Graham guardian., 1911-03-10
uOW A MUTINY
a WAS AVERTED.

Copyright, 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
We were on our way from San Fran.
cisco to Bering sea for seals. Newer
did sail with such forebodings. II
was late In the season. and we had
picked up crew In San Francisco
such as no officer world he pleased to
sail with even IN fair weather, Ny
first mate trusted implicitly. but iny
second was new to me, and ! knew lit
tie Of his antecedents. The men had
been spending some, time ashore be-
tween cruises frequenting the lowest
dives in the city, and when they came
aboard they were drunk.
1t was q bleak day that we sailed,
and the weather didn't improve on
acquaintance My ship was sailcr
and required constant handling aloft.
A fine mist or sleet fell most Of the
time. and the rigging was thick with
ice. The consequence was that every
time man was ordered aloft he either
went with q growl or refused to 20 Mt
all. My first mate, Whittemore. ard ]
were kept busy most Of the tine
threatening. cursing or even knocking
them down with any implement that
came handy. AS for Harden. the sec
ond mate, II he gave a man en- order
and 1t wasn't obeyed be gave It to
some one else.
One day. when we were beating
against a biting northeast wind and
the clouds were splitting snow. while
standing on the after deck I saw the
men gathering on the forecastle. ]
knew trouble was brewing and. giving
Whittemore meaning look. directed
his attention for'ard. AS for Harden.
be was below. though had he been on
deck should not have placed any
reliance on him. Next ! saw a man
Of the crew of the name Of Billings
urging his shipmates to follow him
aft, starting himself, going few steps
and returning for more argument. A
few followed him on some OF these
advances, but the bulk OF the
crew hung back. Finally, after o
harangue that could not hear, he
made another move, and all but two
or three of them went with him.
It's not a pleasant sight for one
man with no support but a single
out on blustery ocean to
see a knot of men. doubtless with arms
concealed, coming to murder him. !
made up my mind to sell my life as
dearly as possible and uncovered re-
volver had carried ever since setting
sail. Whittcmore came and stood be-
side me.
The men had reached the compan-
Ionway when one Of them caught sight
Of something on the port quarter. 9th
ers turned to look, and one by one
they stopped. Thinking 1t safe to do
so, I turned my own eye in the direc-
hon they were, looking and saw ship
athwart our course. 1t was
she that had arrested the men. Those
bent on mutiny don't want any wit
aesses. They stood peering at her,
and as she drew nearer 1t was plain
that she had suffered rough usage.
Her masts, all except her fcremast,
were gone, and that had a single sail
set. No one was to be distinguished
On deck until she came within hailing
distance. when through the flying
one person was discover
able.
At the wheel stood a helmsman. The
ship scudded across our course not a
hundred yards In advance Of us, and
only the one man was to be seen. He
was motionless except for the rolling
of the ship. hailed. but he neither
nor turned even to look at
Us. He was not plainly visible and
only so for few moments. for no
sooner did he reach the nearest point
70 us than snow squall hid both him
and his ship. and when 1t thinned the
vessel was but a few indistinct lines.
Sailors are the most superstitious
people In the world. and my crew was
If the lowest aud most superstitious
type of sailors could see by their
appearance that they considered the
passing vessel phantom and the
wheelman ghost.
Here was my opportunity. Drawing
ny revolver and motioning White
more to follow me, walked briskiy
.orward. On reaching the forecastle
covered Billings with my revolver
md ordered him to walk aft. lie look
ID at the men for help. but saw that
hey were cowed and obeyed the Or
Ter. marched him down the gang.
way, and In few minutes my mates
lad him disarmed and in irons Then
went again on deck and told the
rev that II they wished to escape a
when we reached port they
had better return to duty at once
Most of them obeyed with alacrity
Those who showed signs Of giving fur
her trouble had put In irons by
he very men they had been influence
ng to mutiny.
The wind howled thar night. and the
,ext day we got an observation. Find
ng that was far out Of my course,
tut her OF considerably, sailing In the
Erection of the phantom. In another
lay we overhauled her. AS we
anne up astern Of her we saw her
lame, the Aida Of Tacoma. Wash.
There was the man still at the wheel,
,ut not another person in sight.
lrew up beside her. as near as dared,