The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-09
A RESCUE AT SEA.
BY M. QUAD.

L
The brig Foam bound from Liv-
erpooi to the West Indies, and having
on board $50 English emigrants, had
been for four day a drifting wreck when
sighted by the Dolphin of Bremen. II
so happened that an American rnan-of-
war to which belonged as an enlisted
man put into that port for some slight
repairs, and twelve of us deserted to &c
aboard of the Dolphin" 1t does not
excuse our action to say that the cap
tsiu brought this desertion about by the
promise of high wages. He wanted a
crew and he did not care how the men
came to him.
We had been twelve days out when we
sighted the Foam as she lay wallow-
ing in the trough of the sea, a COM
plete wreck aloft. After a brief look al
her through the glass, the captain be-
of fact, we had neither room, water nor
provisions to spare, and the ship was
loaded down to the mark with cargo
but when we heard our officers propose
to pass the wreck without notice every
man of the twelve was ready for mu-
tiny. We demanded that commur4iilla-
ton be opened with the unfortunate peo-
pie, aand, after a deal of growing, the
Dolphin" ran down to the wreck and
sent boat aboard.
The report of the mate when he re-
turned was to the effect that the peo-
much sickness among the women and
children, and that they desired to aban-
don the wreck and be taken aboard OF
the ship. We had spare spars aboard
and the captain offered to sell three or
four sticks for about three times their
value. the payment to be made in gold
on delivery. The brig declined this
generous" offer, as the crew was salts
fed that the shattered hulk could never
be worked into port, even if fully pro-
visioned besides.
Our captain was holding off, not wish
ing to take the unfortunates, and yet
afraid of us, when squaH came on
and he attempted to sail away. The
whole crew, including the second mate
at once refused duty. The captain and
first mate then declared their authority
at end and went below, but we were not
to be bluffed. The second mate was in
stalled as captain. and two hours later
all the people on the wreck had beer
transferred. 1t was in good time. too
as a gale came on that lasted for three
days and must have sent the brig t.
the bottom.
We had mutinied and taken posses
sion of the ship, but we felt that, cir
cumstances justified it. Neither insult
nor harm was offered the two of1cerS
They made many therats as to the
punishment we should receive when the
ship arrived in port. but we stood firm
Our craft had no accommodation what
ever for passengers, and you can I'M
agine the mess we were In When ina
crowd was taken aboard The captain
not only fatty refused to take charg'
of the navigation, but would have noth-
ing whatever to do with the unfortu-
mates. He could have sheltered MANY
women and children in the cabin, bu
not even the sick ones were invited t
make use of it. Everybody aboard haf
TO be put on short allowance at once
and shift was made whereby tbs
women and children were at least shell
tered.
After a general consultation it wa
decided to make for the Bermudas, ant
on the fourth day after taking the PEG
pie off the wreck we sighted an amer
lean shin and secured from her tal
supply of water and QRa1tity- or nou
and biscuits. It was a run OF sever
days more to the islands. and durini
the last three days no adult had FOO
enough to keep down the Bangs o
hunger. None of US believed that W
could be punished for taking the shl
out of the captains hands to save hu
man life. and I am sure we would no
have been meddled with but for IN
presence of a British man-of-war
port. AS soon as our captain coul
board the craft and report. all of u
were arrested and flung into prison I
await the action of the law. l neve
found out just where they intended 1
send US for trial. but presume 1t wa
Bremen
For some reason or other there wa
a long delay and at length matter
| were complicated by our being clalme
! as deserters from an American man
of-war. The people whom we nd
served were grateful enough, to b
sure, hut all others looked upon us
a lot of pirates who ought to hav
been hung as soon as captured. Vine
we had been in Jail five months we go
word from an American who wa
pretty thoroughly posted on the cas-
that we would soon be sent away TO
trial. and that we might expect
! least five years Imprisonment apiece.
| This news decided us to make an at
tempt to break Jail. and one night
week later using tools which guar
had been bribed to pass into us. W
sawed away the bars of a window an
gained our liberty. Proceeding to tn
harbor we found an American vesse
ready to sail. and before our escap
was discovered we were miles at sea
Five of us afterwards surrendered
! the naval authorities as deserters an
| took our punishment. but what be
came of the others do not know.
To save the lives of almost thre
hundred fellow beings we were drive
to mutiny on the high seas, and Will
| it would seem to have been both
noble and heroic action. and one tina
we should have received credit fol
nothing but misfortune and disgrac
grew out of it. The contenptihle &C
tions of our captain even found eS
cusers, though it was plain that ha
| he had his wav the wreck would hav
taken every soul to the bottom wit
| her.-(Copyright 1903, by c. B. Lewis
Cattle Stealing.
| One source of immense trouble to tn
cattlemen has been the calf thief. Man
a large 'outfit" has gone out of bus
ness on account of the ''rustler." WheT
COW herders have to ride the range fo
fifty or seventy-five miles they are like
/ ly 70 be sforestalled in branding ca
by some vigilant rustler whose littl
mountain ranch is near the usual graz
| ing place of bunch of cattle. Or yer
possibly the puncher for the big 8
ranch has caught and branded the ca
with it's proper mark; and when man
months later he rides on a vearlin
branded BOB he has no means {