose you think as hat there steamboat with art a lung oud "a lowed twelve hundred ship To yer?"
 What we thinks or doesn't think lint neither here nor there, but I tell Ter what, this ships coffin---she is, nd we ain't a-goin' to stop in her-we int! Jest yer come along to the fo- astle and take a whiff O the stink as omes through the cracks in the bulk eads, and then say if Christian eailor- nen can stand 1t any longer!" Ave patience can't yer? Another teamboatll be along presently and yell stop 'er." We calkilate as we've drfted pretty out O the course, and ne'er craftll be a-comin' this way, so we've lade up our minds what ter do, and ave come to give yer all a chanst in { rid us"
 Well, out with it! What ave yer lade up yer minds to do?" ( Take to the boats, and leave the tub O nd the niggers to theirselves." f Yes" i, They'll all be dead afore week, so a ill us if we stop here. The ship is sar- "