Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-03-18
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CHAPTER !.

n4trative, yet they will scarcely be
found among those who go down to
the sea in ships" To them the un-
fathomable mystery abiding upon the
face Of the great deep, the constant
marvel Of huge, heaving leagues of
watery solitude, secret and profound.
must ever remain SO vast, SO mex
plicable. as to be beyond any interrog-
atory of the finite-the strange, the
unexpected. lurking everywhere. To
others, mere landsmen, confidently
imagining that all phenomena can be
reduced within the contracted limits
Of human comprehension. l need say
no more than that witnesses still sur
vive to corroborate the principal Incl
dents Of this story. which l now pur-
pose writing in the full glow OF a men,
ory still dominated by the events to
be recorded.
1t had come to be the 5th day OF
April. the year 1879. I. John Stephens.
aged "a. occupied a rather comfort
able seat upon the shaded balcony of
that large. ultra-fashionable hotel at
Valparaiso. which. az travellers will
recall. clings to the steep hillside over
looking both the city and harbor be-
meath. I was alone. not having as yet
ordered the serving Of the evening
meal.
A gayly attired military band was
playing noisily in a nearby plaza. and
through the Intervening distance was
able to distinguish plainly the patri-
otic notes of national music. / even
believed that a medley OF shouting
voices. mingled with an echo of
cheers. was borne to me on the rising
night wind. and I leaned above the
low railing to gaze down. slightly in
terssted. as a regiment Of Chilean in
faNry-regulars of the line. from
their white trousers and stiff hats
swept swiftly past the hotel corner in
rapid time, to disappear suddenly
over the steep crest In the direction
of the quay. Far away, toward the
right, where the long row Of gray
stone barracks was still dimly visible
against the darker background OF sur
rounding hills. was to be discerned n
glimmer OF steel. as squadrons OF cav
airy and artillery engaged in dress
parade. their numerous banners flap
ping against the sky. At the moment
these several occurrences served to
awaken the merest interest. tending
rather to bring home to memory a
freshening knowledge Of the despera-
ton of my situation.
1t can all be told in few words: I
was persona non grata to the Chilean
authorities. with apparently every pos.
sible avenue leading forth from the
f,.I, -
While personally unknown to those
officials, thus far successful in mask
ing my movements under the guise OF
a foreign gentleman OF leisure tenn
porarily resident at a fashionable
hotel, l nevertheless discovered 1t i'm
possible to break through the Gordon
OF watchful government spies and
shake the Chilean dust from OF my
feet. A rapid explanation will suffice.
A native OF Massachusetts,, of excel
lent family connections. together with
prospects Of furure wealth. I early de-
vflsped the understandable propensi-
tieYof a rover. and after a vain effort
to 10 my reluctant ambition toward
ontSf the learned professions my par
ents. despairing Of ever doing better.
finally consented to apprentice me to
the sea- Unfortunately for the reali-
zation OF their more secret hopes, l
took to that hard, adventurous life as
q duck to water, SO that, at the end OF
five years service. had risen.
through the various grades. to the hon.
orable position OF first officer in the
old Leyland line, my steamship being
the Vulcan. trading between New
York and South American ports.
Soon after attained this berth my
father died suddenly, leaving behind
him a fair amount Of property. a good
ly share OF which came to me In cash.
It chanced that, during a previous
voyage, a passenger on board had sue
ceeded in Interesting me deeply In GER
tain mining operations which he was
conducting under a Bolivian conces-
sion. Finding myself In possession OF
abundant means. and experiencing
that occasional disgust for sea life
common to all sailor-men. 1 embarked
with boyish enthusiasm in this new
enterprise, not only investing a con-
siderable amount of money. but like
wise giving the company my personal
services as assistant superintendent.
Beyond doubt our concession was
an extremely valuable one. but. as we
were soon destined to discover, 1t
came - us with On unfortunate flaw in |
the title. there developing n spirited |
controversy between the constituted |
authorities Of Bolivia and Chill. over !
which country the territory involved |
belonged. From harsh words In pub.
lie. II the private exchange Of dip.
lomatic notes. tho argument rapidly |
advanced to blows, and was finally re.
ferred to the arbitrament Of the rife.
As our financial interests were en-