Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-29
MATES BLOW CAUSES HIM TO
LOSE REASON
Saves Captains Life by Finding Him
In an Ice Hole and Leading a
Searching Party to the
Place

sailed up and down the western coast,
and during that time have weathered
many fierce gales on both land and
sea-" said Capt. Alvin Swanson, navl-
gator, adventurer and man of the world,
as he sat on the deck of his staunch
little oil burning steam schooner at
San Pedro yesterday afternoon, talking
to several cronies who had gathered to
hear the old sea dog recount tales.
zone Of the strongest adventures 1
ever had was in the far NORTH" con-
tinued the doughty captain, but 1t had
It's climax right here in San Pedro, and
If you fellows want me to tell you
about it, why here goes.
"In '96 was commander of the old
Viking, one Of the salmon fleet. We
left San Francisco early In May that
year for the Behring sea. There were
twelve fine vessels in the fleet, each as
good and as staunch craft as ever
went over the billows on a fishing trip.
1.-THE day before we sailed I was
standing on the deck talking to the first
officer. A young fellow, tall and well
built, approached and asked to see the
captain. He saluted me when told l
was the one he was looking for, and
then asked If by any manner of means
had an opening for him. His first
remark showed me he did not know the
difference between a marlin spike and
galley, but two of my men had been
arrested for getting into row the
previous night and 1 was short of
hands He looked so strong that 1
thought 1 could make a sailor out of
him, 80 after a few questions l told
him to report to the steward.
Gives Fictitious Name
while talking to the young fellow
| he gave me his name as Jack Bolin,
and I at once surmised it was one he
had faxed up for himself. He appeared
to be we'll educated, and 1 decided he
was some college student that had got
| into a scrape and wanted to make a
quick getaway. You fellows know it
don't make much difference to us where
we get men from when we go on a sal
mon trip, so 1 was pretty tickled to
pick him up.
1.-THE next day we hoisted anchor and
set sail for the north. For forty days
we were buffeted around by the winds,
but at last put into Sitka, principally to
give the boys a chance to get ashore
Too long on the sea is not the best thing
for man when he knows he may have
couple of years ahead of him with
nothing but ice and waves around him,
so 1 always made 1t rule to give the
lads a few days ashore before hitting
out for the fields.
"On the journey north 1 had not
heard anything about Bolin so supposed
he was getting along all right. 1 had
noticed him several times and he
seemed to have mastered the few things
new man has to learn, and naturally
supposed 1 had found a man who in
days to come might walk the quarter
deck.
I'VE had been in Sitka but a few
hours, however, when my first officer
returned to the vessel. I was sitting In
my cabin spinning yarns with a couple
of old friends I had met when he
knocked on the door.
IT answered by telling him to come
in, but he only opened the door and
nodded, so 1 could see he wanted to
speak to me. 1 went out on deck, and
his first remark caused me to open my
eyes.
Interested in Girl
"'Say,' he said, what kind of a guy
is that new chap we took on at Frisco?
That fellow Bolin. Do you know that
dub has done nothing since he left the
vessel but stick around a telegraph
office writing out kilograms, and he has
so far sent six to one girl. She lives in
Los Angeles and it is goin' to cost him
fortune to send 'em, but he told the
commander he didn't care for the price
but to get 'em off. Now what would
any fool want to send 5000 or $500 worth
of words to any girl for?'
II told him L was blessed if 1 knew
and told him to keep a sharp look
out that Bolin didn't make a break for
it. Lots of those new fellows that ship
become disgusted after a taste of the
life and will duck If they can.
THAT night my first officer came on
board about dusk. He had with MIN
three of the deck hands, and they We're
carrying something which was using
the language of white man, but which
1 had to look at twice to recognize.
When 1 did I found out it was Bolin.
His face looked less like that of a
human being than any mans 1 have
ever seen, but 1t was Bolin all right.
then turned and looked at the fell
lows who had brought him aboard, and
more beat up bunch I have never
seen. Not one of them but carried
marks on his face which showed he had
been in some kind of a scrap.
Captain says my first officer, I
don't know what we shipped, but If this
amt John L. Sullivan in disguise I'll
eat the rigging. Why, he laid out the
four of us and if / hadn't hit him on
the head with bottle he'd have killed
us. L never saw such a fighter in my
life.'
Something Of scrapper
"It seems. my young friend Bolin had
thought to break away and had been
found by the first officer hiding in the
kitchen of an eating house. The first
officer had started to tell him what he
thought Of deserter, and in the usual
manner of first officers had tried to
emphasize his words with blows He
didn't succeed very WELL for he had no
sooner struck the first one than he
found himself stretched out on the
ground with something which reminded
him of an egg right above his right
eye He then yelled for help with the
result that the three sailors ran IN
from a nearby saloon and clawed into
the affair.
1T only took them a few minutes to
make up their minds that they had
made mistake, for what Bolin did to
them was a plenty. He had handed
them couple each and had battered
them around until their faces looked
Ike jelly BY that time the first Of
ficer had about half come to, and had
sailed into the battle again. This time
| he went loaded and with a heavy No.