Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-07-21
Mutiny and
Piracy

JaDeH snow OF ~hcniebuhk, was almost
as good a sailor as her husband. She
had gono with him to the West Indies
ON seven voyages und had acted as
mate and second mate. She could mend
a sail. steer her trick. mako or take in
sail and use II quadrant as well us any
one, or at least as we'll as any mate
that ever sailed with the Hannah Snow.
as the brig was named. Captain Snow
ran between Boston and the West In
dia islands, and the shippers Of Bos-
ton came to know his wife and the way
she could discipline IA crew aud han
die the craft.
On u certain date the brig was load
ing In Boston for n quick market. Elk
ira help was put on to get the cargo
aboard, and Captain Jabez signed a
bond to get that cargo to its destina-
ton within a certain number Of days,
barring hurricanes. wa%terspouts and
other acts Of Providence. The bond had
not been signed more than an hour
when he broke his leg. Nothing was
surer than that he could not carry out
bis agreement, and a great financial
loss ns well as many weeks Of
tious delay stared the couple In the
face. They must either find a captain
to take charge OF the brig or forfeit
the charter and pay a good round sum,
and Captain Jabez was wondering II
u man could be found when his wife
broke in on him.
"Jabez, you have broke your leg. and
l don't want to be cross with you, but
you seem to forgit that / am still on
earth"
mo. 1 don't" no replied, "but don't
see what you can do IN this case ex-
cept to git me back home and nurse
me-"
well, l see where 1 can do
thing else, and I'm goln' TO do it too.
I'm goin' to take the Hannah to the
West Indies and bnck and save our
charter"
Have you lost your sensesT"
"Not a bit Of It. II l couldn't make
that voyage l wouldn't be worth my
salt. know all the crew, and I'll have
Bill Henderson for mate. Wen slip
down there and be back ng'in before
your leg has begun 10 knit. There
needn't be any more talk about finding
a captain"
When Captain Jabez thought the
matter over he was inclined to think
that his wife could do all she said, but
the consignees had 20 be consulted.
When Aunt Hannah went to them and
stated the case they did not raise a sin
nla ohNankfOn md lN wrvao .ANfI1I kl,ok
abe was to be Captain Hannah Snow
for the voyage. 1t was only after the
brig had left port that the mates
meanness came to the surface. He
had sailed with the craft on several
voyages and was a nelghbor Of the
Shows at home. When the accident
happened to Captain JRbez the mate
naturally hoped to get command for
the voyage. lie would have been dis
tressed IL any other captain had come
aboard, but to be walked over by a
woman, even though she was the cap
taln's wife and a neighbor, was too
much.
Aunt Hannah saw that ne was In the
sulks. Look here, Bill Henderson"
che said, sit won't do you the least
mite OF good to go on biting your
tongue over this. l can captain this
brig as well as Jabez, and I'm going to
take her out and back"
You'll have her at the bottom be-
fore we strike the gulf stream" he re-
piled.
You never mind where I'll have her,
but tend to your knitting. We are to
crack ON and make the best time we
can"
A day later she found the mate carry
ing too little sail. and an argument
ensued. Later on she came on deck
from her watch below to find him
cumming with the men. Two or
three other things happened to put her
out of temper, and she exercised the
privilege Of a captain by breaking
the mate and sending him to the TO-
castle. When she would replace him
with the next best man, the sailor re-
fused to take the place. The crew was
with the mate. Aunt Hannah express
ed her mind freely, and as II conse-
quenee the crew refused to obey: The
brig was brought to the wind, sail TAX
en- Oh, and the woman was laughed at.
She was told that not a mar would DO
duty until the mate was r%elnstated.
Then It's mutiny, is itT' she replied.
VERY well. I'll let you know that
you've got the wrong pig by the ear.
I'll lose brig, cargo and everything else
In the world before I'll give in"
For a day and a night the brig made
no progress, and as the weather was
fair she incurred no danger.
The crew saw that the woman did
not intend to give in, and 1t angered
them. There was one among them
who had read dozens Of pirate books
and always lOnged to sail under the
black dag. Things had never come
right for him before, but now he took
advantage OF the temper Of the others
to breach the subject. He was a good
talker, and he held out such an alluflng
picture that even the mate, who was
above the average man In intelligence,
agreed to go into the pirate business
with the others. This decision was
communicated to Captain Hannah, who
was wandering about unconcernedly.
NNWaaN MN 49,. III - % IL