The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-09-09

time the fact that the captain feared |
to attempt entering a neutral port
and that in essaying to do so we must !
run the risk of an encounter with |
some of our government cruisers, be-
gan to dawn upon my excited imagi. |
nation, making the possibility of an
early release from our unhappy condi- |
ton seem more remote than ever,
lowed by great depression-a sort of
despair-under which nature gave
way, and like a child, could not al
lude to our painful situation without
weeping Despair is said to give cour
age to the weak, but it failed in my !
case; and when the day closed, and
the gloom of night settled around us,
the fear and anxiety which seemed to
make up the sum of those dismal
hours may be perhaps imagined, but
no description of their terTors can be
given which will not fall short of the
reality. A soul suspended in Dante's
Limbo" could scarcely be more hoIe
less. We could not disrobe, but laid
ourselves down to rest in the clothes
worn during the day. Sleep was far
/ from being the sweet restorer," and
every movement of the armament
above, or noise about the ship, reused
me, until everything seemed one con
fused and horrid nightmare. One
night, after slumbering a short time,
l was awakened by an unsual noise on
deck, and as the wind had increased,
and we were sailing more rapidly, |
feared that a heavy gale was ap-
preaching. The most courageous rare
" desire a repetition of storm at
sea, and the timid are always agon'
lied in the prospect of one. Belong
ing to the latter class, an undefinable
sensation of fear and dread seized me
There was no light in the cabin, but
quickly rising and cropping in the dark
as best l could, l reached the compan,
conway, and on climbing the stars, a
man stationed at the top, armed cap
a-rie, forcibly reminded me of our
captivity. Fearful of giving offense,
asked the sentinel to excuse me, and
added that l was very timid at sea
and observing thar the wind seemed
to be increasing, feared that we were
about to have a gale The man
who was one of the rough crew-after
civilly assuring me that all was right
and that we had only fine breeze
added, Il knows yOu's not fit for the
likes of this" There was real kind.
ness of heart in the tones of Erin, and
I was sorry that the likes of him
should be engaged in so desperate a
business. / afterwards learned that
several of the crew from Mobile and
New Orleans, in private conversation
with the crew of the Jacob Bell de
plored being on the Florida but said
ludI luGS hlu bCCll NOlllpCllSu W 0Llll
so as to get food, as they were with
out employment and without means
Moreover, they expressed regret that
they also were not to be transferred
to a neutral vessel, or to be landed al
some port from whence they go to the
North.
In knew nothing of Captain Maffit's
Iantecedents, nor of his standing wher
an officer in our navy l learned, how
ever, from Captain Frisbie, that he
had at one time been attached to the
coast survey, and that his charts were
much used by mariners The captain
himself valued them highly, and sIokt
of the author as having been one Of
the first officers in our service in point
/ of ability. When we were first takeT
} on board the Florida he simulated the
/ air and tone of an honorable man, anC
! stoutly disclaimed all wish or intention
! to war on women and children, telling
5 us that all our private effects SHOULD
Y be respected and saved for us, an'
f was altogether so civil that although
I we could only look upon him as a sor
t of buccaneer, we were led to hop
t that he might still retain enough