The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-03-01
CHAPTER XVI,
IN Which Ebenezer capen Is Sur
prised.

pfiSeo.
BEFORE sunset that afternoon the San
Jose was anchored behind the point
by the inlet. The fishing boats changed
moorings and moved farther up. for
not single one of their owners would
trust himself within hundred yards
OF the stricken brigantine.
The largest of the beach shanties
one which stood by itself quarter OF
a mile from the light, was hurriedly
prepared for use as a pesthouse and
the sick sailor was carried there on
an improvised stretcher. DIR. Parker
and Ellery lifted him from his berth
and. assisted by old Ebenezer Capen
got him up to the deck and lowered
him into the dory. Ebenezer rowed
the trio to the beach and the rest of
the journey was comparatively easy.
The shanty had three rooms, one of
which was given up to the patient,
one used as living room, and, In the
third, Capen and the minister were to
sleep. Mattresses were procured, hind
hearted townspeople donated cas-off
tables and chairs, and the builiing
was made as comfortable as 1t Guild
be, under the circumstances. Sign
boards, warning strangers to hep
away, were erected, and in additioi to
them, the Trumet selectmen ordfed
ropes stretched across the lane on
both sides of the shanty. But r8es
and signs were superfluous. Truiet
in general was In blue funk Ad
had no desire to approach within a
mile of the locality. Even the dirty
of the grocery cart, when he left te
days supply of groceries. pushed Se
packages&Qnder the ropes, yelled "a
hurried ERE you bel" and, whipping
up his e, departed at rafting g.
lop. 80
The Village sat up nights to discus
the affair and every day brought ,
new sensation. The survivors Of tle
San Jose's crew, a wretched, pant
stricken Quartette of mulattos an
Portuguese, were apprehended on tn
outskirts of Denboro, the town belot
Trumet on the bay side, and wen
promptly sequestered and fumigatey
pending shipment to the hospital 4
Boston. Their story was short BIT
gruesome. The brigantine was not
Turks Islands boat, but a. coaster fro1
Jamaica. She had sailed with a SINAI
cargo for Savannah. Two days ou
and the smallpox made its appearance
on board. The sufferer, a negro fore
mast hand, died. Then another sailo
was seized and also died. The skiI
per, who was the owner, was the mex
victim, and the vessel was in a stat
of generalization which the mate, a,
Englishman named Bradford, coul
not overcome. Then followed day
and nights Of calm and terrible heat
OF pestilence and all but mutiny. Tn
mate himself died. There was no on
left who understood navigation. A
last came a southeast gale and tn
San Jose drove before 1t. Fair weatf
er found her abreast the Cape. Tn
survivors ran her in after dark, ar
chored, and reached shore in the Ions
boat. The sick man whom they ha
left in the forecastle was new han
who had shipped at Kingston. Hi
name was Murphy. they believed
They had left him because he wa
sure to die. like the others, and, b.
sides, they knew some one would Sc
the distress signals and investigate
That was all. yes. Santa Maria! wa
It not enough?
Captain Zeb Mayo went about cheer
ing for his parson. Mrs. Mayo cooke
delicacies to be pushed under tn
ropes for the minister's consumption
The parish committee. at q specia
session, voted an increase Of salar