Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-09
LOCKED IN THE L-AZARET

CPEAKING of sailors superstitions. 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 a 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 Gal1e, Ceylon, was be- calmed for fortnight.
 Finally. one afternoon, came tiny cloud; within an hour it spread over the sky aad completely obliterated' the twi- light. When the captain came on deck he called all hands to wear ship. A tor nado was 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 alee! Wear ship! Hard over!" They heard the helmsman repeat the last or der. Then all in an instant the universe seemed to be plotted out, and Burton and his companion knew no more.
 To realize their situation 1t 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, it takes in all the space under decks, from the stern to the line where the quarterback ends and the main-deck begins. Tn it the steward stores food i'm 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- lords 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. It was natural enough that, in the excite ment of preparation for storm, their movements should pass unnoticed; that, finding the hatchway open, stupid helmsman should cover it and think no more about it. and that the two men should be given up as lost.
 Burton came to himself with sensa- ton of lightness in his head and faint ness at his stomach. Pitch-darkness pre- vailed, for the hull's-eyes that dimly lighted the lazaret when itwas empty were now covered up; but putting out his hand. Burton felt a human form.
 "Who is it?" he asked A snore was the only answer.
 Then Burton strengthened his stiff ened limbs and rolled himself clear. lie heard the seaman at the wheel strike eight bells; but whether that meant eight or A2 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
 Flight bells! Change watch!" he cried. }i start up. "Eh? What? Oh!" he groaned. "You awake, sir? You all right?" he asked.
 What time of day do you think 1t is, Roberts?" Burton returned. Flight bells has just struck
 Must be morning, sir''
 ''You don't mean to tell me we've been here all night? Imposs}ble!' v But it aint, sir! You didn't know nothin' for a long while after old Nels, that was at the wheel, let the ship veer up in the wind. She most turned upside down. You must have got your head hit then-I was pretty well banged round myself--and afterward you went to sleep without fairly sensin anything" Have you tried to attract attention?"
 My knuckles is wore out poundin' on that wheel-house hatch, sir,'' the sailor said, plaintively. T forced it up with my head once, but whenI hollered at Bristol Dave, he dropped the wheel and hollered like he was scared to death. Scared me, that did. I fell backward, and fore I could climb up again they had the hatch battened down and padlocked.''
 Cant we dig through to the stewards pantry?"
 'F'raid not. sir. This here lazaret is full chock-a-block, all but this little hole we're cooped up in, and we couldn't move the stuff cause there's nowhere to move 1t to-"
 Just then the second mate, trying to feel out his surroundings, touched some thing he seemed to recognize. He smelled and tasted it,
 Must have broken open a box cf