Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-30

Briefly. SinGleton's watch began at
| midnight The captain. who had been
/ complaining OF lumbaSo. had had the
cook prepare him mustard poultice
/ and had retired early. Burns was on
watch from to 10 and on coming
I into the forward house at a quarter
after IL o'clock to eat his night lunch
reported TO Singleton that the captain
was in bed and that Mr.. Turner had
been asking for him Singleton there
fore took his cap and went on deck.
This was about twenty minutes after
II. he had bad drink or two earlier
in the evening, and he took another in
his cabin when he got his cap.
He found Turner in the chart house
playing solitaire and drinking. He was
alone, and he asked Singleton to join
him. The first mate looked at his
watch and accepted the invitation. but
decided TO look around the forward
house TO be sure the captain was
asleep. He went on deck. He could
hear Burns and the lookout talking.
The forward house was dark. He lis
tened outside the captains door and
heard him breathing heavily. as If
asleep. He stood there for moment
He bad m uneasy feeling that some
one was watching him. He thought
Of Schwartz and was uncomfortable.
he did not feel the whisky ut all.
He struck a light and looked around
There was no one in sight. He could
hear Charlie Jones I'm the forecastle
drumming on his banjo and Burns
whistling the same tune as he went
aft to strike the bell lit was the duty
OF the officer on watch TO strike the |
hour. II was then half after II. AS I
he passed the captains door again his |
foot struck something. and IL fell to /
the floor He was afraid the captain |
had been reused and stood still until /
he heard him breathing regularly again
Then ne stopped down. His foot had
struck an AK upright against the cap
tain's door and had knocked II down.
The AK belonged on the outer wall
NJ the forward house II was rule
thar IL must not he removed from its
place except in emergency. and the
first mate carried IL out and leaned It
gainst the forward port corner OF the
ifter house when he went below.
Later. on his watch. he carried II
Onward and put it where IL belonged.
He found Turner waiting on deck. and
!
Dom He was none too clear as TO
what followed. They drank together /
.ail tried 10 get Turner TO bed and
allied. He believed that Burns had
allied the captain. The captain had
rdercd him TO the deck. and there had
een a furious quarrel He felt III by
hat time. and when ne went on watch !
{ midnight Burns was uncertain
-
lxicated. he maintained. until after
alf-past I. He was able TO strike {
ne bell without difficulty. and spoke.
ach time he went aft. TO Charlie
ones. who was at the wheel.
After that. however. be suddenly
III strange. He thought he had been
oped and told the helmsman so. He
sked Jones to strike the bell for him :
nd. going up on the fOrecastle head. .
Y down on the boards and fell asleep.
e did not waken until he heard six
slls struck-3 o'cIock-and before he
I'd fully reused / had called him. =
Then" / said. when the lookout !
w you with the az you were replac- :
= it, I
Yes"
The lookout says you were not on h
.ck between and 3 o'clock" Q
How does he know? ! was asleep.
You had threatened TO get the zap O
in"
Il bad a revolver. ] didn't need 10
e an AK"
Much as I disliked the man was d
cIined 10 believe his story. although a
thought lie was keeping something IA
4 T.uuaH forward n
Singleton" I said. If you didn't do
and 1 want 10 think you did not
IO did," "a
lie shrugged lis shoulders. Ia
We have women aboard. We ought IA.