The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-10-10
4 Strange
ElOpenent.

L was mate of the American bri,
, Homer Lee, commanded by Captain
r Saunders, and we had been living il
=, the pool at London for forty davs t,
, get a cargo for some port In the Unit
gu states. The captain was the sole
owner of the brig, and as he was moi
wealthy man and as the preceding
voyages had been without profit it be
gan to look as If ii were the end of
MS mercantile career. On the fortieth
DAY, when things seemed to have
reached their worst, waterman row.
ed gentleman out to the craft
We spotted the man to be n gentle.
man and some one not at all interested
In shipping as soon as he came aboard.
believe to this day that he was a
man OF title and wealth, though l
haven't the faintest idea of his name.
lie asked to look the craft over and
our nrst idea was that he was looking
TO buy a ship. The Lee had n fine
cabin and staterooms, having once
been passenger packet to South
american ports, and after an investi-
gation the stranger, who gave the
name OF Montgomery and who was a
man about forty years old, announced
nlmselr as satisfied and then desired
to charter the brig for New York The
story he told was that his wife was in
poor health and that the doctor had
recommended a slow sea VOYAGE He
did not want other passengers aboard
nor dld he want to wait for cargo. He
| oHered much higher price for the
passage OF the two than we could have
got from an average cargo and would
furnish all the cabin stores in addi-
tlon. one of the stipuations made was
tnat we were to engage a cook above
the ordinary and carry a steward. An
other was that the two were to dine
by themselves.
we began engaging a crew and TAX
ing stores aboard the next day, and in
TOUR days we were ready. No mer-
cnantman sailing the seas ever took
such cabin stores aboard. The wines
alone would have lasted half dozen
people Tor a voyage of sixty DAYS,
while the provisions were what any
rich man would have ordered for his
pantry. Montgomery himself came
aboard at least an hour before the lady
dld' She waited for darkness, and as
soon as ever her feet touched the deck
she went to the cabin, and tug took
our line and started down the river.
1t was at breakfast next morning
and we were well down the channel and
mad cast of the tug, when there was a
row In the cabin. We could catch
nothing that Montgomery said, but the
voice of the lady could be heard
through the open skylght to the fore
mast. She surely had tongue on her.
AS matter Of fact she swore like a
trooper, and the man could not quiet
her She called him a rascal, a rogue.
liar and many other things and
ended up by throwing crockery at him.
The captain and I heard 1t all and |
were amazed. For sick wife the lady
seemed very vigorous. 1t was not for |
us to Interfere, however. In about half
an hour Montgomery came on deck for
a smoke and promenade. He seemed
to think some explanation due, and he |
said that his wife was a quick tenn
pered woman and was blaming him
that mall had not been provided for
her. She did not show herself during
the day. and we heard no more rows.
Ihat night we had something of a gale
that remained with us for three DAYS
ana brought her seasickness, and none
or us heard anything from her. Mont
gomery attended her and had very lit
tie to say.
L hn |
leaving London and we were we'll out
on the Atlantic when Captain Saun-
ders was called into the cabin by the
woman. To his great surprise, he
FOUND her person at least fifty years
old. She was not even commonly good
looking. On the contrary, she would
have been called homely anywhere,
and the wrinkles in her face betrayed
her age. She began abusing Mont
gomery as If he had been pickpocket.
She called him hard names, and she
swore. She declared that she would
go no farther In his company and
must be transferred to the first craft
bound for London. Montgomery at
hrst tried TO soothe her, but she yelled
and screamed and finally would have
Used her nails on his face had not the
captain interpOsed The woman de-
nied that she was his wife and said
hat he had grossly deceived her into
he situation, and she offered Captain
500 to transfer her that
lay. Montgomery finally told her to
20 If she so desired, and that settled ,
t. Within an hour we raised a lum-
Der vessel coming from the Ameri-
an coast, The woman was informed
Is to what sort of craft 1t was and
hat the accommodations would be j..
cry meager. but she insisted on being !,
She offered the other cap +,
ain 500 to receive her and was duly ,
anded ON the lumber laden decks.
Neither she nor Montgomery had had 9
word In farewell. or all her bag
age she would take only one single
iunk. telling Captain Saunders that ,
e could have the rest for his wife. :