The Delta independent., 1913-03-21
CHAPTER XVI.
In Which Ebenezer capen Is Sur
prised


prised.
Before sunset that afternoon the Sau
Jose was anchored behind the point
by the inlet The fishing boats changed
moorings and moved farther up, foi
not single one of their owners woulo
trust himself within hundred yards
of the stricken brigantine.
The largest of the beach shanties
one which stood by itself quarter OF
mile from the light, was hurriedly
prepared for use as pesthouse ano
the sick sailor was carried there on
an improvised stretcher. DR.. 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 roweo
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. kind.
hearted townspeople donated cast-on
tables and chairs. and the building
was made as comfortable as it could
be, under the circumstances. Sign
boards, warning strangers to keep
away, were erected, and in addition to
them, the Trumet selectmen ordered
ropes stretched across the lane on
both sides of the shanty But ropes
and signs were superfluous. Trumet
In general was in a blue funk and
had no desire to approach within
mile of the locality. Even the driver
of the grocery cart, when he left the
days supply of groceries, pushed the
packages under the ropes, yelled
hurried Here you bel" and, whipping
up his horse, departed at a rattling gal
lop.
The village sat up nights to discuss
the affair and every day brought
new sensation. The survivors of the
San Jose's crew, wretched. panic
stricken quartette of mulattos and
Portuguese, were apprebended on the
outskirts of Denboro, the town below
Trumet on the bay side, and were
promptly sequestered and fumigated,
pending shipment to the hospital at
Boston. Their story was short but
gruesome. The brigantine was not
Turks Islands boat, but coaster from
Jamaica. She had sailed with small
cargo for Savannah Two days out
and the smallpox made it's appearance
on board. The sufferer, a negro fore
mast hand, died. Then another sailor
was seized and also died. The skip
per. who was the owner, was the next
victim. and the vessel was in a state
Of decentralization which the mate. an
Englishman named Bradford, could
not overcome. Then followed days
and nights of calm and terrible heat,
Of pestilence and all but mutiny. The
mate himself died. There was no one
left who understood navigation. At
last came a southeast gale and the
San Jose drove before it. Fair wealth
er found her abreast the Cape. The
survivors ran her in after dark, an
chored, and reached shore in the long
boat. The sick man whom they had
left in the forecastle was a new hand
who had shipped at Kingston. His
name was Murphy, they believed.
They had left him because he was
sure to die. like the others, and, be-
sides. they knew some one would see
the distress signals and investigate.
That was all. yes. Santa Maria! was
1t not enough?
Captain Zeb Mayo went about cheer
Ing for his parson. Mrs. Mayo cooked
delicacies to be pushed under the
ropes for the minister's consumption.
The parish committee. at a special
session, voted an increase of salary
and ordered a weekly service Of pray
er for the safe delivery of their young
leader from danger.
Keziah Coffin was. perhaps, the one
person most disturbed by her parsons
heroism. She would have gone to the
shanty Immediately had not DIR. Par
ker prevented. Even as 1t was. she
did go as far as the ropes. but there
she was warded OF by Ebenezer until