The National tribune., 1902-07-17

barren as the imagination could picture,
were towering upon the starbOard bow.
The winds sweeping down from these
frozen regions struck to the very marrow,
and cold, disagreeable fog seemed to
hang perpetually over the water, while the
blink of field ice in more than one direc-
tion warned us of our proximity to the
Arctic Circle.
About noon the lookout reported a sail
in sight, but it was sometime ere anyone
else could distinguish it, but before 3
o'clock she was distinctly made out stand
ing toward US. and we made more sail TO
come up with her.
A long stretch of field ice, however, in
tervened between US. and the stranger,
which we were obliged to partially cir
cumnavigate- ere we could reach her We
stood along close by the western margin
Of the field ice, until we rounded its north
ern point, when we showed the Russian
ensign, as the most appropriate one for a
vessel of our appearance to fly in those
high ATTITUDES, TO which she responded by
running up the Stars and Stripes.
The Russian flag was Immediately low
cred, and in the place of it we showed the
Confederate Stars and Bars, and a blank
cartridge from our 12-pOunder brought
| her to.
An officer was then dispatched on board.
who Informed the Captain that his vessel
steamer Shenandoah, to which he must at
once proceed with his papers.
| The skipper looked at him for a mo-
ment, scratched his head, laid in a fresh
crew of tobacco, and then remarked as
| cDolly as if giving the order to heave up
his anchor, We'll, ! s'pose I'm taken! but
| who on earth would have thought of see
ing one of your Southern priyateers up
here in the Ochotsk Sea. ] have heard of
some of the pranks you fellows have been
| playing, but l supposed l was out Of your
reach.'
why, the fact of the business is, Cap,
! tain," replied the officer, facetiously, 1--WE
have entered into a treaty offensive and
defensive with the whales, and are up
here by special agreement to disperse their
mortal enemies"
"All right my friend / never grumble
at anything | can't help, but the whales
needn't owe me much of grudge, for the
Lord knows | haven't disturbed them this
| voyage, though I've done my part al
blubber-hunting in years gone by. But
it's cold talking here; come below and
take something to warm your stomach
| while | get my papers,"
In a little time the nonchaant old Cap.
tain announced himself in readiness. and
in company with our officer came on board
the Shenandoah. Shortly after, the crew
numbering about 80 all told, were brought
off in their own whale boats. They were
Of similar timber to their commander, and
one Of them remarked as he came oyel
the side, that ''he had not expected Il
tai steam home, and to tell the truth ht
had just as lief trust to SAIL" but they
accepted their change of fortune with gen
eral good humor, and even single iron.
and confinement in the top-gallant fore
castle did not seem to materially depres!
their spirits.
Upon the whole, they were about n.
plucky and sailor-like a set of fellows a.
fell into our hands during the entir,
cruise.
We remained near the prize all night
taking out such stores as suited our fancy
There was a quantity of liquor on boart
which the Captain had brought along
with the view Of trading for furs on tn,
coast OF Siberia. This part of the whaIer'
cargo was soon nosed out by our forecast,
| gentry, and before the officers knew wha
was going on, cask had been broache,
; and the greater part Of one watch wa
about as gloriously drunk as men wei
can be.
AS soon as this was discovered. the inc
, briates were shut into the forecastle, an,
, the more obstreperOus placed in irons; bu
, while this discipline was progressing, tn
, rest got wind of the captured treasure, an,
, by the time one detachment was secured
another was in condition to receive tn
fsame polite attention we had shown thei
fellows. In brief, think it was the mos
general and stupendous "spree" l eve
, witnessed. There were not q dozen sobe
men on board the ship except the prison
ers, and had these not been ironed i
might have proved dearly bought frolic
Some of the petty officers were as thor
oughly inebriated as any of the men, ant
had to be confined in their quarters b,
sheer force. The carpenter, / recollect
twice burst out of his room, where we hat
attempted to imprison him, and finally W,
had to furnish 'old Chips" with pair O
bracelets, and tie him into his bunk t.
cool off.