The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

anchor off Mission Flat, and with sea-
manlike promptness the men furled
sails and cleared up decks.
THE Lord, loveth dose who are in
dustrious," said the skipper, with
pious meekness, to the harbor officials
about him on the poop.
That evening Seattle Mike and Al
Black sat impatiently smoking big,
black cigars in the latter's establish
ment on Pacific street. They We're
waiting for the appearance of the Alo-
has crew. The mystery must be
solved.
At about 10 they showed up-the
entire sixteen-all more or less drunk,
and with Three Fingered Jack in the
lead. The two boarding masters re-
ceived them with sinister smiles of
welcome, barely concealing the impa-
thence and anger within them. They
were, of course, too tactful to breach
the main question at once.
All hands crowded about the long
table and Al Blacks bartender was
kept busy serving, first beer, but later
whisky and rum. The men were
hilarious, noisy, apparently in excel
/, lent humor, but not a word referring
! to their late voyage came out. The
two masters waXed more and more
impatient, especially as the drinks
were as yet not being paid for Much
against their wills they had been
; Obliged to drink with the crowd.
Finally AL Black could no longer con-
tain himself. He determined to de-
! mand an explanation.
Boys" he said, rising and hitting
, the table with a mug, think it's up
J to you to tell us what the devil all
this means. Did you fellers funk out
there?'
There came a pause-all hands turn
ed towards Three Fingered Jack. He
arose, showing away his drink.
well, as we ask an explanation"
he said, Il might as well tell We we've
come up here to have a few words
with you"
That's what-you bet" broke in
several of the others.
Yes" continued Jack, 1--WE have
come up here to make you see the
sinfulness of yer ways. We've come
to offer We the salvation we got
through you. Ye once shipped us on
a craft wot we said would be a home
for US. Ye told us the skipper was
kind, fatherly OF man wot would
look well arter our welfare. He did.
He looked arter us all right"
Here Jack pushed back the long
hair from over his forehead, revealing
a long, white scar.
But We sinned against that same
kind, fatherly oil skipper, AL" he con-
tinued, AN we want We to repent. It
was a sin, AL. to work off a lot of
wicked, worldly men like us on that
kind OF man. But, thank the Lord, he
showed us the sinfulness of our ways,
just as We're goin' to show you"
What damned rot is thls?" broke in
AL Black, purple with rage. What tell
dye mean, ye drunken swabs?"
Hear the child of wrath" said Jack,
piously. Boys, the time for the Lords
vegeance has come"
The bos'n kicked back his chair, and
as though this We're a signal all hands
sprang W and in moment the room
was in & savage turmoil, in the center
Of which were Seattle Mike and AL
Black. Both of the crimps drew re-
volvers, but their weapons were hurled
across the room before they could use
them. Down the two went under the
feet of the mob, fighting fiercely. The
bartender and two runners attempted
to help them, but the first went down
with a split scalp and the other two
were trampled insensible in a second.
Next the Infatuated sailors dragged the
two boarding masters into the kitchen,
where they ducked their heads into the
dishwasher's tub, full to the brim.
Dishes, pots, pans and even the lamps
were piled on top of them and scatter
ed over the floor. Shattering glass
and trampling feet raised a most I'M
earthly row.
Ducked into insensibility, the two
boarding masters were then dragged
into the barroom, which was wrecked
in similar manner. There would
certainly have been murder done had
not squad of police burst in the
front door just then and charged the
drink-craZed sailors. Most of them
were rounded up after a desperate
fight and hauled off to the police sta
ton, but not until a squad of re-
serves had reinforced the original pa
troll. AL Black, Seattle Mike and the
bartender were taken to the hospital.
Next day Capt. Larsen appeared at
the police station and paid the fines
ut griefs me- he said, as the men
followed him meekly out into the
street, ito flint you in dis condition.
You hat gifen away to sinful wrath
again. Vat did you do to dem?''
They're in the hospital" replied
Jack, with sickly smile.
WELL" continued the skipper, "in
dot case. I see de hand Of de Lord,
who smiteth I'm His anger. Vengeance
is mine, saith the Lord. You hav been
His instruments Of vengeance, and so
shall be forgifen.
Say, boys, dis afternoon ship again
for de next voyage. You want to sign
on againY'
AYE, aye, SIR" they all responded.
ICopvrfpht 1q02 nv Albert Sonpfrh