The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-03-09
THE TRUE VERSION OF
A NEWSPAPER ITEN
IorlEInal.l

The clipper OSct0La was within q
few days sail OF New York when a
head wind struck her. There was
nothing for It but to ~lay to" under a
flying jIb. With the wind came rain
which froze as it struck the vessel.
The first mate, John Hutehins, was
on the bridge, holding on for his life,
for to walk on the slippery floor was
impossible and with the lurching OF
the vessel he was liable to be slid over.
board. The main jlb had become loos.
ened and corner Of It was tapping in
the wind. It was doing no harm. II
was simply unsailOrlike. To tx it a
man must 90 out on the bowsprit. and,
considering the ice and the lurching,
this was equivalent to going overheard.
"Connor," sang the mate to a watch
holding on to the port ratlines. go out
and cIew up the jib,"
The man addressed looked up with
nm ashen face. There had been bad
blood between him and the first mate
during the voyage and he knew that
Hutchins intended to put him over.
board, or. rather, he knew that Hutch.
ms expected him to refuse to obey the
order. which would be mutiny, possibly
punishable with death.
NO one can go out there and i've"
said Conner. Il can't even let so to
get across the deck without being
shot against the bulwarks and mashed
to jelly"
"oh, yes, you can. Work your way
along the gunwale."
There was an omlnous silence, at the
end Of which Conner said: "Mr. Hutch,
ms, I'm going TO obey the order. and
it's probably the last order III ever
obey from any one. II succeed, when
we get to New York and l out of the
merchant service-for I'm expecting to
be married and settle on shore-you'l
have Just one more chance to kill me
but you'll have to take the chance Of
being killed at the same time. II
lose my life and there's any chance fol
the dead to torture the living, I'll make
it hot for you"
rs this mutiny?" said the mate
glaring Mt his victim
There was no reply. Connor begaI
to work his way along the bulwa Ks
watching the seas and taking adv4n
tage Of any lull. He succeeded II
reaching the bowsprit and began tc
crawl out on it. There were no meI
forward except Hutchins and Connor
but those farther aft, seeing the latter's
attempt, were frozen with horror. Con
nor had not covered half the distance
to the sail when great wave struck
the vessels bow and sent him into the
brine. uutchins from the bridge saw
him swept by and the look that was OF
his face. Nevertheless he was relieved
that the man had gone There was the
usual shout of Man overheard" ant
a few life buoys were thrown over, but
nothing of moment could be done tc
save Conner, who soon drifted out Of
sight.
A week later the osceola approached
New York bay. The cold had contin
ued, and her icy coat was even thicker
than it had been. The vessel anchored
Off Sandy Hook, waiting orders from
owners. All on board were worn out
so the captain and most of the crew
went ashore for rest and recreation
leaving the vessel in charge Of the first
mate and single watch.
At two bells in the evening Hutchins
after seeing that the signal lights were
in position. went down into the cabi1
TO look over a bundle Of newspaper;
that had been brought aboard. Sandy
Hook is exposed TO the waves Of the
ocean, and the ship was rolling heavily
Presently the mate heard a step OF
the companiouway. Looking up, there
on the stairs stood-the ghost Of Con
nor! He was pale Us corpse, and hi;
eyes were flarinG.
Get upw commanded voice.
Hutchins, who did not doubt that h
was facing the avenginS spirit OF tn
man he had murdered, obeyed, trem
bling. Conner or his ghost had mean
while come down into the cabin ant
passed beyond HutchiRs.
Go on deck.'
Hutchins backed out OF the cabin OF
to the deck, fascinated by the glitter
ing eye OF The man or ghost-he did no
know which
The main ilb needs Glowing. Gt
out and ciew il.
Whether the prospect Of certain
death-for the conditions differed only
IN degree from what they We're whei
Conner was ordered to make this at
tcmpt-or something human there wa.
about Conner affected him, by thi'
time Hutchins was ready for defense
Even ghost can't corner man with
out being turned on, and the mate
seeing that Conner was unarmed
suddenly thrust his hand to his hip
drew revolver and fred. His hant
was unsteady. Besides, at the momen
a wave rolled under the ship. His sho
went wild The ghost drew q revolve
from under his shirt and before Hutch
ms could fire again shot him dead.
Scarcely a minute had elapsed from