The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-17
A STRANGE CAPTURE.

49, - - - - - - - - - - - - > 49,
n T eight bells on an October
~ night in the year 1893. the
/ ~ fast sailing briganune Cor
lear. Of New York. bound
home from Cape Town. Captain Jabez
Starkweather, lay drifting IN a thick
sea FOG, without as much breeze as
would wink e candle.
The shore line Of Southern Africa
was only thirty miles distant. the wal
yisch Bay entrance bearing northeast
by half east. In those days that was
a formidable coast. partly from I'M
charted surroundings, but more be-
cause Us principal products were
lions. crocodiles. sharks and half can
nibal sayages. with a few unfriendly
Dutch Beers a long way 10 tie south
ward.
The dog watch had been set fun half
an hour. and there ought to have been
a breaking Of daylight. but the fog
thickened, and the darkness was so
opaque that the helmsman said be
could feel IL brush his knuckles when
be stirred her wheel.
Suddenly there rose from the foggy
blackness that lay packed upon the
sea OF her port bow. seemingly not
two cables length away. a long drawn.
swelling, indescribably despalrlng cry.
such as no man OF that ship had ever
before heard.
Following the strange cry. as the
ship settled In the hollow after a lazy
swell Of the barely breathing ocean.
could be family heard a gurgllng pant.
Ing, as II some tree swimmer or spent
clinger TO q wreck was distressed by
the heaying water
Every man on deck clustered along
her port bow rail and leaned ont. us.
tening, with straining eyes. Mate
Doolittle leaped up. cllnging with his
right hand 70 her fore port shrond.
bis left hand followed TO an ear.
swinging his body far outward. listen
Ing till the sound ceased Then he
called.
Name O. wonderi what was thatg
DO any Of you men know
No one answered.
The noise OF the crew moving or
Mate Doollttle's voice attracted the
creature, whatever it was; for while
they listened. with bnlging eyes. the
cry rose again. nearer. and with \ sHn
more melancholy whine. but with a
note OF eagerness modulating its des-
pair. The gurgling painting could be
plainly heard, swimming toward the
ship.
Mr.. Dooliule jumped inboard ana
ordered a boat lowered. While the
men were overhauling her falls he ran |
below, and reappeared with Captain
starkweather by the time the boat was
ready to let fan.
Again that lamentable cry rose from
the hollow Of the sea. this time close
aboard, on her starboard bow. fol-
lowed by a gurgllng moan. Ike that
Of some strong swimmer in agony I
Captain starkweather ran 10 bis boat.
"Cutlassesw be ordered. Put d I
couple Of loaded muskets in her stern /
sheets Mr Doolittle. Tumble IN. mem
Let faii-steady-so unhook. Mr. (
Doolittle. whatever It Is. bring d
aboard"
The boat vanished as the sea heared 4
her. She was Invisible in the FOG BE-
fore she had pulled her length. bni
those on deck could trace her course
by the grinding and splashlne OF ber
oars She pulled about. zixrag. three
or four minutes. and then lay siil. lis
tening Suddenly there came from hei
q great splashing. confused Wells ana
the roar Of = musket Mate Doollule
was heard giving excited orders
Down cutlassesi Don't strike himi
Jackson. don't Gre again without or
ders, bur keep ready. Tumble af,
Face him. men, Face hlmi Oars-.let
way. Hnloa. the
shipr
-Hilloa the boatr'
Make noise on deck there so We
can judge our distance. It's blscker
here than an African watch pocket
We've taken On hoard an awful pas.
seneer Way enough-sland by to
Tend or
The boat foaied ont Or the darkness
sha'iowy mass and SLOWLY heaved
pas alongside until she lay under the
iafiis There was something N her
ooWs-a great dark heap. from which
NE men ali recoiled art: the foremost
Ao.tling their ready cutlasses IN hand
ana jackson with iereled musket Mt
be shoulder
Hook ibaf forward fan with an oar
blade. Brown