The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-09-10
A Stowaway
Deserter
By ALBERT T. KENYON

The second officer Of the ship Alba.
tross running between New York and
Havana one morning walked ait
where the captain was standing talk
ing with passenger The mate was
conducting a stoyaway who had just
been found concealed in the hold. The
latter was man about twenty years
Eold and appeared to b9hhealthy and
strong He was partly dressed iIi kli5
uniform of a United States soldier.
On his face. was bitter. rebellious
look.
.Who are your asked the captain
sternly.
"a deserter."
"You don't seem ashamed Of being
one"
Nor should 1. seeing that l had a
tyrant for captain"
'Well. you'll have to work your way"
The deserter-stowaway was put
down among the coal beavers, where,
stripped to the waist, he shoyeled coal
into the furnace. The ship was of
broke and left her at the mercy Of
wind and waves, the former blowing
directly on shore To put in new
post at sea in rough weather was not
to be thought Of Some expedient
must be made for gaining steerage
way temporarily: then the ship must
be taken into port FOR repairs. The
captain planned to fix chain to each
side of the rr i.,nr. bring an end of
each chain NJ, en to tile deck, attach
both to a carstan and thus steer the
ship.
There was heavy iron ring on each
side Of the rudder. and the Intention
was to pass a rope through the ring
and secure an attachment for the
chain to the ring by means Of the rope.
But how get the rope through the
rings? When the ships keel was on
a level the rings We're FIVE feet under
water. When the ship plunged down
a wave the stern was lifted and the
rings exposed The problem was to
get the ropes through the rings when
they were thus raised above the sur
face. The only way was for man to
be lowered on to the rudder, go down
with it and up again, putting the ropes
through the rings when they We're at
the highest point To suspend man
for the purpose would not avail. He
would likely be dashed against the
stern. To do his work he must cling
to the rudder.
The captain ordered the ships crew
lined up ON deck and called for volun-
teers to do the work. Only one man
could work at time. The reason for
calling for a number was that it was
supposed several would be disabled be-
fore one succeeded.
And so 1t proved The first man was
lost by losing his grip. The second
was hauled up unconscious. The third
became benumbed, and the fourth was
killed by being dashed against the
ship's stern. That ended the volun-
teering, so far as the crew was con-
cerned, and the work had not been
done
Then the stowaway, who had come
on deck to see what was going on.
stepped forward and offered himself
for the next victim. The vessel was
approaching the coast, and death was
staring all on board in the face. The
offer was accepted as last hope. The
man had on only trousers and woolen
shirt, and his strength was apparent.
A rope was looped under his shoul-
ders, the one to be attached was given
him, and when the ship was about to
plunge he was quickly lowered.
Clinging to the rings, knowing that
he would not have time to do his work
before the stern would go down, he
waited TO be submerged and rise again.
AS he disappeared those leaning over
the stern to watch him wondered II
when the rudder came up he would be
there. Few expected that he would
It was a good minute before the rise
came, but the stowaway came with It.
While the rudder was exposed he ran
r -kEeskA