The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-08-10

Is knocked out by one 'ooman to a hull
ship. Stoughton 'asn't got used to IL
yet, but he VIII. got used TO Il long
ago. My old DOMAINS corlxer. When
she's mad yed think the thunder was
a-rollin'. When I see one o. them
storms a-comin' I've Earned to take I'm
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 traclless ocean
dismasted was one thing-there was
still dlsciplino-but 10 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 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. I don't
see that there is anything for us to do
but mutiny ngin the new master and
take the ship ourselves"
"That's all very well, mates," put
I'm Tom Billings, "perwidin' you can
get rid o. the 'ooman. But after ye
got the ship what We goin' to do with
a..pA .l~- al
That's my experience"
This was 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.
at seems 10 me- mates" continued
Billings, that ye're up agln a want
o. knowledge o. navlgatin' the female
craft. All ye got to do is to put 'em
afore the wind and let 'em scud Ye
can't steer 'em, and If ye try yen sure
come to grief But 1 knows there
hain't no use o. talxin' to you. You're
bound to run this here business yer
own way, so We can count me 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 body and demanded the per-
son of the "'ooman as has took this
ship" The captain made q pretense
of resistance, combining himself to
words instead of acts, then told them
that, being powerless 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 q Gagged
lioness. They put bedding down with
her, and It was understood that her
meals should be let down to her regu-
larly.
"Did ye obsarve the look on her face,
matesY' 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
large sea rolled under the vessel he
noticed that she didn't rise with her
accustomed buoyancy. Billings was
standing by Mt the time.
whats the matter with herT'
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 meanT asked the
captain anxiously.
"The 'ooman." -
"Well?" T
when she was put in the hold I
was wonderin what she'd do, so I've
Kept my blinkers open. The ships
DRAWN more water, sir, than she did
three days ago."
you mean
"She scuttled."
Inc cupluin maze dive Tor tho
calling on Billings to
follow Entering the hold, they found
four feet of water. The point of leak
ago was covered so that they could not
see 1t, but they found some Of the
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
few feet above the keel.
The hole having been plugged, the
captain ordered Mrs. Stoughton locked
IN her own 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. 80 the cap
tain asked for his advice.
There's Just two ways o. managin'
oomen. SIR" said the old salt. "The
irst Is to git away from 'em, tho sec
ond to let 'em have their own way.
AN only judge by my own experience.
After was married observed that to
keep tho family peace I'd got to knuc-