The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-11-15
BOARDED lERELICT
IN THE MID-PAC|FIC
Engineers Strange Yarn He
Says 'Banzai' Can Prove
1t II Necessary.

NEW YORK, November LII Ban
zai, the Japanese poodle and priced
possession of William Tweeddale, chief
engineer of the British tramp steam
er Athol, could talk he would unfold
strange tale of the South Pacific.
But the story of how 'Banzai" came
into the possession of Chief Eng'nee
Tweeddale is strange enough a tale in
itself
Tim a drowned man and that all
there is to it, remarked Tweeddale
today as he began the story of ''Ban-
zai. y II have not seen the Viscar
since the night 1 was drowned in
the South Pacific, but / have heard
from my old chief and he says I'm
carried on the log as drowned and
that the Viscar's log is truthful in all
things, and drowned must remain.
1t was about this time last year
| that | was drowned The Viscar
had touched in at Japanese ports and
was kicking her way south to Singa-
pore. | had Just been relieved of my
watch below by til, third engineer
| and had gone to the rail for breath
of air. The night was sitting hot, and
whether l had got too much heat or
what L don t know, out | was taken
with a sort of faintng spell. I came
to with a sudden shock. / was in the
water.
No One Had Seen Him.
1T dawned on me mighty quick
that no one had seen me go overheard
and that it might be couple of hours
before | was missed l shouted a bit
and then L began to save my breath
and swim. That's queer situation
for man to find himself in. There
| was kicking around in the middle
of the Pacific-not just in the middle,
but it might just as well have been,
and the Viscar growing DINNER in the
distance every second. Finally the
Viscar disappeared and I came pretty
near letting go and having it over
then, but a man hates to die and I
knew / wouldn t until / had TO.
"Well, sir, 1 had some funny thoughts.
First l began to wonder how long 1
could keep up, and decided that by TAX
ing things easy / was good for five or
six hours and daylight, for had gone
overheard at midnight. l was begin
ming to tire a bit when l saw sight
that brought howl of joy out of my
lungs. Sweeping along toward me with
all sails set was one-masted vessel. l
began to swim toward her, yelling
Helpl' every few strokes but not an
answering cry did / hear. l thought it
strange, for the vessel was almost on
me, but it was not for me to wonder
about such things with chance for life
so near at hand and so I bumped along
side as the boat came by me. / saw
rope hanging over the side and got hold
of it, or 1 d never be in New York or
any other earthly harbor this day.
Then Howled for Help.
help, but nary an answer did get. Then
/ decided I'd have to help myself
aboard. 1t was hard job, me half ex-
hausted trying to pull myself over the
side hand over hand with my numbed
fingers ON slippery rope. Finally with
one last awful effort l drew myself over
the side, and fell in heap on the deck.
81 must have lain there half dead
for hours, for when I came to it was
.. broad daylight and something was hap
pening to my left ear, which was up
permOst 1t was a ticklisb sensation in
my ear and / sat up with a start, and
there was a blooming puppy dog what
had been licking the side of my face.
That there pup was Banzai.'
, "The vessel was a one-sticker, and
there were five dead Japanese aboard.
, They looked as if they had been scared
to death, and never fathomed the mys-
terry.
"There were plenty of provisions
aboard, and FIVE days later 1 was pick
ed up by. steamer that took me to
Hongkong."