The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-06-27
IN A LIVING TOMB

One autumn she was dlseharglng a
general cargo at the railway pier. VIII
Jamestown. Port Philip and my duty
chiefly consisted IN keeping a watehfui
eye upon the stevedores ut work In the
hold.
Notwithstanding all my vigilance
casks aud cases were constantly sent
OH deck void OF contents, and l had
just been censured by the chief officer
FOR not keeping sharper lookout. This
CALLED me much. for was confident
the gang then ut work were not the
depredators. ~ -.- a
At last ! received hint from the
cook that there was always plenty of
grog knocking about in the forecastle.
and the inference | naturally drew
was that the sailors had effected i'm
gress to the hold by forcing passage
through the bulkhead In the fore peak
and made nightly incursions upon the
cargo, so / resolved 10 sneak below
after the matches had been closed &C
sunset and endeavor 10 catch some OF
the crew In fiagrante dellcto.
told the first mate the suspicious
entertained. and he considered my
project a good one. so shortly after
nightfall he lowered me down the after
hatchway himself. carefully recloslng
It.
CROPPED my way forward for some
distance. clambering on hands and
knees over chests bales and boxes, un-
I'll at last found my progress impeded
by several huge cases OF machinery.
which barred up the passage from one
hatchwny TO the other on the star
board side.
On the port side and amidships
small cases OF wine were slowed, and
as could easily lift them commenced
removing the top layer and crawling
ahead as l did So
At last, on removing a good sized
bale. found empty space before me,
and, concluding 1 had arrived at the
main hatchway. whence all the cargo
had been removed, l faced about and
began lowering myself by my hands
and feet 10 the keelson. but case
grasped gave way, and was suddenly
precipltated TO the plank flooring, the
package falling upon my legs AID hold
ing me down with its weight, which
was considerable.
The air was hot and sitting. and
peculiar sickening odor hung upon II.
After fumbling In my pocket for
match struck the last one I had
against the iron band OF the case. Di.
rectiy Il ignited a sheet OF white flame
fitted around. and in It's pale, weird
| light 1 saw n CHASTITY skeleton crouched
In close proximity TO where I lay.
uttered wild screams for help, but
only the echoes OF my own voice an
swered. and no other sound broke
through the dread stiffness save the
hurrylng rush OF many feet as swarms
OF rats fled over and away from me.
/ could see nothing In the intense
darkness; but, as II lured by fascina-
ton, I glanced In the direction OF the
CHASTITY figure untll my eyes were al
most out OF their sockets | was but
youngster, and | could bear the horri-
BILE fantasy no longer. My overstrained
nerves relaxed, and swooned
Now long l remained unconscious
cannot tell. but when my senses re-
turned heard noise a short distance
ahead OF where lay and saw ray OF
yellow light gleam through the inter.
stices OF some loosely slowed packages
on my right. Then sound OF mans
voice fell upon my ear. and by the
tone OF 1t knew that sailor named
Castairs was In the vicinity OF where
lay
ITS good thing for us the mate
thinks it's the Jumpers as breaches the
cargo or we'd never get drop OF this
good liquor. Say, Bill, can't we snug
gle of enough 20 last the voyage
homer" heard him say.
"Carstairs!" I called IN faint voice
that sounded strangely unnatural even
to myself. Help! I'm damned up In
here"
'Bnl. Bill. ala you hear thatf' half
shrieked the terror stricken sailor.
"Tis summat onnatrol, anyhow
Let's get out OF this. Joe ! know no
good would ever como Of this way Of
doing business" replied his companion.
"For mercy's sake. don't leave me
here 60 diev' cried
That's the third mates voice. for
sure said Carstairs what's be arter
down heref Spying on us, | s'pose.
But n he's got hurt It's best we should
go and help him. He's not a bad sort,
and perhaps he won't split on u.s.
was sorely bruised, but no bones
were broken. The sailors assisted me
along until got under the main hatch
way; then they went up on deck via
the forecastle and told the mate they
thought some one was down the hold.
lie, thinking l had made capture,
opened the hatch. am i was hoIstcd,
more dead than alive. from the hold
beneath.
1 explained all TO the mate except
the part relating 20 the two sailors, for
did not wish 60 get thcm into trouble,
II IA they had aided me aud next dav the