Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-05

| eryone appeared TO be asleep except
himself and the Lascar sailor on watch
PAX Sing reflected that If he waited
fifty years he could find no better op-
portunity for settling with his enemy
and his enemy's friends in grandly
effectual style. So, after the custom OF
his race, he decided to run amok. Now
when a Malay has brooded over a
grievance or nursed a hatred until he
has worked himself into a frenzy, he
sometimes makes up his mind to run
amok, which Is usually a disastrous
business, both for his neighbors and
himself, because the orthodox mode OF
running amok Is for the frenzied man
to seize knife or kris and murderous-
ly attack not only his enemy, but ev-
eryone he meets, until he himself is
either cut down or shot like a mad
dog.
This time honored and simple meth
cd of running amok was, however far
too crude for PAX Sing, who, having
lived in Hong Kong and served on
modern cargo steamers, was more up
to-date than many Of his benighted
lcountrymen. He therefore resolved to
run amok in an original and effectual
manner.
He lost no time in getting to work.
First he screwed down the safety
valves; then he raised the dampers
and stirred up the furnace fire. which
had been banked soon after the anchor
was dropped. Gradually the steam
rose, and the pointer on the dial reg
istered more pressure every minute, as
PIX Sing worked at the fire as deftly
and silently as possible.
The working pressure Of the large
boilers was usually about 200 pounds,
although the dial was marked up to
800, and, of course, any pressure over
the 800 pounds was considered unsafe.
PAX Sing waited until the pointer
clicked against the stop beyond the 300
mark; then, shoveling on more coal
and stirring up the fire afresh, he went
| up on deck.
"Mistah Mcleod catch 'em plenty
steam by-em-by. go fore side, catch
'em fish," he remarked to the sleepy
Iascar on watch, who was doing on
the bunker hatch.
Now, PAX Sing did not fear death at
all. In fact. he quite intended to die
vet all the same he did not mean to be
blown up with the others; even
frenzied amok- running Malay can be
| fastidious as to his own manner OF
committing suicide. Kanagowa beach
was less than a mile distant, and the
food tide was setting that way. Why
he did not jump overheard and swim
ashore is a mystery which some one
better versed in the ways Of Orientals
than myself might solve. But the fact
remains that he did not, and this is
true story.
The Lascar watchman saw PAX Sing
carry a heavy fire-bar forward on his
shoulder, and his curiosity being arous-
ed, he crouched in the shadow Of the
bulwarks and watched the Malay's pro-
ceedings. PAX Sing tied the heavy fire.
bar round his neck with small piece
of line and climbed on the rail. Then,
facing aft he made fierce gesture OF
menace in the direction of the engi-
neer's cabins. and dropped overheard.
The Lascar made no attempt to stop
] him. Why should he? PAX Sing knew
his own business best. and If he wish
ed to drown himself he had every right
to do so from the Lascar's Oriental
view of the matter. But the Lascar
knew that western people made an alb
surd fuss about cases of suicide, and
as he was nightwatchman he felt 1t
his duty to report the matter to the
engine room department. So he went
aft and knocked loudly at Mr.. McLeod's
door
Whats wrong?" shouted Mcleod,
who awoke instantly.
Number two makee die fore side.
see," replied the sailor.
"How's that? What for makee die?''
asked the startled Mcleod who, like
most ships officers in the eastern trade
addressed native seamen in 'pidgin''
English.
NO savvy what for; tie 'em fire-bar
round neck, makee drown" answered
the watchman.
| Just as he spoke the sound Of a
bursting gauge glass warned the ex-
perienced engineer that all was not
right with the boilers. He sprang out
of bed, and. slipping on his shoes, was
down the stokehole in no time. His
jaw dropped when he saw the dial
pointer jammed over as far as it could
go, and the fire roaring fiercely.
Luckily for all on board, Mcleod
was q smart man Of action, and cool,
Experienced engineer. Knowing that
the ship might be blown to atoms be-
fore he could get the pressure down.
he worked like a demon. He started
the feed pump, lowered the dampers'
and eased the safety-valves. Then
shouting to the affrighted Lascar, who
was peering down the stokehold, to
start all the deck winches, he began
drawing the fire. Exerting all the
power of his big, strong muscles. Nc
IIeod piled the heavy rake and shovel
The stokehold was full of smoke. and
the heat from the glowing Goals sing
ed and burnt his cotton pajamas. yet
with sweat streaming from every pore
and his lungs half choked with smoke
he stuck to his job until he had the
satisfaction of seeing the pointer on
the dial go back as the steam dropped
and the danger was over. Then nc
staggered up the iron ladder and sank
breathless and spent, on the cool deck
The affair was hushed up, because
the chief engineer might have beer
censured for having a Malay in charge
lof the boiler, and, having previously
lbeen in trouble for striking Il fireman
Mcleod did not want it known that he
lhad provoked PAX Sing by kicking hin
loft the ash bucket. or course, the case
lor the suicide was reported, but noth'
L. EaTin