River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-07-04
Gof George g. 9eynko1


Some of the upper works were stripped away
and the whole appearance Of the vessel was
changed to such an extent that even her build
ers would hardly have recognized her.
At Santos / bought outright cargo OF
coffee and headed for Cape Town, South At
RIGA, where | consigned 1t to VIM G Anderson
& Son, with instructions to sell 1t for cash,
and quickly
| made Leigh saingmaster and we cleared
light for Australia, with short stop at the
Mauritius for coal. We coaled again at Al
bany West Australia. From there we went
to Port Adelaide, South Australia, and then on
to Melbourne, where we came to grief Off
Fort Philip Head We signaled for pilot and
a canny Scot came aboard. He seemed sus-
picious of us from the first and noticed that
he was studying the ship closely steamed
up to anchorage off Williamstown.
| landed at once and went to the Civil Serv-
ice Club Hotel to recuperate from bad case
of malaria which | had contracted at the Maui
ritius. While not alarmed by the apparent
suspicion of the pilot | was impressed by it
and gave strict orders to Leigh to allow no one
to come aboard. Leigh's one weakness was
drink, and to guard against his becoming help
lessly intoxicated instructed Wilson either to
remain on board visit the ship every day.
My fever grew worse after 1 went ashore,
and in two three days the doctor decided
that should have nurse, as was all alone.
The doctor was with me when the nurse ar
rived, and as the latter entered the door the
doctor made quick movement as though
something had startled him. looking in amaze
ment from one of us to the other. | could not
imagine what had happened until he said
"That man looks enough like you to be your
twsn brother! l never have seen such re-
semblance between two men!"
l surveyed the nurse more critically and
that we did look strangely alike even
to the SCARED face. The nurse said his name
was William Nourse and that he had arrived
in Melbourne only two or three days before
from Tasmania, where he had worked in the
Hobartstown hospital.
While / was recovering at the hotel events
were transpiring in connection with the ship.
Wilson, it developed, soon relaxed his vig-
lance and gave himself up to pleasures ashore
but without coming near me, whereupon old
Leigh blithely betotk himself to his beloved
bottle. After a few days the shrewd Scotch
pilot paid the ship friendly visit. found Leigh
full three sheets in the wind, encouraged him
to proceed with HIS rotations until he fell
asleep and then went over the ship at his
leisure, taking measurements and making OBJ
servations.
Naturally, his measurements correspondent
exactly with those of the Ferret, which had
been reported as missing
was greatly surprised when. late one aft
ernOOn ABOUT ten says aICGr our ARRIVAL at
Melbourne, received word from Joe that the
ship had been recognized as the Ferret and
seized; that he hae taken to the bush and
that l had better disappear as quickly and
quietly as possible ii wished to escape arrest,
for the officers were looking for both of US.
1 told Nourse tina; warrant was out for
my arrest on some technical violation of the
port regulations. and that, while had fear
of the result of trial, did not feel strong
enough to go through with it, and therefore
intended to leave q: once. and secretly and
stay away until the trouble blew over He
agreed to go with me- and soon after dark
we left the hotel quietly by rear entrance
which opened on an alley
We engaged a carriage and drove to sub
urb on the railroad running to Sydney.
On the long drive 20 Longwood I became
convinced that my capture certain. for
the country was so thiriy settled that we were
sure to attract attention and be easily fol
s lowed while If I stuck to the railroad I was
sure to be apprehended In seeking some new
way out of the dilemma I conceived the idea