The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-03-03
A RESCUE AT
SEA
Copyright. 1903. by c. B. Lewis. ]

YOf TOUR days urlfllnS NFcch NbtH
sighted by the Dolphin of Bremen. 1t
80 happened that an American man
tf-war to which / belonged as an en-
listed man put into that port for some
slight repairs. and twelve us desert
cd 10 go aboard OF the Dolphin. 1t
does not excuse our action to say that
the captain brought this 1csertion
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 Il brief look
Mt her through the glass the captain
began cursing his i'll luck. AZ 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
tice every man of the twelve was
ready for mutiny. We demanded that
communication be opened with the I'M
fortunate people. and after good deal
Of growing the Dolphin ran down to
the wrcc,; and sent bout TO her.
The report of the mate when he re-
turned was to the effect that the PEG
pie were on quarter allowance with
much sickness among the women ana
children and that they desired TO nban-
don the wreck and be taken aboard of
the ship. We had spare spars aboard.
and the captain offered 10 sell three or
four sticks for about three times their
value. the payment TO he made i'll gold
on delivery. The brig declined this
generous" offer. as the crew was sat
isticd that the shattered hulk could
never be worked into port, even II
fully provisioncd besides.
Our captain WAS holding off. not
wishing to take the unfortunates ana
yet afraid OF us. when Il squall came
on. and he attempted to sail away.
The whole crew. including the second
mate. mt once refused duty. The cap
tain and first mate then declared their
authority ut end and went below, but
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 good
time. too. a n gale came on that lasted
for three Days and must have sent the
brig TO the bottom.
We had mutinicd and taken posses
sion Of the ship. but we felt that cir
cumstances justified it. Neither insult
nor harm was offered the two officers.
They made many threats as to the
punishment we should receive when
the ship arrived in port, but we stood
firm and kept clear of any further quar-
res. Our craft had no accommodation
whatever for passengers, and you can
imagine the mess we We're in when
that crowd was taken aboard. The
captain not only fatty refused, TO take
charge of the navigation, but would
have nothing whatever to do with the
unfortlIrntcs. lie could have sheltered
many women and children in the cabin.
but not even the sick ones were invited
to make use of it. Everybody aboard
had to be put on short allowance at
once. and IA shift was made whereby
the women and children were at least
sheltered.
After II general consultation it was
decided to make for tho Bermudas. AMI
nn the fourth day after taking the peo-
pic Off the wreck we sighted an Amer.
lean ship and secured from her fair
supply Of water and Il quantity of flour
and biscuits. 1t WIS run of seven
days more to the islands. and during
the last three days no adult had food
enough to keep down the pangs Of hun
ger. None Of lis believed that we could
be punished for taking the ship out OF
the captains hands to save human life.
meddlcd with but for the presence of Il
british manof-war in port AS soon
rs o1r eaptain could board the craf
and report all Of us were arrested and
flung into prison To await the action OF
the law. ! never found out Just where
they intended to send us for trial, but
presume it was Bremen.
I'll Spltie reason or Ofnpr mere WIS
n long delay. and at length matters
we're complicated by our being claimed
rs descrters from an American man-of-
w;r. The people whom we had saved
We're grateful enough 10 be sure. but
all others looked upon us as Il lot OF
pirates who ought to have been hung
ms soon as captured. When we hid
been in Jail five months we got word
from an American who was pretty
thoroughly posted on the case TINT we
should soon be sent away for trial and
that we might expect Mt least five
years Imprisonment apiece
This news decided us to make an at
tempt 10 break jail. and one night a
week later, using tools which guard
had been bribed to pnss in TO us, we
Eawed away the bars of Il window and
gained our liberty. Proceeding to the
harbor, we found an American vessel
ready to sail. and before onr escape
was discovered we were miles mt sea,
Five of us nfter7yard surrendered TO
the naval authorities as deserters and
took our punishment, but what become
of the others do not know.