The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-11-03

1880
Jim Smith by now and some even dim,
A more openhanded fellow it would
be hard to find and he never seemed
to take offense at the free way In which
his generosity was abused by some of
the shabbicr passengers. He would
bring whole box Of cigars up to the
smoking-room and give them away in
handfuls. While not averse to game
of cards. his chief amusement seemed
to be talking, and when the rest Of the
smoking-room habitues were deep In
poker. he would as often as not take
up with one Of the Quieter passengers
and sit talking, or would walk the
deck with him for hours.
The weather had been fine SO far,
but theresare always some people who
are sea-sick however calm 1t be, and
there were several such on board.
Smith made some excuse about perhaps
knowing some Of the invalids to hunt
them up in their cabins. one by one
There he would stay by the hour, pre-
scribing champagne and generally act
ing the good Samaritan to these ne
elected ones. s.
The intermediate passengers next
began to enjoy his friendship, and for
day or two he charmed them as he
had done US. intermediate passen-
gers are usually rather sensitive about
their position and think that the saloon
ones are 'sidey," as there is not
usually much intercourse between the
classes; but here was gentleman
after their own hearts and they well
coined him with enthusiasm. But they
did not please him az much Is he did
them and soon he deserted them for
the steerage. attempted to remon-
strate with him one evening, as we
were going In to dinner and he had
been forward the whole day. but only
got snubbed for my pains. Soon the
sailors were his chums and then the
stokers; he would be down in the
stoke-hole for hours, taking a hand
as he laughingly told me, and certainly
getting very dirty. This was the last
straw and the saloon passengers sent
deputation to the captain, and I
gladly Joined it, requesting that Mr..
Smith should not be permitted to enter
the saloon If he should persist in get
ting dirty ford" The captain sent
for the accused. and his very appear
ance condemned him as he emerged
from q companion-way leading from
the stoke-hole and slouched aft, dirty,
addressed and hang-dog looking.
What q change since the first day,
when he had captured us by his charm
OF person and conversation! The cap
tain's remonstrance only called forth
an indignant reply to the effect that
the stokers were a better lot Of men
than all the rest Of US put together.
Nothing remained but for us to put
him Unto Coventry" and this we did
most thoroughly. moved to another
cabin and the seat on either side of
him at table became vacant. At each
meal he would appear, eat silently and
then at once 60 ford again. As If to
complete his descent in the social scale,
he became especially attached to 3 q
down-draft rascal Of q stoker and the
two were inseparable. One day this
scoundrel refused to carry out some
order and, on his being pressed to do
so. struck the officer on duty with q
shovel. He was at once arrested and
put In irons Smith was indignant,
but could do nothing, nor could he
get sympathetic ear when he tried to
defend his shady friend.
About the time that the Canadian
coast first came into view rumor was
started, no. one knew by whom, that
this versatile man, this ]. A. Smith as
he called himself, might be the muir
derer, who was expected to have es-
capped from Liverpool by one Of the
outward bound vessels on the day that
we left. Some one reminded the smoke
room audience that the fellow had
boarded US after the police officer, who
had looked through the ship. had left
on the tender. A large reward had
been offered, SO the last papers said, to
anyone who would give information
which would lead to the villains arrest,
and it was interesting to note what a
run there was on these week-old
papers. One man-an old Jew-was
seen cutting out the meager description
OF the wanted fugitive. Certainly this
description might have been of Smith,
but equally SO Of half q dozen other
men on board, 80 indefinite was II.
More than ever. IL possible, we avoid
ed the man. Some were for having
him arrested at once, but lawyer
amongst rs voiced the general opinion
that this was ont Of. the question and,
besides. he var safe enough whilst
miles Of ocean rolled between us and
the nearest. shore.
This was the state Of things on the
morning when We were hailed by the
lspilot, Many were tho speculations as
to whether the authorities at home
could have tracked the murderer by
now. and whether an officer wouldsnot
be on board the pilot boat to arrest
him. But no, only the weather-b e1ten
old man, whom had often seen be-
fore, scrambled up the side. He
brought of withshim q bundle of nSws-