Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14

ter Of vessels running out of Baltimore, and
never before had he had such an experience.
He has always tried to treat his men kindly
and lead a good life, he said for his whole
LIES work has been devoted to his wife and
one daughter, who Ia at the Woman's Col
lege. Capt. johnson is a Norwegian by birth,
but came to this city in 1870.
What the Log Showed.
In true nautical style when telling his
story he produced his log book and that of
his mate to substantiate his statements.
There. in black and white, were the stories
Of the two men, and they were identical.
I'VE had just got under way about 8
o'clock Saturday morning" he began. "for
we had been anchored under Cape Lookout,
set and we were going along. so told the
mate the men could go below and smoke a
pipe or rest a bit told him they had bet
ter saw up some wood for Sunday. and that
was the way the affair started.
after awhile I told Jennings to get the
saw from the forward deck. but he did not
answer me. Finally I asked him II he had
heard me and he replied he guessed he had.
His manner was surly. I called to him
again and then he yelled out:
I'm not going to saw wood
Then you refuse to obey your orders,
I said
II you come down here. he said, I'll
knock your head off!'
"'You must be a fool to think I'm going
to fight you,' said I. for I'm going to log
you
''Then I went aft for my log and after
his conduct determined to be in a position
to defend myself IL anything happened I
placed the pistol in my pocket and went
back to the TO castle, but had no idea that
he would fight me. l wanted to read to him
what had written, so I called to him to
come out. He hesitated and after had
called two or three times he came on deck
Again repeated that the only fighting
inf
wanted him to hear what had written. SO
that he could give his answer in the pres
ence of the mate and the steward
Captain Says He Was Hit First.
IT had no idea that he would do me any
harm or strike me, but he suddenly struck
me a terrible blow on the left temple. AS
he delivered the blow he yelled:
"T viii kill your
IT fell to the deck from the blow and did
not remember anything for short while.
When came to I ran into the galley to get
away from him. Jennings followed me and
attacked me again. This time he caught
choke me he reached over for a knife. For
q while tried to keep off his blow with my
left arm, and all the while 1 was getting
the pistol from my right hip pocket.
"Then-well, could not see where I fired
and don't know how often I fired. for I
was so stunned from the blows. Suddenly
he released his hold on my throat and stag
eered toward the door. 1t was about 10:45
o'clock and we were ten miles out when the
mutiny occurred. Jennings died about noon.
II concluded to make back to Cape Look
out but the wind was not favorable. and
after trying to make that port we gave 1t
nm and came on to Baltimore, our destina-
ton.
"His Life or Mine!"
at was simply his life or mine when I
shot in self-defense. My only idea was to
log Jennings; that is, to make a note on
the log book and stop his wages from the
time he refused to obey orders. but he was
always a surly fellow, though he never be-
fore refused orders.
Mate Bittner shared the cell with Capt.
Johnson. He had little to say. but nodded
his head time and again as the captain
related the circumstances leading up to the
shooting of the sailor. Finally he warmed
up a bit and handed over his log book,
which was kept In true sailor style.
s.This day, February 8, begins with light
winds" he began, land after the sails had
oil heen set the men rested for while.
Then I started to cut wood when the Sea-
man Paul refused to do his duty. He want
ed to fight the captain, but Capt. johnson
went off after his log book and when he
came back he called Paul out to read what
he had written. Paul came on deck and
said:
..Then he struck the captain. who re-
able Paul followed with curses ana tooa