Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-03-02

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she's mad ye'd think the thunder was
a-rollin'. When l see one O them
storms a-comin' I've rarned to take in
all sail, batten down the 'atches and
let the storm blow itself out. Then
there's a dead calm for a spell. and a
fair breeze follers."
Billings, an experienced man, talked
to those without any experience what
ever. To be out on a trackless ocean
dismasted was n thing-there was
still discipline-but to be there with
the captain and all hands subdued by
one who had never studied navigation
and couldn't make an observation was
another. The first would be in the
line of a sailors life; the second there
was no precedent for. Something
must be done. One proposition after
another was made, discussed and dis
carded. Finally Dick Smalls, one of
the younger members Of the crew.
spoke up:
"It's plain that Mrs. Stoughton has
mutinied and took the ship. | don't
see that there is anything for us to do
but mutiny agin the new master and
take the ship ourselves"
That's all very we'll, Mates" put
In Tom Billings, "%perwidin' you can
get rid O. the CONAN. But after We
got the ship what We goin' to do with
her? Hain't she still in command?
That's my experience"
This was a poser, especially as the
crew, nearly all of whom were single
men, had great respect for Tom Bill
lings' opinion on anything concerning
the opposite sex.
ut seems to me, mates" continued
Billings, "that ye're up agin a want
O. knowledge O navigatin' the female
craft. All We got to do is to put 'em
afore the wind and let 'em scud. Ye
can't steer 'em, and if We try yell sure
come to grief. But 1 knows there
hain't no use o. talkin' to you. You're
bound to run this here business yer
own way, SO We can count nj out"
With that he went on deck. ;
The next day the mutiny plan was
carried out. The men, except Slough
ton, who was not consulted, marched
aft in a body and demanded the per-
son of the "'ooman as has took this
ship" The captain made a pretense
of resistance, combining himself to
words instead of acts, then told them
that, being power1ess in face of a
united crew, they could do what they
liked with the woman.
A round robin of four men was ap-
pointed to take Mrs. Stoughton down
into the hold and turn her adrift,
where she would have plenty Of room
to walk back and forth like a Gagged
lioness. They put bedding down with
her, and it was understood that her
meals should be let down to her regu-
larry.
did We obsarve the look on her face,
mates? remarked Billings after the
woman had been safely put away.
when they looks that way it means
the weather glass is a-goin' down like
lead"
Three days passed without any trou-
BILE SO far as the prisoner was con
cerned. From the moment she was
put below the accustomed cheerfulness
came back to the crew, enhanced by
contrast with their late condition. But
on the fourth day when the captain
was standing on the poop deck and a
large sea rolled under the vessel he
noticed that she didn't rise with her
accustomed buoyancy. Billings was
standing by at the time.
"What's the matter with herr"
growled the captain to himself.
"It's my opinion, SIR" said Billings,
putting his knuckles to his cap, that
there's somepin in the cargo as don't
belong there"
"What do you mean?" asked the
captain ~anxiously.
1.-THE 'ooman."
"Well?"
"When she was put in the hold l
was wonderin' what she'd do, SC I've
kept my blinkers open. The ships
drawin' more water, sir, than she did
three days ago."
"You mean
"She scuttled."
The captain made a dive for the
companionway, calling on Billings to
follow. Entering the hold, they found
four feet of water. The point Of leak
age was covered so that they could not
see it, but they found some Of the
carpenters tools Of which Mrs.
Stoughton had possessed herself. All
hands were called to man the pumps,
and when the water had been removed
a large auger hole was discovered a
few feet above the keel.
The hole having been plugged, the
captain ordered Mrs. Stoughton locked
In her wv cabin, then called the crew
aft and asked for suggestions as to
what to do with her. Every man jack
Of them looked at Billings, SO the cap
tain asked for his advice.
There's just two ways o. managin'
'oomen, sir" said the old salt. 1.-THE
first Is to git away from 'em, the Sec
ond to let 'em have their own way. I
can only judge by my own experience.
After I vas married I observed that to