The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-24
Cast Adrift In the Pacific.
by NJ. Quad.1

We were. as near as 7 can remember,
in the latitude of Midway island, in the
Pacific, and all was going well with the
bark Harvest Home when we picked up
a sailor named Williams, who was drift
ing about in a ships yawl- He told a
story of shipwreck and suffering, which
we afterWard came to know was utterly
false, and after a couple of days he
was put in my watch and entered as
an extra hand.
williams had no sooner got among
the men than he began telling of a
great treasure buried on one of the
Kuril islands. Talk treasure to a sail
or and you can bring him TO mutiny.
The amount of money was given at
several million dollars. and Williams
claimed to be able to locate the exact
spot. 1t probably never occurred to one
of the men to ask why he didn't go to
the captain with his story and try to
arrange for the removal of the treas
ure but if it did he had some answer at
hand He proposed taking possession
Of the bark, sailing her to the treasure
island, securing the great wealth and
then using her to get TO England. AS to
the officers and such men as would not
join, they were to be cast adrift in mid
ocean to take their chances. We had
cargo valued a $125,00O. and 1 think the
mans game was to peddle it out among
the Marine, Caroline and Marshall is
lands, get what he could and then look
out for himself
So quietly did he do his work among
the crew that not the slightest hint of
what was going on was waited aft. He
enlisted eight of the men in his cause,
and on the seventh day of his coming
aboard and while the captain and
were eating dinner the climax came.
The second mate was seized bound and
gagged, and an alarm was raised that
he had fallen overheard. Both of US
rushed from the cabin. to be bounced
upon and made prisoners. It was
surprise all around. and no insolence
was offered any of US. When Captain
Holt demanded an explanation Williams
promptly enlightened him He said:
We are in possession of the bark. We
are going after a great treasure, which
Is to be equally divided between man and
man. 1t was no use to talk to you. for
you would have scoffed at my story. It
was agreed that none of you should DE
hurt. and We have kept to the agreement -
What do you intend to do with us?
Send you adrift within an hour"
Where is your treasure island?"
Il will not tell you
If you really know of buried treasure
why not let us sail the ship there and
share with you?''
Because that would mean less money
for the rest of us
The captain appealed to the men, de-
ciaring that Williams had no real l1newI-
edge OF treasure and would lead them
Wild goose chase, and offered to over
look what had happened if they would re-
turn to duty The feeling Of the crew was
expressed by the old boatswain who took
OH his cap and stood in humble attitude
as he said:
Captain Holt, we hev nuthin' ag'in We
nor the mates, but here's chance fur
every man of US to git rich fur life, and
we feels as if we must take it,
There was more argument but the men
We're stubborn. Those who had refused to
JON IN the plot now came forward and
gave IN their allegiance to Williams and
preparations were begun for casting us
aofllt- One of the quarter boats was
holsted out, and in it were slowed water
and provisions sufficient to last three OF
Us fortnight We were allowed a mast
and sail. but neither chart, quadrant
nor compass. Could Williams have had
ms way about it We would have been
shocked IN the head or sent adrift with
out TODD. but the men were a unit for fair
treatment, ana he was too crafty to OBJ
/ pose them
AS soon as we were in the boat The
- r altered her course to the southwest.
- as we were left behind several of the
men waved us goodby. The noon obser-
a;aGoh had given MS the latitude of Patro-
cInl0 lSia NO, distant about 100 miles Que
south, but as the weather was fine ii was
~ ~ tSriinlhed 10 remain in the tra cl- in hopes
~ - otiils PICKED up. but meanwhile making
tt progress We could to the east. For
tti.ISe DAYS We did not sight n sail We
n+tu run over le3 miles to the east whom
. On 1il lllS lNurIn morning Win
/ d IreSh breeze from the south. we found
ourselves right in the course of a big ship
o ~ ~. 20 the east. We hcisted a signal
/ o. uistrsss and lay to for her to come up
l9ne gl'e En-, reared US we saw men aloft and
new that We were observed. She passed
4 us not more than 50 wards avay- with At
leaSt SIX men looking at us over the port
80, ana OF course we expected to see Ter
o g, to shortly after She kept straight
! On. however, md was three miles away
oeiefe We realized that her inhuman can