The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-10

to the scale provision and then n
captain rolG the o 0 not to cock il
for Us, and that was another troub.
away out Il sea. We We're getting
two buckets Of water for four men
and out 4 that We had to cook. drink.
eat and wash every twenty-Iour hours.
and 70 make ! . little G Relish.
as II IS q down east tricE. m (the cap
tain Pit salt water in fresh lust for
mtanneSS, 50 that We could not drink
it and SO, TOO. that he would no have
to buy much or any water in Cuba.
Why. q course. ne had fresh water for
himself Z officers. ali right. When
we got down to the Bahamas he partly
sold off One-thi~d of the ships stores
10 those people there for little tor
nothing, such as money shells
SpOngeS and bananas. The captain
gave away fully one-half or the canned
goods he had On board. but strange to
say that he Captain RumilD could
give US any meat TO a when
Coakley asked him. but he could sell
and give away. | want TO show to the
world that this is a pretty fine way to
start trouble On q ship when trouble
is nigh and all ready. Anyway we
went to Cuba. We worked hungry and
thirsty in all that hot u until we got
the coal cut and went on to Mobile.
The name Of that schooner instead Of
the Berwind was the H~ell-on-sea,
that's all. When We COZ to Mobile we
loaded with lumber for Philadelphia.
and whilst in Mobile I. Scott. had to
board out and dined with my friends
until We left Mobile. Both the mat
and cook got drunk and /, with tn
engineer. had TO cook for ourselves
and for the captain. We also had TO
do the mates and our work while they
were in Jail. The captain worked us
just like he felt like doing and if any
n was about TO say anything the talk
was of putting'us in Jail or Of shooting
On the 25th Of September we set sail
for home and after we sailed both the
mate and the engineer got mad with
me. Mind. these TWO officers were the
the time We left home. but things had
changed greatly indeed. To the day
OF tragedy the mate and theengineer
told ne that the CAPTAIN had c~OnCOc-
ed with the three Of them. that is tn
mate. engineer and COOK. 20 tackle on
Of us forward and as they knew that
W would Sight the . would place US
under arrest-the ( cOlCred-and "a
the vessel had steam the conld TAX
her into port and swear that we had
duty. or in other words mu-
and then Jail lis and make US
lose all Il wages for spite or revenge.
Now all this was TO happen when the
schooner got up to Cape Ha-teras and
the only man who heard this besides
NE was C0akley. when the engineer !
telling / 70 me and SO was the
mate. COakley was the only one who |
saw me when | threw the captain over
COakley saw all Of the affair I.
rom the start 10 finish. The truth IS +,
hat the trouble did not start about
any coffee. Neither did Adams, Saw
yer and Coakley buy pistols in Mobile. |
All OF that was my defense against
hem. and. too. about the boat that was
what I was going TO work TO evade the
but these three men spoiled my
business.
This is how the tragedy started:
the morning Of the 10th Of October.
905, Sawyer called-up me and Coax
ey. We dressed and came upon deck
went 10 relieve Adams a. the
Wheel and /. Scott. relieved Sawyer OF
lookout. The fact is that Sawyer
nd Adams were below when relieved
in the forecastIe. Presently the mate
ne and told me TO saw some
rood for the engineer. II was dark.
O / asked The mate If he couldn't let
he wood be until after coffee. The
ngineer spoke up by saying that II he
-as mate he would make me saw the
rood or punch me. SO | said 70 the
ngineer: Instead OF pushing the
late 10 punch me why don't you punch
lie yourself" Before the last word
a out Of my mouth he (the engineer)
t drive al me Both Of Us were fight
lg and the mate inrerfsred by draw
lg his revolver and helping the engi-
eer, while the cook. who was standing
/ the galley, ran 10 the rescue Of the
mcers with q Ratchet In one hand
nd revolver in the other. / was gain