Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1904-09-09

something by look at her cargo, out
when we got the main hatch oil we
found she was only in ballast. we
made a discovery of Importance In the
cabin. however. She had shallow
lazaret reached by a trapdoor, ana
from out of this recess we hauled 1our
larcc leather sacks of silver plate.
About half of the lot was church plate
while the rest had belonged to some
private individual. Every piece was OF
solid silver, but many of them had
been bent and hammered to get them
into the sacks These latter recepta,
cles were made of cowskin, with the
hair still on. and were laced UP at the
seams 1t took our united strength to
haul the bags out and on deck. 1t was
little wonder, though, as there was
about 400 pounds Of dead weight to q
sack.
Here was something worthy of the
name Of loot, and in the course OF an,
other hour we had the sacks aboard
Of the bark and had left the derelict to
her fate.
AS to the silver, it seemed plain
enough that it was the proceeds of q
robbery somewhere in Russia. 1t was
given out that it would be taken home
with us and sold for the benefit of the
crew, and for two or three days We
were busy figuring out our respective
shares.
Then we encountered a Swedish mer
chairman in distress and stood by him
for portion Of the day to render as
sistance. He had come out of the
our captain incidentally inquired if il
cruising about we had ever got sight
of small brig named the Grodno
That brought out the story and solved
the mystery, and it also got our entire
crew into a peck of trouble.
The, Grodno was owned at the port oil
Ken, in the White sea. 1t appeared
that while she was waiting for a cargo
a band Of eight robbers plundered :
church and also the residence of thu
governor Of the province on the same
night. In getting away from the latter
place they had q fight and killed TIVE
OF their pursuers. They had carts il
which to carry off their booty, but in
stead of proceeding inland they tool
forcible possession Of the brig. Only
her mate and boy were aboard, bu
two or three of the robbers were alst
sailors. They compelled the mate t.
put to sea, and, though pursued til.
next day, they had the luck to get clea]
off.
The idea was to get to England Will
the booty, but after getting around OF
the north coast it was thought bette
to go into hiding until there was II,
longer fear of pursuit
The island of Tana, at the entrance
or Tana bay. was selected 1t wa
the Intention to strip the brig of every
thing and live ashore for few months
but when this had been partially &C
complished and while all hands wer
ashore one day the craft broke loo;
and went drifting out to sea, to b
boarded by us four or five days later
don't know whether the captain il
tended to put into any Russian port O
not, but 1t so he was saved the trouble
Two days after we left the Swede
Russian man-of-war which he spoL
and put on our track oyerhauled Il
and demanded the plate. When tina
was given up. we were commanded [
accompany him to Ken and were vii
tually under arrest during the yoyag,
I When we reached KEN, every ma
aboard. from captain to cook, wa
marched off to JAIL The captain wa
liberated on bond of some sort af.f
few days. but the rest of us wen
treated like dogs