Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-11-25
LOCKED IN
THELAZARET

NPEAKING Of sailors superstltions,
- Capt Dan Burton used to say that
when the crew Of the Daphne once took
the notion that he was ghost, they
came dangerously near making him
ghost in reality.
Burton was second mate at that time,
and his memorable experience actually
began when the Daphne, three days out
from Point de Gale, Ceylon, was be-
Gained for fortnight.
Finally, one afternoon, came tiny
cloud; within an hour it spread over the
sky and completely obliterated the twl-
light. When the captain came on deck
he called all hands to wear ship. tor
nado twas bearing down on them, and
they must work for their lives
Burton found a fore-tack broken
thanks to the weather that had turned
the rigging to tinder-and jumped to the
lazaret to replace it. Many heavy articles
were between him and the spare rigging,
and Burton called young sailor, Fred
Roberts, to help him move them.
The two were struggling with big
hawser when the captain roared: Helm
alec! Wear ship! Hard Overt" They
heard the helmsman repeat the last or
der Then all in an instant the universe
seemed to be blotted out, and Burton
and his companion knew no more.
To realize their situation it is neces-
sary to remember that the lazaret is, so
to speak, the ships storeroom. Extend
ing behind and on two sides Of the cabin,
| a. IA- oil
from the stern to the line where the
quarterback ends and the main-deck
begins In it the steward stores food In
tended for the officers; and their trunks,
together with valuable materials, extra
supplies and fittings, are put away in it.
| The space between the ships knees af-
fords plenty Of ventilation by means Of
| the air wells that extend from the outer
deck to the ballast hold.
A sliding door in one side Of the stew
ards pantry gives him admittance to the
lazaret, but officers generally enter, as
Burton and young Roberts did, through
a small hatchway in the wheel-house.
1t was natural enough that, In the excite
ment of preparation for a storm, their
movements should pass unnoticed; that,
finding the hatchway open, a stupid
more about it, and that the two men
should be given up as lost.
Burton came to himself with a sensa-
ton of lightness in his head and faint
ness at his stomach Pitch-darkness pre-
vailed, for the bull's-eyes that dimly
lighted the lazaret when it was empty
were now covered up; but putting out
his hand, Burton felt human form.
who is it," he asked. A snore was
the only answer.
Then Burton Strengthened his stiff
ened limbs and rolled himself clear.
He heard the seaman at the wheel strike
eight bells; but whether that meant
eight or ~ or four o'clock, or night
or day, he could not tell. He did remem-
Der, now. who his companion was. He
put his mouth to the young sailors ear
Eight bells! Change watch" he
cried.
The habit Of years made the sleeper
start up. "Eh? What? OH" he
groaned. you awake, sir? You all
right?" he asked.
What time of day do you think it Is
Roberts?" Burton returned. Eight bells
has just struck"
Must be morning, sir"
"You don't mean to tell me we've beer
here all night? Impossible!"
But 1t amt, sir! You didn't know
nothin' for long while after old Nels
that was at the wheel, let the ship veeI
up in the wind. She most turned upside
down. You must have got your head hi
them was pretty we'll banged round
myself-and afterward you went tC
sleep without fairly sensin' anything.
Have you tried to attract attention.
my knuckles is wore out poundin' or
that wheel-house hatch, SIR" the sailor
said, plaintively. Il forced it up with my
head once. but when hollered at Bristo
Dave, he dropped the wheel and hollereC
like he was scared to death Scared me
that did. I fell backward, and fore
could climb up again they had the hatcf
battened down and padlocked."
Cant we dig through to the stewards
pantry?"
"'Fraid not, sir. This here lazaret II
full chock-a-block, all but this little hol,
we're cooped up in, and we couldn't NOV,
the stuff cause there's nowhere to NOV,
1t to-"
r Just then the second mate, trying t.
. feel out his surroundings. touched some