The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-18
Bride kent Lonely vigil.

Forty-two days and AZ nights did the
Lody of Capt. Jim Lorenz lie in his
cabin aboard the bark John Ena, While
the gallant vessel beat her way through
the storms of Cape Horn and breasted
tie pillows of the Atlantic ocean on her
way from Honolulu to this city. for the
captain had died on the voyage. Dur
ing all these weary nights and days
did Mrs. Jim Lorenz. the young WIRE
of the captain. keep lonely vigil be-
side the rude box that contained the
body of the man she loved, while on
deck below forward were heard the
mutterings of a mutinous crew, whose
superstitions, bred on the ocean wastes,
babe them beware of ship on Which
a dead man lay. The body, they said,
must go over the side or else the ship
was doomed. Through it all the young
wife, slight of figure and with the face
of a madonna, watched the cabin where
the body lay and babe the crew respect
the dead.
Slowly, very slowly, behind putting
tug, the John Ena proceeded up the
Delaware yesterday, and off the wharf
at Morris street the anchor was drop
ped. Still did Mrs. L1orenz keep her
vigil. Today when dawn breaks the
wagon of an undertaken will slip down
to the wharf the body will be brought
ashore and shipped to San Francisco,
followed by the faithful wife.
When Jim Lorenz courted his bonny
ne promised her she should go along on
his first voyage when he got his ship.
His opportunity came, and the two sail
ed on their honeymoon from Honolulu
aboard the four mastered bark John
Ena. laden with cargo Of sugar.
During the run around the Horn the
captain died of Bright's disease, and
Olsen, the first officer, ordered the ship 6
ca rpenter to prepare a coffin. When the
box was finished 1t was lined with zinc
the body Of the skipper was placed
within, the casket filed with alcohol
the lid of zinc soldered on, and the
wooden top screwed fast. Then the
crew stood at respectful attention, wait
ing for the funtral at sea The coffin, how
ever, was carried back into the cabin
the door was shut, and the impertur-
liable Olsen paced the quarterdech
alone.
A committee, led by the bos'n, re-
ouested full particulars. They were
told in a few short, curt words there
were no details. The body would stay
where 1t was until the snip reached
port.
Then the trouble began. Olsen slip
ped his revolver in his pocket and GRIM
ly regarded his crew. In the CABIN MRS.
Lorenz sat beside the coffin, and for
ward the men gathered in small groups
Ordered below they went unwill1ngly.
Several laggards went headfirst' and
olsen resumed his pacing of the quar-
terdeck.
Day after day passed in monotonous
routine The time of the ship was far
better than ever before, and the days
were counted off the calendar by MRS
i,orenz as the chip raced home. Fair
winds favored the funeral ship, and
with full sail set she heeled to the
breeze as though anxious to reach porl
with her burden of woe.
Time and again the crew in their
wrath demanded the body, time and
again Olsen, with the pleadings of the
wife in his ears, swung a Delaying pin
and some one who had muttered said no
more-for a time.
Finally, in the record time of So days
the ship raised the cape. passed the
breakwater, and was yesterday toweo
I'D the river, to swing at last at her
anchor off Morris street. Tuesday she
will dock and her cargo will be dis
charged.
Most of the crew spent last night In
the dens and saloons of the water front,
seeking to drown in grog the recollec-
tions Of their voyage.-Philadelph dis
Patch to Baltimore American.