The daily Alaskan., 1911-08-09

! The first officer was Co work the port and ! Che starboard hose The nrms were distributed among the white crew, The Aslaucs were kept iD tbe hold.
 As the evening approached they be gan to cry Co be let out not relishlng being murdered like rats in a trap. And they also feared that the blacks might set the ship afre or let the wa ter In on them to drown them. We paid no attention to them. and they finally became more qulel.
 Long before the sun surrendered the day Go the moon we had everything in readiness to repel boarders. Open fnrs were left ia the fencing, which was closely woven, with 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 a dark cloud rolled over our big round lantern and hid G. As it was being obscured we saw every ca noe pulled furlously toward us
 It seemed to me that we fifteen white men opposed to more than three times their number of strong meu armed with spears they were used to handling. besides probably some fire arms. had a very small chance for our lives. We were supported, however, by faith In our arrangements for their reception, and If we could reach them with our steam jets we had confidence ln its power to harm them considerably.
 Now and again while our enemies were pulling toward us a thin part of the cloud passing over the moon would give us some light The coming ca- noes and their loads were black as Erehus. though here and there we would see a flash when the moonlight struck shield or a steel weapon. Nearer came the black death tln the canoes reached point cables length from us. Two pulled to port, two to siarboard and one toward the stern.
 I 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 us and under our stern we learned their method. They were provided with ropes of their own maEng-ot what material dld not know-and at the end Of each was sort of V made from a forking branch, one side being free to form a hook They no sooner came near enough than theg began to throw these Y's to catch on the gunwale. But here our wire fenc- ing stood us In good stead The blacks found 1t impossible to get an attach meut except at Che openings we had purposely left for our own action.
 Standing at my post with my noz- gle. I saw one Of the canoes come to- ward me. and its crew, seeing a single man apparently unarmed to defend Che opening. pulled directly under me. One of them threw a V, which caught on the gunwale, and black came quickly mp. climbing hand over hand. 1 gave him a dose of steam right in the face
 With a wild shrlek, he dropped Into the boat l dared not remain eX- posed to n spear thrown from below; but, sighting the position of the boat I reached out with the nozzle in my hand and poured a stream Of hot va DOT Into it Knowing by theft yeils that thcv were in distress. 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 lyzcd to act; then every one who had not been severely scalded jumped into the water, leaving the wounded ia the boat to drift away. Of course os soon as they were put out of Che fight I deslsted.
 Meanwhile the first officer was hov- ing similar experience with the blacks on the other side as l well knew from the yells coming from that direction. had no sooner driven or my enemies than 1 was ordered by the captain Co the stern. where several blacks had already climbed up and were jumping down on the deck ! did not need to go to them simply turned n steam jet on them Some fell on the deck; others managed to get over the tafuil and down into their canoe or the water
 And SO ut every point we achieved an easy victory without firing a shot Great is the power of steam Since our triumph on the African const with no other weapon have wondered why military men should not place boilers with hose attachments fla fortl acations for the close work MiEA it aot be made as eGective as a Calling gun?
 AS we saw the canoes pulling away Co get rid of the dreadful hot water Ne felt our ship sliding oT the rect A cheer both for our victory and Tor 1he friendly tide that had freed us went up. doubtless the greatest noise from the mlnglinE of human voices that had ever been heard on that si lent shore. In a few minutes we were in deep water. and Instead of usine .as. a4-ar-r,N