The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-06-15

3. My.
Grandfathef''s !:
Story !. /:
From the Nndne.. Of Iii. Heart (:
He Fell Into a Trap /.
ny. EDNA L. TROOP :7 X: Z
Copyright by American Press Asso- :
citation. 1911. ~

story when | was boy. There were
certain incidents and pictures in his
narrative that made u lasting impress.
sion on my childish mind. cannot
give them as infinitely as he who was
the central figure of the story nor de.
scribe the tropical scenery us he saw
1t. lighted by full moon. eau only
mention the salient points as remeln-
Der them after an interval OF many
years.
II was first mate" he said, ..of the
bark Ann Eliza. We were tying one
night in the mouth OF st. Johns river,
Florida. The crew had gone ashore to
a dance at one of the plantations, and
the captain had gone In the same
boat With them to attend to some bust
ness. was left aboard in command
Of ten men. The captain had heard
that there was good deal of insubor-
dination among the negro slaves in
that region and that bands of me-
groes had cut loose from their masters
and We're going about footing what
ever of value they could find. He
charged me. therefore. to keep sharp
lookout for boats approaching the ship
and not permit them to come too near.
II was sitting on the quarterback
with minimum of clothing on ME,
for the weather was hot. smoking a
cigar. The full moon was about an
hour high and lit up the palms on the
shores and the moss hanging on the
forest trees. giving the scenery a pc
culiarly weird effect. There was not
cloud in the sky and no sound ex-
cept the waves rolling in on the beach
about mile away. the monotonous
rustling being occasionally broken by
song from q negro hut near the river
bank.
Il was enjoying the simmer Of
the moonlight on the water when
discovered black speck in 1t.
The water was comparatively smooth.
so that could keep the speck al.
ways In view. 1t soon grew more
distinct, and could distinguish what
looked like couple of paddles. one on
each side, flashing alternately in the
moonlight. AS the spot drew nearer
saw that these were not paddles, but
the arms Of some one swimming hand
over hand. the spot being the swim.
mer's head.
pretty soon the swimmer. man.
approached the ship. leaned over
the taffrail and asked him what he
wanted.
"'Please. cap'n.' he said. let me
come aboard and I'll tell you
Il ordered a rope ladder lowered,
and the man came up. He was not
much above the poor white trash or
der. He said he owned small plan
tation fronting on the river bank Just
below US, with few negroes. He had
learned that they were that night In.
tending to murder him and all bis
family and take possession of bis plan.
tation. He had come to us for assist
ance. 2.:-e
According to the mans story-and
he seemed very much affected-unless
sent a force to guard him and his
family I would permit their death. II
sent only part Of my men they
might also be killed. II I sent them
all 1t would leave the ship :unprotect.
ed. A man begging for the life Of bis
wife and children Is pretty hard TO re.
sist. would be disobeying the cap.
tain's orders and putting the ship in
jeopardy Il I tyieidedsi TO his solicita.
lions and would permit murder IL I
refused him! a'a1 I'll .flsR; Io.a
~ never liked doing things by halves.
Having decided TO Send d force to the
imported famfiy's assistance, deter
mined to send every man l had. This
would give them the greatest strength
In facs eof danger land throw iii the
responsibility for the safety Of thS ship
upon me. II she were attacked during
their absence ! would be killed. :. !
didn't wish any one killed with me-. I
preferred to take all the risk or none.
II ordered boat. lowered and every
man on board in It. The planter got
into the stern with the coxswain In
order to direct the course. put the
party under the command Of an old
salt named O'Neill and told him that
If he saw anything to cause him to
suspect treachery to tumble the plant.
er overheard and return at once. The
men pulled out, and watched them
in the simmer till they were lost IN.
der the bank.
"They had scarcely disappeared
when saw boat coming from the
shore on which they were to land, but
more nearly opposite the vessel. a
Il knew In a moment that had
been tricked. The swimmer had come
to lure away my men in order that a
force might loot the ship. In all my
seafaring life. With all its dangers,
death never seemed 30 near to me. I
resolved to make the best fight could
and kill as many Of my enemies as
possible. ! had aboard plenty Of mus
kets. cutlasses and few hand gro.
nades. ran below, gathered, .haif. !
dozen muskets. two pistols. two cut.
lassesi and a3steck Of hand Itsnades.
The musksts. and pistols ! loaded. then
carried the OUTFIT on deck. dspositine
II amidahips % the side tie boat wiaS
approaching. By the time I .~as ready