The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-07-13

slowed away in the cargo. We
stretched 1t around the gunwale. We
d1dn't consider it sufficient to keen Off
an enemy, but excellent fol-. purposes
OF delay. We put two rows, one above
the other, from stern to .midships in
order to make 1t easier for the blacks
TO attack us aft, thus concentrating
them to our advantage.
We had two couplings on the boilers
and hose enough to reach any part Of
the ship from both couplings. By
sunset we had all our dispositions
made. The captain was in command.
The drst officer was to work, the port
and l the starboard hose. The arms
were distributed among the white
crew. The Asiatics were kept In the
hold.
AS the evening approached they be-
gan to cry to be let out, not relishing
being murdered like rats in a trap.
And they also feared that the blacks
might set the ship afire or let the wa
ter In on them to drown them. We
paid no attention to them, and they
finally became more quiet.
Long before the sun surrendered the
day to the moon we had everything
In readiness to repel boarders. Open
1ngs were left In the fencing, which
was closely woven, with q barb on
top, so that we could fire at our enc
mics as well as keep them from get
ting at us. When there was only
moonlight dark cloud rolled over our
big round lantern and hid it. As it
was being obscured we saw every ca
noe pulled furiously toward us.
1t seemed to me that we fifteen
white men opposed to more than three
times their number Of strong men
armed with spears they were used to
handling, besides probably some fire.
arms, had very small chance for our
lives. We were supported however,
by faith In our arrangements for their
reception, and II we could reach them
with our steam Jets we had confidence
In its power to harm them considerably.
Now and again while our enemies
were pulling toward us thin part Of
the cloud passing over the moon would
give us some light. The coming ca
noes and their loads were black as
Erebus, though here and there we
would see fash when the moonlight
struck shield or steel weapon.
Nearer came the black death till the
canoes reached a point cables
length from us. Two pulled to port,
two to starboard and one toward the
stern.
1 wondered how they proposed to
board us, for we had been careful to
leave nothing hanging for them to take
hold of. AS soon as they came beside
their method. They were provided
with ropes Of their own making LOT
what material did not know-and at
the end of each was q sort OF Y
made from a forking branch, one side
being free to form hook. They, no
sooner came near enough than they
began to throw these VS. to catch on
the gunwale. But here our, wire fenc-
ing stood us in good stead. The blacks
found it impossible to get an attach
ment except at the openings we had
purpOsely left for our own action.
Standing at my post, with my noz-
zle, l saw one Of the canoes come to-
ward me, and its crew, seeing single
man apparently unarmed to defend the
opening, pulled directly under me.
One of them threw a v, which caught
on the gunwale, and black came
quickly up, climbing hand over hand.
l gave him q dose of steam right in
the face.
With a wild shrek, he dropped
into the boat. l dared not remain ex-
posed to a spear thrown from below;
but, sighting the position OF the boat,
l reached out with the nozzle In my
hand and poured a stream Of hot va
por into it. Knowing. by their yells
that they were in distress, l made bold
to lean over the ships side and turn
the stream from one end Of the canoe
to the other.
For awhile the blacks were too para
not been severely scalded jumped into
the water, leaving the wounded In the
boat to drift away. OF course as soon
as they were put out of the fight l
desisted.
Meanwhile the first officer was hav-
ing a similar experience with the
blacks on the other side, as | well
knew from the yells coming from that
direction. I had no sooner driven on
my enemies than was ordered by the
captain to the stern, where several
blacks had already climbed up and
were jumping down on the deck.
did not need to go to them. l simply
turned steam jet on them. Some Tell
on the deck; others managed to get
over the taffrail and down Into their
canoe or the water.
And so at every point we achieved
an easy victory without firing shot.
Great is the power Of steam. Since
our triumph ON the African coast with
no other weapon / have wondered