Morris tribune., 1905-12-09

E~IdE AImlrdnIe RecdlQe, lOf SucL
was the name of the galleon
was easily and speedily repair
eG by the skilled seamen of the
Mary Rose under such leadership and
direction rs the experience of Morgan
and the officers afforded. By the be,
ginning o. the first dog watch even a
critical inspection would scarcely have
shown that she had been in action.
With the wise forethought Of sea-
man, Morgan had subordinated every
other duty to the task of making the
vessel fit for any danger of the sea,
and he had deferred any careful exam
ination of her cargo until everything
had been put shipshape again, although
by his hurried questioning of the sur
viving officers he had learned that the
Almirante Recalde was indeed loaded
with treasure Of Peru, which had been
received by her via the isthmus of Pan
anna for transportation to Spain. On
board her We're several priests return
ing to Spain and also an aged abbess,
Sister Maria Christina.
In the indiscriminate fury of the as
Bault one or two of the priests had
been killed, but so soon as the ship had
been fully taken possession of the lives
of the surviving clerics had been spar
ed by Morgan's express command.
The priests were allowed to minister
to their dying compatriots so long as
they kept out of the way Of the sailors.
In the hold Of the ship nearly 15O
wretched prisoners were discovered.
They were the crew Of the buccaneer
ship Daring, which had been COM
manded by a famous adventurer NAM
ed Ringrose, who had been captured
by a Spanish squadron after des-
perate defense off the port Of Callao,
Peru. They were being transported to
Spain, where they had expected sum-
mary punishment for their tniGuities.
No attention whatever had been paid
to their protests that they were Eng
aishmen, and, indeed, the statement was
hardly true, for at least half Of them
belonged to other nations. In the long
passage from Callao to the isthmus and
thence through the Caribbean they had
been kept vigorously under matches.
Close confinement for many days and
enforced subsistence upon a scanty
and inadequate diet had caused many,
to die and impaired the health of the
survivors. When the hatch covers
were opened, the chains unshackled
and the miserable wretches brought
On deck their condition moved even
some Of the buccaneers to pity. The
Ralleon was generously provided for
her long cruise across the ocean, and
the released prisoners, by Morgan's
orders, were literally treated. No
work was required of them; they were
allowed to wander about the decks at
pleasure, refreshed by the open air,
the first good meal they had enjoyed
I'm several months and by generous
allowance OF spirits. AS soon as they
learned the object Of the cruise, with
out exception they indicated their de-
sire to place themselves under the
command Of Morgan.
As soon as it could be done more
careful inspection and calculation sat-
lsfied the buccaneer of the immense
value of his prize. The lading of the
galleon, consisting principally of silver
bullion, was probably worth not far
from a million Spanish dollars-pieces
of eight! This divided among the 1SO
survivors of the original crew meant
afiuence for even the meanest cabin
boy. 1t was wealth such as they had
not even dreamed Of. 1t was prize
the value Of which had scarcely ever
been paralleled.
They were assembled forward of the
was made. When they understood the
news the men became drunk with Joy
1t would seem as if they had been sud-
denly stricken mad. Some of them
stared in paralyzed silence; others
broke into frantic cheers and yells;
some reeled and shuddered like drunk
EN- men. The one person who preserved
his imperturbable calmness was Nor
gan himself The gratitude of these
men toward him was overwhelming.
Under his leadership they had achieved
such a triumph as had scarcely ever
befallen them in the palmiest days Of
their career, and with little or no loss
they had been put in possession of
prodigious treasure. They crowded
about him presently with enthusiastic
cheers of affection and extrayagant
vows Of loving service.
The general joy. however. was not