The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-03-07
: THE DESERTED SHIP
A Story of the Days When the Slave
Trade Flourished.
. Observation-Disclosures.

~sst.S-t~S~t'
Sail, no! Three points on the port
bow shouted John Tregaskis from the
foreroyal yard, where he was repairing
the service of the footrope just where it
had got chafcd in the wake of the mast.
We were homeward bound in the ship
Hurkaru from ports on the Madras coast,
loaded with sugar in the lower hold and
our tween decks full Of bales Of cotton.
We had been favored with splendid south
erly winds ever since rounding the Cape
of Good Hope, and we had touched at St.
Helena to put sailor ashore who was
dying of dysentery.
The strong southeast trades were blow
ing with vigor, and we were bowling off
our nine knots an hour with all our stun
sails set to starboard. The wind was just
trifc on the starboard quarter. and we
had the weather clew of the mainsail
hauled up. All hands were busy tarring
down the rigging preparatory to painting
ship, for the Hurkaru was a smart East
Indiaman. and Captain CULVER wanted
her to be spick and span when she hauled
into the London docks.
| was what the owners called mid
shipman." my father having paid ESQ
premium to them for the privilege Of my
wearing a brass bound cap. with their
house flag on it, and blue uniform for
the few weeks while | was ashore. The
rest of the year l cleaned out hencoops.
fed the fowls, washed the captains
clothes. kept the stewards books, assisted
Sambo. the negro cook, and turned the
grndstone for Chips, the carpenter.
Every Sunday was allowed on the poop.
al ~ ~ allow
ed to shoot the sum-" working out the
latitude by the old S9.4S method and in
variably getting it wrong.
used to go aft with fear and trembling
with my calculations worked on slate
and hand it to the ''old man."
mo wonder | am getting gray and
wrinkled," he was accustomed to exclaim.
with such a blue nosed imp as you to
work my soul bolt out. Here the ship is
in Is degrees 10 minutes north latitude,
and confound me if you haven't figured
her to the northward of the line. Take
that, and that. and that. you young sTab.
Why didn't you stop in your fathers Of
flee clinging ink? You're fit only to eat
and sleep Get out Of this!"
On this particular occasion when Ire
casks hailed the deck reporting the sail
In sight was up in the mizzentop setting
up the topmast rigging with a handy
billy tackle. assisted by another mid
shipman, who also hailed from London.
We were not high enough up to make the
strange craft out. but in about half an
hour she hove in sight and we could see
her plainly She was hull down and her
canvas seemed to be in rags. Tapping In
the breeze.
H0n deck thorew I shouted
"Hellow sang out the captain. who
was walking the poop. putting huge clouds
of black smoke out of q mouth that
stretched from ear to ear. "What do you
want now? Can't you set up that rig.
ging without any help? Clap stopper
on your jaw tackle and go on with your
work"
please sir. there's a queer looking
craft in sight from here. All her sails
seem to have blown away"
The old man gave a grunt and came
aloft to have a look at her. carrying a
Dai;. of good. marine glasses slung around
his neck. He got on the mizZcn topSail
ward and observed her closely for i've
minutes. Then he hurried down on deck
and told the steward. who called the chief
mate, whose watch it was below. Mean.
while he exchanged IL few words with the
second mate, vino Immediately afterward
roared out in a stPntOrian voice:
Lay down from alOft. every mother
son of you. and bring your tar buckets
with you"
All hands got down as smartly as they
could feeling very much surprised
81 wonder what ails the old hunks
now" growled an ancient sea dog. whose
griZZled locks hung over his shoulders. Il
guess it is some dodge to get extra work
out of an honest crew. II he had sailed
with some of the boys | used to go to sea
with, he'd have been h'isted overheard
| long before this"
Just at this time the port watch came
on deck. muttering and growing, for 1t
was only four bells in the afternoon
watch, and they thought they were safe
until 4 o'clock.
We took in all the stun'sails. hauled the
mainsail up snug and kept away a couple
of points, heading direct for the stranger
with the Tapping sails. which was now
plainly visible from the deck.
The skipper and the mates held close
Capitalization on the poop and watched
the craft through their glasses.
In little while we were close alongside
of her, heaving to about quarter Of a
mile to windward-
She was a three masted topsail schoon
er. Not a soul was to be seen on her
decks. If she had been abandoned. II
must have been in a hurry. for every sail
had been left set. This was evident to
the nautical eye. although the canvas
hung in tatters from yards and gaffs.
| She was long and low and. judging from
her general appearance. must have been
very fast Originally she had been paint,
ed black. but only a few patches remained
TO tell the tale. Sun. wind and sea had
left a her Grayish white. and as she
waliowed in the trough of the sea she
looked weird and CHASTITY and ghostly.
81 tell you that there craft is the Fly
ing Dutchman." said he of the grizzled
| locks.
"Flying Dutchman be darned"' replied
cockney sailor who hailed from Lime
house. "Tou orter know better. The
Dutchman is a full rugged ship. and that
one Is a topsail schooner. Gray hair amt
always a sign OF wisdom. Judging from
the likes Of you"
| n,.,.,,,,I, ,va ,rrt tho ,,rflnr Ia inwpF