Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-04-20
A RESCUE AT
SEA
Copyright, 1903. by c. B. Lewis. ]

Copyright, 1903 by c. B. Lewis.l
The brig Foam. bound from Liver.
pool to the West Indies and having Oh
board 25O English emigrants, had been
for four days drifting wreck when
lighted by the Dolphin of Bremen. 1t
90 happened that an American man
of-war to which l belonged as an en-
listed man put into that port for some
slight repairs, and twelve OF US desert
ed to go aboard of the Dolphin. 1t
does not excuse our action to say that
the captain brought this desertion
about by the promise of high wages.
He wanted a crew and did not care
how the men came to him.
We had been twelve days out when
we sighted the Foam as she lay wal
lowing in the trough of the sea- COM
plete wreck aloft. After a brief look
at her through the glass the captain
began cursing his i'll luck. AS a mat
ter of fact, we had neither room, water
nor provisions to spare, and the ship
was loaded down to the mark with
cargo, but when we heard our officers
propose to pass the wreck without no
tee every man Of the twelve was
ready for mutiny. We demanded that
communication be opened with the un.
fortunate people, and after good deal
Of growing the Dolphin ran down 10
the wreck and sent boat to her.
The report Of the mate when he re-
turned was to the effect that the peo'
pie we're on quarter allowance, with
much sickness among the women and
children, and that they desired to aban
don the wreck and be taken aboard OF
the ship. We had spare spars aboard
and the captain offered to sell three OF
four sticks for about three times their
value, the payment to be made in gold
on delivery. The brig declined this
generous offer, as the crew was sat
isfed that the shattered hulk could
never be worked into port, even il
fully proyisioned besides.
Our captain was holding of, not
wishing to take the unfortunates and
vet afraid of US, when a squall came
on, and he attempted to sail away
The whole crew, including the SECOND
mate, at once refused duty. The cap
tain and first mate then declared thei'
authority at end and went below, Blu,
we were not to be bluffed. The SECOND
mate was installed as captain and two
hours later all the people on the wreck
had been transferred. 1t was in goot
time, too, as gale came on that LASTED
for three days and must have sent thu
brig to the bottom.
We had mutinied and taken posses
sion of the ship, but we felt that cir
cumstances justified it. Neither insul
nor harm was offered the two officers
They made many threats as to TIN
punishment we should receive whel
the ship arrived in port, but we stoo'
firm and kept clear of any further quar-
rels Our craft had no accommodation
whatever for passengers, and you cal
imagine the mess we were in Whel
that crowd was taken aboard. Tn
captain not only fatty refused to tax
charge of the navigation, but woul
. have nothing whatever to do with til
: unfortunates. He could have sheltere
many women and children in the cabtl
but not even the sick ones were invite
to make use of it. Everybody aboar
= had to be put on short allowance q
: once. and shift was made whereof
q the women and children were at leas
n sheltered.
After a general consultation it Wa
decided to make for the Bermudas, an
e on the fourth day after taking the pe'
Q pie of the wreck we sighted an Anne
i lean ship and secured from her. a ia
J., eupply Of water and quantity OF hor