The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-07-16
-uOW A MUTINY
WAS AVERTED.
tcopyrisht. 1909. by American Press Asso-

ciationl
We were on our way from Gan Fran
cisco to Bering sea for seals. Never
did ] sail with such forebodings. 1t
was late In the season, and we had
picked up a crew in San Francisco
such as no officer would be pleased to
sail with even in fair weather. MY
hrst mate ] trusted implicitly, but my
second was new to me, and ! knew lit
tie Of his antecedents. The men had
been spending some time ashore be-
tween cruises. frequenting the lowest
dives in the city, and when they came
aboard they were drunk.
1t was bleak day that we sailed,
and the weather didn't improve on
acquaintance. My ship was. ~ sailer
and required constant handling aloft.
A 6ne mist or sleet fell most Of the
time. and the rigging was thick with
Ice. The consequence was that every
time Q man was ordered aloft he either
went with a growl or refused to go at
all. My FIRST mate. Whittemore, and
were kept busy most Of the time
threatening. cursing or even knocking
them down with any implement that
came handy. As for Harden. the Sec
ond mate, II he gave a man an order
and 1t wasn't obeyed he gave 1t to
some one else.
One day. when we were beating
against a biting northeast wind and
the clouds were splitting snow. while
standing on the after deck I saw the
men gathering on the forecastle.
knew trouble was brewing and. giving
Whittemore meaning look. directed
his attention for'ard. AS for Harden.
he was below, though had be been on
deck ! should not have placed any
reliance on him. Next ! saw a man
Of the crew of the name Of Billings
urging his shipmates to follow him
aft. starting himself. going a few steps
and returning for more argument. A
few followed him on some Of these
incipient advances. but the bulk Of the
crew hung back. Finally. after a
harangue that could not hear. he
made another move. and all but two
or three Of them went with him.
It's not pleasant sight for one
man with no support but single
comrade out on blustery ocean to
sec knot of men. doubtless with arms
concealed. coming to murder him. ]
made up my mind to sell my life ns
dearly as possible and uncovered re-
volver / had carried ever since setting
sail. Whittemore came and stood be-
side me.
The men had reached the compan
ionway when one Of them caught sight
Of something on the port quarter 9th
ers turned to look. and one by one
they stopp.A Thinking It safe to do
80. ! turned my own eye in the direc-
ton they were looking and saw ship
coming athwart our course. 1t was
she that had arrested the men. Those
bent on mutiny don't want any wit
nesses. They stood peering Mt her.
and as she drew nearer 1t was plain
that she had suffered rough usage.
Her masts. nll except her foremost.
were gone, and that had single sail
set. No one was to be distinguished
on deck until she came within hailing
distance. when through the flying
snownakes one person was discover
able.
At the wheel stood q helmsman. The
ship scudded across our course not a
hundred yards In advance Of us. and
only the one man was to be seen. He
was motionless except for the rolling
OF the ship. hailed, but he neither
answered nor turned even to look at
Us. He was not plainly visible and
only 90 for a few moments. for no
sooner did he reach the nearest point
to Us than a snow squall bid both him
and his ship. and when It thinned the
vessel was but few indistinct lines.
Sailors are the most superstitious
people In the world, and my crew was
Of the lowest and most superstitiOuS
type Of sailors. could see by their
appearance that they considered the
passing vessel q phantom and the
wheelmau a ghost.
Here was my opportunity. Drawing
my revolver and moti0ning White
more to follow me. 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. ! marched him down the gang
way, and In few minutes my mates
had him disarmed and In irons. Then
I went again ON deck and told the
crew that II they wished to escape Z
hanging when we reached port they
had better return to duty at once.
Most Of them obeyed with alacrity.
Those who showed signs Of giving fur
Their trouble l had put In irons by
the very men they had been inluenc-
Ing TO mutiny.
The wind howled that night. and the
next day we got an observation. Find
ing that was far out of my course.
put her or considerably. sailing In the
direction Of the phantom. In another
day we overhauled her. As we
came up astern Of her we saw her
name. the Aida Of Tacoma. Wash.
There was the man still at the wheel,
but not another person In sight. l
drew up beside her. as near as ! dared,
and. exa mining the helmsman through
II glass. saw that he was stone dead.