The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-21

PART l.
THE ship was one mass OF incong ruities from stem
to stern. To begin with, she wore the red,
white and blue of Uncle Sans quartermasteTs
department on the two big buff tunnels and flew the
British ensign.
The greatest incongruity of the whole outfit was
that of the ships captain and his first mate. The
captain ex-roya navy officer Of the frequent
bluff beefy, seagoing type, with a voice like sea-
lion and hand like the fuke of a whale
The mate on the other hand, impressed me as be-
ing the mOHgrel strain of two fine breeds It not
easy to form idea of what nationality he belonged
to- One instinctively felt him to be type without
being able to say what Some thought that he was an
Egyptian, others a MongOl, few sized him up as q
down east" Yankee Whatever he might be. he
certainly possessed all of the earmarks of gentle
man both in appearance and behavior. l never knew
of but person that gagged him correctly for what
he was, and that was myself.
To one who had made the study of anthropOlogy
that had the absoTbingy interesting both
mentally and physically. He stood about six feet in
height and might have weighed 175 pounds l saw
him several times early in the morning taking bath
under the deck hose and noticed that when standing
naturally, his hung well clear of his hips, re-
minding one of the figures Of the men pictured in
Egyptian hieroglyphics.
His face was the most sinister that have ever
any man savage or civilized. The hair,
straight, coarse and black, typically Indian, was
brushed away from brow broad and intelligent
enough but carved straight without the slight
est sUpeTciliaTy arch Underneath pair of heavy
brOws there shOne a pair Of cold metallic eyes as
fierce and unblinking eagles. His nose was
aquillne and keenly chlseleds and his mouth, thin
Tipped and compressed, was cut straight across his
face like cash.
The mans actions were as striking as his appear
ance- He seemed incapable Of slOwness delbera-
ton Once / saw him reach for loose roll of mar
lin stuff that lying the deck at the same time
that Of the sailors stopped to pick it up. The
rope was on the deck, thrown into the bOsuns chest
nearby and McKim on his way aft before the sailor
had Strengthened his back again
One could see at glance that the transport cap
4oTra Cd rfA
the usual British navy suspicion and dislike of any
thing that acted independently and of its Volt
ton. The captain was forever growing and fault
finding, and often wondered what erect it had on
the mate. for his face was as immobile as a mask
and he would simply salute and 90 to work TO remedy
the matter The clash which I plainly saw was i'm
mlnent came at last and IN most remarkable man
The captain was Just finishing his morning in
spectOn Of the ship made in company with the quar-
termaster, captain-dOctOr and aids. As they came
through the forward aleyway to reach the deck he
noticed a small puddle of water formed by the con-
dtnsation of the moisture waterpipe overhead.
The mate was standing by the starbosrd bits at
the foot Of the eompanionway leading to the deck
above.
Mr.. McKim." growled the captain The mate
at his side in three quick steps.
Why don't you keep the water of the deck2
what dye think this is-a fshn smack Sound
coaster"
You don't want the pipe parcelled so 1t can't be
helped, sir replied the mate. He said can't with
the broad Maine accent The pipes cold and the
airs hot, so the waters bound to condense"
"HO.-very interestini" sneered the captain.
We'll, mister mate, want tell yc that il viii be
helped. by . the deck'n be gCttin' as rotten as
the crew! Get out the way
He stepped across the puddle and the mate leaned
back against the bulkhead 20 give him room to mass
Whether it was by accident design I do not know
although I suspect the latter but the burv brute OF
a skipper, although the ship steady and there
was plenty of room, deliberately planted his great
heayy-sOled boot the mates insteD. at the same
time brushing him roughly with his elbow.
I heard low soft gurgle-the sound of a cat
when Strickland the mates hands flash up to
the captains waist, just above the belt 1t simply
looked though he had grasped him instinctveiy
TO take the weight from of his foot but the next in
slant there below of pain and fright that fairly
shook the deck, and the captain came urching
through the door and reeled against the rail
The high color had left his face, and il drawn
and tense
My Cod" he gasped; my God"
I turned to him instantly and noticed that his
shirt on both sides Of his body was bood-soaked
glanced for moment toward the MAZE; his hands
were hanging empty at his sides, and his face was
expressionless, but just for instant caught the
fat red CLEAN in both eyes The captain was getting
paer and the perspiration stood out his face in
beads. pulled up his shirt and TO my establishment
found not the cut that ] had expected, but great
seml-clrcular tear through the skin and adipose
The mate had torn the flesh apart with his hands,
NO one seemed to know just what course to take
IN the matter. The action was so grotesquey inhu-
man that 1t didn't seem to fall under any definite
jurisdiction SO the decided 10
let the matter crop until reached Manila and then
snip a mate more eanny in his actions.
The next day / was leaning on the rail watching
the htIe nyIng hsh scattering out under the bows
Wnen was conscious Of light tread behind me. ]
looked over my shoulder and saw McKim.
Good morning. I remarked, casually I was in
tensely interested IN the man. but felt insnetfvey
that 70 betray it would be to fog the plate
Good morning. Dr. BOes." he answered he
paused moment, then remarked suddenly: You