The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-14

the s. s. Chattahoochee. Confidential
md most Immediate
= Certainly, SIR" said the purser, his
whole manner suddenly changed, and
then l returned to my post Of observa-
ton on deck to wait events.
v l saw my friends come on board, the
naval lieutenant first, who raised his
hat to our captain as he received them
ut the gangway, then introduced his
companions, after which the whole par
ty quickly and silently passed through
the crowd Of passengers, who were dy-
ing to hear what it all meant, and en-
tered the captains cabin.
81 had not longsto wait for the next
net. Within a minute or two | was
hailed by the second cabin steward,
who told me little abruptly, but he
knew no better, that l was wanted by
the captain below.
-, "Hallo, Master Willie began Swete
Thornhll after brief shaking hands
all round. you've led us pretty
dance and no mistake. How the mis-
shief did you get here, and are you GER
tain about the papers?'
+ "All that will keep, man. As to the
papers, ask Captain Sherborne. He
knows what became of thcm.'
> ~ will not be party to this. saw
you throw certain papers overheard
which still believe you stole
captain Wood will answer for that
TO the proper persons, and so will you
as to any charges you bring" interpos-
ed Swete Thornhill stiffly. "You can
rely on that We shall proceed straight
TO New York ahead Of you, and you
shall be met by the British consul and
other authorities"
'"That Is all wanted to say" cried.
sect there first and set lerything in
trlm-you understand Mr. Snuyzcr. l
am in hopes that the others do not
know or have no more than suspicion
of what has happened, and we should
be able to arrest them on arrival"
ir"We'll do our best, captain, you bet"
said Snuyzer, "and take them If the
Jaw VIII ltl us. WI 4Ii. sunny t'hio
band will work it If it's to be done.
But If we save your property from
these sharks their only Otfense was
committed on British soil, and there
may be muss. Anyway it's plain we
need not detain this fine vesser'-he
bowed to the captain-"now things are
pretty well fixed. The major here's
satisfied. You're safe, for which we
may be truly thankful, If may say so,
and there's nothing left to do till we
make the shore. Look out for us, cap
tain. Some of us, I guess, will run out
to meet you in a special steamer just
inside Sandy Hook"
: Again we shook hands all round, and
] promised them, the captain included,
who was now very much on his good
behavior, the best dinner to be had
for money in New York. The Nictrix
would be there If all went well in some
80 hours more, the Chattahoochee in 40
to so, and these figures proved to be
pretty correct in the Issue.
. ] made no change in my arrange
ments for the rest Of the voyage, but
kept to my own part of the ship except
in the evening hours, which | spent in
bllssful tctc-a-tete with Frida. What
passed between us is no concern Of any
but ourselves.
I We passed Sandy Hook in the fore
noon of Sunday, and it was understood
Int a.,l, la nIr hn u l II
by Q or at latest 3 p. m. Already there
was a great huttcr among the passcn-
gers, those of the saloon in particular.
md symptoms of coming change. They
appeared in their smartcst clothes, com
ing out with extraordinary splendor, as
though for fete or garden party-new
costumes, new hats, much jewelry. l
heard, too, curious expressions banded
freely about -"dutiablc," what to de-
clare" and so forth, and was told
that the customs examination was
greatly dreaded by almost all.
The excitement grew intense when a
small steamer was sighted bearing
down on us at full speed, and some
cried, "The customs boat" as she ran
alongside and we were quickly board
ed by a great crowd. l thought the
eagerness of these American officials
very remarkable and In strong contrast
with our slow moving, dignitied Gus
tom house people. But ] soon saw my
mistake as these new arrivals ran,
raced indeed, to the hurricane deck,
pushing and jostling and catching at
each others coattails, laughing and
shouting boistcrously: Where is he?"
"Trot him out" 1--WE want the young
British CrGsus. Give us sight Of
fortunes spoiled favorite, William Are
tas Wood"
They were reporters, and they were
come to interview the wrong man. For
] stood aloof, watching and highly
amused, knowing that when Snuyzer
> appeared the tables would be swiftly
turned on the corspirators, who had no
doubt planned all this by cable in ad-
vance. Now my double, the false VIII
liam Wood. stepped forward and began
- set speech, evidently carefully pre-
pared.
heard the opening sentences as l
went aft, determined to end this auda-
cious farce. Rossiter saw me coming
and would have stopped me, but l
pushed past and getting in front of the
assembled mob cried:
"This Is all mistake. am Captain
Wood
was Interrupted with jeers and loud
yells, and some one said, Throw him
overheard" and others cried, "Order,
orderp "Chair, chairp on which rose
louder CRY: "BaRe to the tugl Wen