The San Francisco call., 1904-04-10

Aloha's crew. The mystery must be
solved. -.
At about 10 they showed up-the
entire sixteen-an 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 i'm
patience and anger within them. They
were of course too tactful to broach
the main question at once.
fAll hands crowded about the long
table and Al Blacks bartender was
kept busy serving, first beer, but later
whisky and rum. 1.-The men were
hilarious, noisy, apparently in excel
lent humor. but not a5,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. THe determined to de-
mand an explanation.
Boys" he said, rising and hitting
the table with, a mug, II think it's up
to you to teIf us What the devil all
this means. Did you fesiers funk out
there e?"t
There came a passe-all hands
turned toward Three Fingered Jack.
He arose, showing away his drink.
well, as ye ask an explanation"
he said, II might as well tell ye 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 lack, 1--WE have
comessup here to. make you see the
sinfuTness of yer ways. We've come
to offer We the salvation we got
through you. Ye once shipped US on
a craft wot zye said would be home
for u.s.. Ye told us the skipper was
a kind. sfatherly el; man wot wouldl
look we'll sarter our welfare. He did.
He looked arter us<alr right"
Here Jack pushed back the long
hair from over his forehead, revealing
a long white scar. s.s
But We sinned against that same
kind fatherly OF skipper, AL" he con-
tinued, "an' we want We to repent. 1t
was 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
way, just as we're goin' to show you"
What damned rot is this?" broke in
AL Black, purple with rage. What tell
dye mean, We drunken swabs?'
Hear the child of wrath" said Jack,
piously. Boys, the time for the Lords
vengeance has come"
The bos'n kicked back his chair, and
as though this were signal all hands
sprang up, and in a moment the room
was in a savage turmoil, in the center
of which were Seattle Mike and AL
Black. Both of tie 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 infuriated 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 scattered
over the floor. Shattering glass and
trampling feet raised most unearthly
ro--.
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 a squad of police burst in the front
door just then and charged the drink
crazed sailors. Most of them were
rounded up after desperate fight and
hauled off to the police station, but
not until a squad of reserves had re-
enforced the original patrol. Al Black,
Seattle Mike and the bartender were
taken to the hospital
Next day Captain Larsen appeared
at the police station and paid the fines.
.It griefs me-" he said. as the men
followed him meekly out into the
street, Ito find you in dis condition
You haf given away to sinful wrath
again. Vat did you do to dem?"
They're in the hospital" replied
Jack, with sickly smile.
'sVell," continued the skipper. "in
dot case, Gee de hand of de Lord,
who smiteth in 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 again.,
Aye, aye. SIR" they all responded.
(Copyright 1904 by Albert Sonnfch-