The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-21
A IASE OF BLOOD

Y
Jonathan Greenwill was a china
merchant OF Philadelphia. BE had sew
eraI ships afoat, and his son Robert,
having taste for the sea, was given
command of one of them, the Pelican.
The old man decided to make voyage
with his son on the Pelican and had
stateroom fitted up for him.
The voyage to China was unevent-
full. Jonathan GreenwilI, who was
Quaker Of the mildest type, sat much
ON deck. looking over old oceans
bosom, which throbbed gently: the
clouds above, which rolled peacefully,
and the sea birds. which sailed grace
fully. Nothing could have been more
conducive to deepening Of the old
mans noncombatant principles.
The voyage out finished and a goodly
cargo Of silks, tea and other valuables
having been taken aboard, the Pelican
started for home She was sailing
southwark one afternoon on the China
sea midway between the Malay PENN
sula and the island of Borneo when a
low, rakish looking vessel appeared on
the eastern horizon that especially ar
rested Captain Robert Greenwill's at
tention. The old man sat on deck in
his chair, absorbed. as usual, in the
peacefulness Of the scene. The captain
went below, and when he returned
strange noises were heard underneath.
What are those sounds, Robert?"
asked the father.
Gums being hauled into position be-
hind masked openings. Do you see
that vessel? She's pirate"
But, Robert" exclaimed the old
man, rising in great h'epidation, what
is thee going to doT
"Fightg'
The father said nothing for some
time, then spoke earnestly:
Robert, thee knows my principles
II thee fight, cannot help thee
you can go below, father, and await
the issue there"
What arms have theep
1--WE always carried three guns on
each broadslde, and have a plentiful
supply OF muskets and cutlasses."
II never knew that, or would not
have allowed it."
THAT knew very well. father"
An hour later the situation was as
follows: The Pelican and the pirate
were within mile of each other, both
heading for the strait The owner of
the Pelican was in his stateroom. To
enable him to keep his principles he
| haH In4.lra1 hfVnSaIf t,, ~.
key out through portfolio. In doing
80 he caught sight of the pirate just as
she "broke" the skull and bones from
her peak, and few moments later she
fred shot across the Pelican's bows.
Mr.. Greenwill was expecting to hear
some response from the Pelican's guns.
but he did not. Since this was in ac-
cordance with his professed views he
should have been pleased. but he was
not. He started to go and see what
occasloned the delay, but found the
door locked. A profane word was on
his lips, but he repressed it. Mounting
stool, he called through an opening
above the door:
why doesn't thee fire, Roberto"
But Robert was too far away to hear.
besides being otherwise engaged. JON
athan got down from the stool and
went to the portfolio Just In time to
see the pirate fire gun that struck the
Pelican within twenty feet Of the open
Ing through which he was looking. The
pirate was now near enough for him to
see the deck swarming with the ugliest
lot Of yellow cutthroats he had ever
looked at.
Again forgetting that the door was
locked, he tried to open 1t. At that mo-
ment there were three simultaneous
boomings in his own ship, and he ran
back to the portfolio to get view. He
saw activity on the pirate and new
guns run out.
Inc light was now well on, and be-
tween the booms were heard sounds of
the old mans boot against the doorsof
the stateroom, which finally yielded.
and Jonathan Greenwin rushed on deck
with cutlass that he had picked up
as he ran.
Give 'em-more balls, Robert! Why
don't thee fire fasterg"
All hanus ready TO repel boardersw
was the captains only eeply, seeing
that the pirate was hauling in toward
the Pelican.
Ten minutes later the pirate had
graphing irons on tho Pelican and
lot Of fiends were climbing aboard. The
Pelican's crew were fewer in number.
but Of superior race. The Pelican,s
deck was higher than the pirates, and
as the pirates put their hands on the
gunwale they were chopped or by the
cutlasses of the Pelcan's men. Never
theless a number q them got aboard.
and both sides fought desperately.
Finally, when half Of those who had
boarded were killed, the pirate sheered
on and left the rest at the mercy OF
the PeIlcan's crew.
Then for the first time Robert Green.
VIII got view OF his father. The old
man, covered with pirates blood. his