The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-12

in due time we would be missed and a
steamer sent TO look for us. He had Il
All inquired out on slip OF paper. He
promised US relief within thirty days
We went back and reported in the
saloon Mothers sat and listened to our
statement OF the result Of our mission
while their babies cried or gurgled or
played on the carpet under the feet OF
the silent unaffected Chinese servants.
some bitter words were said. I'm afraid
we were pretty respondent. But we
agreed TO put up with our plight for
thirty days.
1t was an interminable month. The
snip steadily grew uncomfortable. We
stood harshly on our rights. / recall
that we were always complaining TO the
captain that the second cabin passen-
gers infringed upon our deck room, tina I
they were OVERLOAD and paid no atten
ton TO the usual notices restricting
them 10 certain portions of the ship.
Myers listened to everything pleasantly.
quietly silently, his gray head always
neatly covered by his sPotless cap his
long uniform coat carefully buttoned
across his chest But he didn't do any
thing-buf wait.
NO steamer came to our rescue. The
thirty days passed and a week besides.
The committee waited on the CAPTAIN
again and insisted that something be
done. boat should be sent on The
engines should be repaired. We com
ma nded him 10 take us to port This
time Myers listened frowningly. He ex-
plalned that IL was over a thousand
miles 10 the nearest inhabited land All
the resources of a Shipyard would he
needed TO fix the machinery. He was
doing his best. We must walt Then
We exploded.
1t should have been avoided at any
cost, tiat lOuu, angry debate between
the master OF the Parthia and Us. the
outraged passengers. Our hot words
carried all over the vessel, clear down
into the second cabin, into the engine
room, into the quarters OF the crew 1
confess that we were in the wrong and
Myers was right But it was a din
cult lmpasse. 1t ended in the captains
PeTemptorily ordering us out OF his
That night the ship seethed with
dlscontent and even mutiny. The crew
hung round the saloon doors The fire.
men sneaked on deck and listened to
our redhot arguments in favor of seiz-
ing the ship and Working her (God
Knows how'd into sone port. Women
walled Children wakeaed and bawled
plerclngly. Men cursed violently, and
we welcomed tho second cabin passen-
gers when they came in body TO back
US up In any desperate measures
You can see that it only needed a
match to explode the magazine The
next morning a seaman refused duty.
lie stood by the saloon door and cursed
the mate. The captain came and spoke
curly. lie ordered the rest of the watch
10 put the recalcitrant in irons No one
moved We all stood. silently waiting
for the outcome of the struggle II
seems TO me that the whole ship was
HolceIess, while the gray-haired, i'm
maculately dressed captain stared down
at the grinning sailor 1t is unbelIeva-
pie, but nobody of us all raised his
mana or gave sign in favor Of author
ny: Lei the captain fight 1T out.
For the second time the old man
sara austere'y. Put that man in irons
NO one moved. The seamen. drunk with
insolencey laughed loud and long, STAR
~! ing IOuH at US all as much as TO say
IsQe'RskS NE! I'm the man to talk! And
inout a tremor of hesitat ton
any OF us, quietly drew
Is pocket and shot the
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