Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-05
LOCKED IN
THE LAZARET

(NPEAKING of sailors superstitions,
Cant. Dan Burton used to say that
when the crew Of the Daphne once took
the notion that he was ghost, they
came dangerously near making him
ghost in reality.
Burton was second mate at that Time
and his memorable experience actually
began when the Daphne, three days out
from Point de Gale, Ceylon, was be-
Gained for fortnight.
Finally, one afternoon, came tiny
cloud; within an hour 1t spread over the
sky and completely obliterated the twi-
light. When the captain came on oecK
he called all hands to wear ship A Tor
nado was bearing down on them, ana
they must work for their lives.
Burton found a fore-tack broken
thanks to the weather that had turned
the rigging to tinder-and jumped to the
lazaret to replace 1t. Many heavy articles
were between him and the spare rigging,
and Burton called young sailor, FREQ
Roberts, to help him move them.
The two were struggling with big
hawser when the captain roared: Helm
alec! Wear ship! Hard overP -Tney
heard the helmsman repeat the last or
der. Then all In an instant the universe
seemed to be plotted out, and Burton
and his companion knew no more.
To realize their situation 1t is neces-
sary to remember that the lazaret is, SO
to speak, the ships storeroom. Extend
ing behind and on two sides OF the caDin'
II takes in all the space under decks,
from the stern to the line where the
quarterback ends and the main-deck
begins. In It the steward stores food In
tended for the officers; and their trunks,
together with valuable materials, extra
supplies and fittings, are put away In 1t.
The space between the ships knees az
fords plenty Of ventilation by means OF
the air wells that extend from the outer
deck to the ballast hold.
A sliding door in one side OF the stew
ards pantry gives him admittance to the
lazaret, but ofhcers generally enter, as
Burton and young Roberts did, through
a small hatchway in the wheel-house.
II was natural enough that, in the excite
ment Of preparation for q storm. their
movements should pass unnoticed; that.
finding the hatchway open, q stupid
helmsmAn should cover It and think no
more about Il, and that the two, men
should be given up as lost
Burton came to himself with sensa-
ton Of lightness in his head and faint
ness at his stomach. Pitch-darkness pre-
vailed, for the bull's-eyes that dimly
lighted the la1aret when It was empty
were now covered up: but putting out
his hand, Burton felt q human form
"Who IL ~" he asked. A snore was
the only answer.
Then Burton straightened his stifI-
ensd limbs and rolled himself clear.
He heard the seaman at the wheel strike
eight bells; but whether that meant
eight or u or four o'clock, or night
or day, he could not tell. He did rsmern-
Der, now, who his companion was He
put his mouth to the young sailors ear.
Eight bells! Change watchl" he
cried.
The habit Of ysarA made the sleeper
start up. "Ehf what7 Obi" he
groaned. 'You awake, siri You all
rightf" he asked.
what time Of day DO you think II ID,
RobertsF" Burton returned. Eight bells
has Just struck"
Must be morning, SIR"
you don't mean to tell me we've been
here all nighti Impossiblel"
"But It amt, sirl You didn't know
nothin' for long while after old Nsls,
that was at the wheel, let the ship veeI
up in the wind. She most turned upside
down. You must have got your head hit
them was pretty well banged round
myself--and afterward you went to
sleep without fairly ssnsln' anything"
Have you tried TO attract attention?"
NY knuckles e wore out poundin' on
that whesi-houss hatch, SIR the sailor
said, plaIntively. '1forced 1t up with my
head once, but when thoIlered At Bristol
Dave, be dropped the wheel and hollered
Inc he was scared to death. Scared me,
that AID. I fell backward, and fore ]
could climb up again they had the hatch
patterned down and padlocksd."
Cant We dc through to TIE utsWardf
pantEyf-
@Traid not. niF. This here laEarol &
fun chosk-a-hloek. ell but tbs littls holt
ws'Fococpsd Up IN, and W couldn't move
he star 'ceuss thsgst nouheFa % movt
rita