The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-09-12
The Law Upon Deep
w Waters. w

BY ZENIAS TUGG.

he lBnace Island Mining company
bought for u trife the decayed
river steamer Mascot, boarded up hel
sides, and offered for sale 2OC
tickets from Astoria to st. Mi.
chaels. Most people are aware that
a stormy ocean lies between the CO.
iumbia river bar and the mouth of
the Yukon, but 200 miners from the
east paid their passage money,
slowed their outfits on the Mascot
and waited impatiently for the start
On Sunday afternoon the tramp
collier katlir Chief passed line and
stood out to sea with the Mascot in
tow. Everyone was in cheerful
mood, from the prairic-bred men in
the cabin of the ramshackle craft to
the "Company"-who preferred the
safer quarters on the collier
1t was summer time, and long,
gentle roll welcomed the novice Mas
cot. To her credit, she stood il for
two days. Then, just as the passen-
gers were regaining their legs and
spirits after season of seasiclness,
the hog chains snapped, a dollop of
water plucked over the clumsy stern
wheel. and she settled down in the
trough of the sea with a limpness
that BODIED i'll.
An hour later the collier, after taxi
ing in the hawser, steamed around
the wreck and the captain viewed
the situation with highly seasoned
profanity. The Company" COM
posed of two men, listened calmly to
what he had to say
IL thought" said the master of
the Kafiir Chief, regaining articulate-
ness, that the inspectors passed
that as steamer that was seawor-
thy. Looks like it, doesn't she?
Opened out like a dead clam, wheel
gone. funnel dropped over like a
trolley-pole, hog chains busted-iust
barely afoat, and that owing to her
hold being full up with cordwood.
I say, you men, what am to do?"
1T is really distressing" said the
president of the company. 1--WE leave
II to your judgment"
But what can l do?" vociferated
the captain. "What can | do with
that rubbish heap? I'm no beach
comber. can't tow it; she's coming
apart every minute. She'll not hold
together even to get back to the
Columbia river"
The secretary-treasurer lit cigar
and smiled meaningly. do anything
you like, old chap. Only don't get
us mixed up with those men out
there. They might blame us, when
-" He paused gently.
"Whcn what?" asked the captain,
with scowl. Here the Company"
made mistake. They did not un-
derstand that the master of the Kaf-
Ar Chief was both honest and had .
sense of responsibility. 1t was the
president who finished the sentence
by remarking-"When it's bad sea-
manship that's to blame. The in
spectors said the Mascot was fit to
make the trip to St. Michaels. and
you've wrecked her out here"
Captain Mears stared at them with
cut q word of reply.
An hour later he came alongside the
Mascot and swung himself from the
small boat to her upper deck, now al
most awash. He was greeted by .
silence unbrolSen save by the noise
of the stateroom doors slamming az
the steamer rolled.
The men sat slllenly on piles Of
baggage rescued from the lower
deck. Their faces were not pleasant
TO look upon, and their eyes. to the
experienced captain, held evil He
wasted no words on preliminaries.
1T lies with you what's TO be 1one,"
he said brusquely. Speak up, some
body"
"Wherc's the president of the COM
pany?" asked voice. The captain
hcsitatcd. lie meant to be loyal to
his employers, but his sense of JUS
ticc was touched. There's no use
bringing them into it." he answered.
"rhcy won't help YOU"
eve want our money back" scout
I'd an old man.
"Snve your skins first" suggested
the captain.
SILENCE ensued once more. and hs