Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-30

Ever since the Spanish war was
fought have kept secret events that
occurred at its inception, though they
have weighed heavily on my con-
science. 1 have refrained from giving
it, partly lest by doing so 1 might be
forced to pay the penalty Of crimes ]
was forced to commit and partly from
O dislike to infiict needless pain on
those who might better never know
how loved ones supposed to have been
lost at sea really persisted. And now,
realizing that there will come a day
when those most intimately connected
with these unfortunates shall them
selves have passed away and the rec
ord be read only by another generation.
1 have decided TO put it in writing to
ease my conscience and that it may be
perused by those whom it may con-
Germ.
At the end OF the last century was
engineer on the Mary Blame, a small
steamer used for bringing Japanese
goods to America, returning loaded
with American supplies to be sold in
the island empire. On our way home
from one of these trips we touched at
Singapore.
On leaving Singapore we had got
we'll away from land when I received
an order TO put on more speed. / did
so and was jogging along at pretty
good rate when got another order to
run he- for all she was worth told
the stokers to heave in more coal,
opened all the drafts and turned on
all the steam she would bear. At that
moment the first mate came down the
iron steps white as a sheet and told me
that we were pursued by suspicious
looking craft, and, though she few the
British flag, the captain was sure she
was run by Asiatics. She was sa1ler,
Junk built, and since a stiff breeze was
blowing she was making about as
good Roadway as we. We were NOV
ing against the wind, while the other
was CROSSING it, thus getting all the
benefit from 1t that was possible. She
stood between us and the land SO we
couldn't run in. Her, object was to
reach q given point as soon as we.
What we should have done was to
turn back as soon as we suspected the
craft, but the captain, not really know
ing she was pirate, thought we could
pass her and thus save delay. He
reckoned wrong. The first thing
knew of what real danger we were in
was hearing a boom. Then 1 got an
order from above to shut off steam.
Looking out of my portfolio, / saw
the viIlainous looking thing sailing in
a course to head US off, while lot OF
copper colored rascals aboard of her
were raising a skull and crossbones
nag in place OF the union jack of Eng
land, which had been hauled down.
Moreover, some masked portfolios had
been opened and half a dozen small
guns run out.
1t was plain to me that all was up
with us. Not a soul came down into
the engine room to tell me anything.
but since I could see for myself what
was going on I knew they were all
paralyzed with fear would not leave
my post, first, because there was moth
ing to be gained by doing 50, and, sec
ond, might at any time receive an
order.
The pirate passed to point where
I couldn't see her, but 1t was not long
before / heard q tramping on deck
that told me we were boarded, and
down came a couple of swarthy Malays.
who covered me, the one with re-
volver, the other with a cutiass. The
man who covered me with eutlass
spoke enough English to tell me that
! was to stay where was and run the
engine. Two other men came down,
and one of the first two went on deck.
! knew by his bearing that he was the
commander and the other was his In
terpreter.
Nothing can induce me TO give an
account OF the incidents that occurred