The daily Alaskan., 1909-04-26
EgOW A MUTINY AA WAS AVERTED.

lCopyrtrht. Ig12 by American Press Asso-
 clIupu.l
 We were on our way from san Fran cisco to Rcrmg sea for seals. Never did sail with such forcbodiugs. It was late in the season. and we had picked up crew iu San Francisco such IS no officer would be pleased to sail with even in fair weather My first mate l trusted implicitly, but my second was new to me. and l knew lit- lie of his antcccGcnts. The men had been srcuG.ug some time ashore be- tween cruises. frcqucnting the lowest dives in the city. and when they came aboard they were drunk.
 It was a bleak day that we sailed, and tGc weather didn't improve on acquaintanrc. My ship was a satlcr nnd required constant handling aloft X frc mist or s'cct fell most of the time. and the rigging was thick with ice. The consequence was that every time man was ordered alott he either went with gr0wl or refused to go at 0U Nv first mate. WhiJJcmore, and l were kept busy most of the tune threatening. cuySirg or even knocking them down with any implement that came handy. AS for Harden, the sec and mate. if he gave q man an order and it wasn't obcycd he gave 1t to some one else.
 One day. when we were beating nrlfYst a biting northeast wind and the clouds were SpitJing snow, while standing on thc after deck l saw the men cathcrin@ on the forccAsiIc. ,,nov trouble was hrrwlm. and, giving U.hifrrmorc a meaning look, directed his attention for'ard AS for Harden he was below. though had he been on Icr; should not have placed any rcI,arcc on him. Next ] saw man If ,ne crew oC the name of Billings rr~fn- his shiDmatcs to follow him 7rt starting himself. going a few steps md returning for more argument. A few followed him on some of these ircinfart advances. but the bulk Of the crow hung back. Finally, after ngrarguc that I could not hear, he rodc another move. and all but two or threc of them went with him.
 Ifs not a pleasant sight for one man with no support but single comrade out on a blustcry ocean 10 see q knot Of men. doubtless with arms concealed. coming to murder him. 1 made up my mind to sell my life as dearly as possible and uncovered a re- roIvcr had carried ever since setting sail Whittcmore came and stood be- side me.
 The men had reached the compan- iorwav when one of them caught sight of something on the port quarter. Oth- CTS turned to look, and one by one tbev stopped Thinking 1t safe to do so. ! turned my own eye in the direc- r'on they were looking and saw snip coming athwart our course. It was she that had arrested the men. Those bent on mutiuy don't want any Wit nosscs. They stood pccrinG at her, and as she drew nearer it was plain tbat she had suffered rough usage Her masts. all except her foremast, were gone. and that had single sail set. No one was to be distinguished on dock until she came within hailing distance, when through the flying spowHakcs one person was discover able.
 At the wheel stood a helmsman. The shin scudded across our course not hundred yards in advance of us, ana only the one man was to be seen. He was motionlCss except for the rolling of the ship. l hailed, but he neither answered nor turned even to look at us He was not plainly visible and only so for few moments, for no sooner did he reach the nearest point to uy than q snow squall hid both him and his ship. and when 1t thinned the vessel was but a few indistinct lines. Sailors are the most superstitious pcoplc in the world, and my crew was of the lowest and most supersduous tyne of sailors. l could see by their appearance that they considered the passing vessel a phantom and the wheelman a ghost.
 Here was my opportunity. Drawing my revolver and motoning White more to follow me. I walked briskly forward. On reaching the forecastle covered Billings with my revolver and ordered him to walk aft. He look ed at the men for help, but saw that they were cowed and obeyed the or der. l marched him down the gang way, and in a few minutes my mates had him disarmed and in irons. Then I went again on deck and told the crew that if they wished to escape ] bopCinc, when we reached port they