The Jasper news., 1908-03-12

(Copyrght.)
By T. Jenkins Hains

He was a Russian, of course, and
Finn. We signed him ON as vladimir
Hjalmir, but we knew him as -WaIly'
and a hailing from "Wallywadstok-'
The war had made us a bit careful,
about shipping either Russians or
Japs, but we were short-handed, and
"Wallywadstok7 was a good place to
get away from before the warm
weather set in.
We ran to the southwark and man
aged to get well into the heat of the
China sea before the wind failed us.
-. "Wally' was in my watch, and as
held the chief mates. berth had 6
chance to see much of him.
In the quiet moonlit nights al
lowed the watch to lie about the main
deck and rest as they saw fit. They
had plenty Of work I'M the daytime,
and the man on lookout was the only
one that I saw Kept awake.
"Wally' had a way of climbing
upon the rail at the fore-rigging and
sitting looking at the moon, with his
legs hanging over the side. 1t was
manifestly an improper position for a
sailor on duty, but I never bothered
him, save to try and find out some
thing Of his past He had much Of
the anarchist about him, and his de-
sire to leave VladivCstok at q time
to remain and fight the Japs was .
source of some speculation, to us. l
tried to win his confidence on several
occasions and treated Him as he had
never been treated before aboard any
ship, but my reward was only great
Difference of manner. coupled with an
alacrity at obeying orders. 'WalIy"
would not discuss his countrymen or
their affairs He could speak English
very well and with only slight ac-
cent, which showed that he was
above the average Finn in intelligence
and that he had travelled much in for
eign vessels.
He was sitting in his favorite posi-
tion one night when T happened for
ward.
You don't mind, sir?'' he asked.
quietly, meaning my discipline CON
cerning his seat.
mo. sit STILL" answered "Rut
you'll get overheard, and II you do III
not stop for you"
1T is no matter, sir; yoF would
waste time. All, what does it mat
ter?" He spoke in a low tone, hardly
above whisper, and ! leaned on the
rail and looked over the meonIft
ocean. What does it matter when
this little consciousness is over? 1t Is
nothing. I've gone out and come
back and might as we'll have
stayed"
"There're easier ways than drown.
Ing" I remarked. Then there arc
the sharks"
II doubt IL. sir, I doubt it, he an
swered. I've seen hundreds go
/ down, sir. hundreds and hundreds, IN
wriggling masses, yelling, screaming.
cursing and all trying to stay up
for what?-yes, what? 7 was in the
Petropavlovsk' when she sank
"You?" said, and looked at him.
He was not Joking. He>w was quiet for
minute. and then began again:
Yes, sir. There were 600 Of Us in
her when she sank, you remember. II
took but few minutes and then the
sea was just as smooth and quiet aa
before-a few minutes Of struggling
crying, straining-jtIst a madness of
fear as her bottom opened under her
and she went down like the great
mass Of iron she was. Did they know
what sunk her? Did they? Not less
than 100 of them knew it."
DO yon know 7 asked abruptly.
somewhat sharply, for he seemed 80
. unnaturally garrufous that hogan tu
wonder IL he had stolen any 0f the
rum In our stores ,-st .g,-.. +,sg
: Il was aboard, SIR he said.'.s ~
Who were picked up?" 1 asked.
hoping to start him again.
About 20 CT us, sir. was in the
screW, of 1.-THE forward ayorpedoroaus
beloEs thes water lines TIfste was a
/. big dark man. in thatscrew aaiskf =
powerful man--and he went dnzn
.,s,