West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-01-05
THRASH|NG A KING.
4 Native POtentate Lost His Head and
Got SOundly Punished by Trad
erS He Attacked.
by c. b. LEWIS.

We were trading to the Loyalty
Islands in the brig Louise, of San
Francisco, and on this particular
trip had anchored in bay in the
kings own island and opposite his
village. The king was called Tom
John, ~ he professed great friend.
ship fcS cS9raders. We had been there
for 10 days, and nothing whatever
had occurred 10 make as suspect
treachery. The captain and | had
been ashore several times, been
treated with the greatest Difference,
and the natives who had boarded us
did not need watch ng Tom John
had given out that # man stole
from us even to the value OF an inch
of wire he should be Drained with
a club.
The king was accompanied by
three of his escort, and we afterward
remembered that they appeared to
be more interested in the windlass,
cable and the spare anchor on the
rail than in all else about the craft.
A pressing invitation was given us
to attend a royal feast on shore that
evening, a sort of elbow OUT to
prove the friendship OF the islanders
but as the captain was not feeling
well he declined to accept. Tom
John and his friends appeared to be
very much disappointed and upset
that we were not to go, but when
they left the brig it was with the un-
derstanding that the feast should
come of a day or two later.
The night came down very dark,
with the promise Of a change Of
weather Every night we had had
two armed men on watch, while the
cannon was loaded with canister
and the muskets ready at hand in
case OF an alarm. There were 30
canoes drawn up on the beach, and
the adult male population Of the
town counted up at least $50. For
arms they had few old muskcls,
but depended mostly on bow guns
lances and bows and arrows. Aside
from these every man had - knife.
We had an anchor watch set, with
orders to be extra vigIlant, and this
man had not been on duty an hour
when he felt, as he aftcrward ex.
planned it, that something was wrong
with the anchor or cable. He
aroused the man who had left the
deck, but was ri5iculcd for his fears
and ordered 20 return TO his station.
Ten minutes later, having heard
suspicious noises over the bows, he
ventured 10 wake me up and relate
his fears. ! went on deck with him,
and after listening for few minutes
became satisfied that something
queer was going on, and called the
captain, who at once ordered the
sleepers among the crew TO be turn
ed out.
The black rascals were trying a
trick worthy Of Yankee. The tide
would begin to flow at ? O'Clock.
Four of their largest canoes had
gone out to the anchor, divers had
gone down with rope, and They were
lifting it of the ground TO LEI the
brig drift asho-e with the tide. We
couldn't see 70 feet inrO The night,
but We came to this conclusion from
the feel Of things, and we didn't
reach that conclusion a minute too
soon. went down into the cable
tier and softly Knocked out the
shackle pin, while he captain saw
that the end Of the cable went over
board without noise being lowered
by rope. a, the same time men
were sent sloit 90 loosen the sails,
and we got steersge way on the brig
just in time 60 save her. Some Of
the fellows most have been nearer
than we Imagined. for as wc headed