The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1908-01-30
FINANCING
A SPREE
BY j. c. PLUMMER
(copyrlght, BY Daily story Pub COP

AQOln, tlONIl, 10 load IOr itaNfc inc
merits Of Aquin, as a port, were can
vasscd in the forccastlc. A sailor rs
a living gazetteer of the world and
if he hasn't been TO port he has
always known some ono who has.
The reports concerning Aquin were
not favorable.
II was described as town in
habitcd by niggers tarantulas, cent?
pcdcs and scorpions, devoid of
amuscmcnts and depressing to the
soul of the average seaman. Doubt
less if iadcs was dispassionatcly de-
scribcd it would be found to have
one good feature and Aquin pos
scs,ed one the chcapness of white
rum. An cXchequcr must be de-
pletcd indeed, that could not af-
ford a suticicncy of tins s,.;rit for a
term of blissful intoxicaton.
We reached Aquin. which lies at
the apex Of a triangular bay, and
dropping anchor made ready TO
take on a cargo of logwood. Log
wood and yellow foyer are the chief
exports Of the town, many vessels
carving away an assortment Of both
products.
Our skipper was a hinty-cheeked
Scotchman SO mean that he wouldn't
burn sidclights at sea TO save oil, and
while labor was dirt cheap, he put us
TO loading cargo while there was lot.
Of necessary work wanting in the
rigging
The cargo came of in lighters,
and one day we were notified that
the next was a holiday and no wood
could be sent out Then Mike, a
~mooth-faced lrishman, the spokcs.
man of the crew. demanded shore
leave Of the skipper Capt Nc
Dewitt suggested work in the rig
ging, but Mike convinced him that
not a stroke of work would be done
by the crew that day, and he grudg-
lngly consented. On one point he was
immovable; not a penny would he
advance us. He knew that money
meant a drunk, a fracas and conse-
quent confinement III calabozo
from which We could only be re-
deemed on payment of fine, and
while the Haytians might be behind
the times in many things, they knew
how TO levy fines against skipper
who had to have his crew to put to
sea. True, the fines would be
charged up TO us, but then Capt
McDcyitt feared we might desert
at Ilavre and leave a balance owing.
] That night we held a ways and
/ means committee in the forccasto
and il was barren of results. Not
only were we pcnniIcss but farthing-
less. The whole crew, including the
cook, could not raise money enough
TO buy a ha' penny tart.
Ned, the cockncy, had had a
counterfeit shilling which had been
spurncd with contumcly by many
vendors of spirits in many ports,
but even this had been stolen from
! him at Barbados.
"Wots the use of going hashore
if we've no money growled Ned.
Mike was beating a tattoo with a
spoon ON the tin dish which had con-
raincd our supper and said nothing.
Night as well stay aboard thi,
blooming brig sighed another.
whist said Mike, "be aisy. I'm
beginning to see hole in the
clouds"
What is it, Nike" we clamorcd
"We'll 90 ashore tomorrow" he
answered, "and wen thry an ider
that's come to me. I've been twice
TO San Domingo and | know the
ways Of these naygers,"
We went ashore early the follow,
/ ing morning. The cook came witt
us to bring back the boat and had
agreed to come for us i'm the evening
He had not been taken into our
confidence that Mike had a plan il
embryo and simply turned up whar
he could of a snub nose at the ide5
of a iaunt on land with no liquor
We walked demurely up into thu
town, Mike in the lead. A var wa.
in progress between Hayti and Sal
Domingo and soldiers were ON
niprcscnt. And such soldiers. Their
crazy quilt uniforms and obsolete
guns, together with their eyidcn
wondcrmcnt at what we saw to laugl