The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

1t was such a case as none of us had
ever met with before, and though we
had both mates with us, no one knew
just what steps should be taken.
What we finally did do, though the
woman threatened US with a revolver
every minute was to lower away the
long boat. stock her with water and
provisions and the craft. The
mates and the eva refused to leave
the brig, and If the weather held
pleasant the four men left could work
her into port or hold on until some
passing craft lent them aid
Twelve hours after out leaving the
ship and heading for the Azores a
gale came down on US from the south,
and we had to turn and run before it.
At daylight next we found
ourselves within a mile of the "Nep-
tune" Short-handed as she was, she
had been obliged to run before the
mast and been otherwise banged
about. AS soon as she made u out
we were signaled to close in and come
aboard, and in the course of half an
hour we found ourselves on her decks
again. The captain met US more than
half way, saying that his wife should
have no more to say, and that he
would not enter the Incident in his
log-book, n though the woman was
on deck with him, she had nothing to
say, good or bad.
We turned to after breakfast and
got things shipshape and put the brig
80 49, 0ooA91N ~ NaN W.
made fine runs and everything went
we'll aboard On the morning of the
fourth day, however, h captains
wife broke loose again.. She gave her
and then turned on the mates, and
before she got through every one on
board had come in for a bit of her
tongue. Her language to the first
mate was resented, and what did she
do but bring out a pistol and fire a
bullet into his leg. 1t would be more
~chivalrous in me to doubt if she was
In her right mind, but the fact was
that she had an uncomfortable tenn
per. Had the husband ocked her up
in her cabin all would have gone we'll.
out he seemed to fear her most of all.
IL was mut1ny over again. When we
saw that things were worse tina before.
and that there was no hope for better
ment, we took to the long BOAT again.
me second a and steward were
with US this time, and the chief officer
would have been but for his wound.
We made everything snug. set a sig
nal of distress and hove the brig to.
only people left aboard as we sailed
away. We ran to the south and held
that course until We had made a hun
bred miles. Then we got a piping gale
from the east and went drifting off be-
fore it. Our drift continued for over SO
hours, and at times we gave up all
hope, but the gale broke at last, the sea
went down, and after a run of four
CAA AAe II 4 SAAO0AQ we ldll II WlILl
but the brig we had twice abandoned.
We ran down to her, scarcely able 10
believe u eyes, and walking her quar-
ter deck as cOolly as if nothing had
happened was the same rmaga of
a woman. AS the captain was not in
sight we lay off and an, but seeing our
way clear. but presently the woman
came to the rail and called:
Get aboard here, you villains. and
get to work. The captain is i'll and
the mate laid up with that bullet [
gave him, and though I'm a determined
woman I cannot sail this brig to
Charleston by myself.
The sea o mighty wide and the
brig very inviting, and the result was
that we tumbled aboard Captain and
mate were glad of our return, but not
al hour had passed when the woman
began using her tongue in the same old
fashion. We got the brig on her course.
cleared up the decks, and then came
the question of what was to happen
when we had sailed her into port. We
had twice been guilty of mutiny and
abandonment, and no matter
what excuses we might urge
the lawyers and the courts might get
us into a pretty pickle unless WI had
some guarantee in advance.
A messenger was sent to the captain
but the conduct of his wife had not
onIy worried him into a fever, but in
one of her ebullitions of temper she had
assaulted him and inflicted such injur-
les thai he was ham to appear on
deck. He was ready to promise US i'm
munity, but she would not let him set