The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-04-29
Picked Up at
Sea
BY DONALD CHAMBERLIN

lheboat. open. and was dancing mef.
rily on the waves in the bright sun.
light When she came nearer W.
counted nine men In her. She was
heading for US, and the captain gave
an order to slow down. Az soon rs
she came alongside a man IA the bow
hailed us and asked us to take them
aboard.
The captain questioned them. and
they told him that they were members
Of the crew Of ship that had collid.
ed with another in a fog and had gone
10 the bottom. lie asked how long
ago that was and they said week.
Then he asked what had become OF the
oniceN and the rest OF the crew and
was told that they had gone down with
the ship. There was only time to get
out the one boat before she sank
The Story didn't appeal to the cap
tain ms being likely. but he could not
refuse 10 take the men aboard and did
no. As soon as they came aboard we
saw that their faces were by no means
attractive. They asked our captain for
what port he was bound and when he
said Melbourne | noticed that on the
faces Of some Of them was a scared
look. while others seemed 10 be saying
10 themselves. mot II we can prevent
It."
! made up my mind that the men
were mutinccrs and had either been
put OF a ship or sunk a ship or some
thing Of the kind. but when they were
put to work they showed such igno-
rance OF everything nautical that |
changed my opinion. That they We're
not what they purported 10 lie was
evident. but what they were we had
no means OF knowing.
Our ship was small steamer, not
needing a numerous crew. We usually
carried eighteen men. including cap
tain and mate. ] being mate, but now
We We're reduced TO twelve.
One evening one Of our regular crew
came to me and told me that the
strangers had taken weapons from the
ships armory and hidden them IN the
hold. The captain was asleep in his
cabin at the time. and ! preferred TO
act ON the informa ton rather than
wake him up. lie was n headstrong
man and was liable to give our enc
mics the advantage by some rash act
sent for the man who had been
spokesman when We met them and
asked him whether he and his men
preferred a. make some other port
than Melbourne He admitted that
they would. but when l asked him
where they would lilse to put in he said
that they preferred not to stop at an
Australian port at all. ! told him TO
consult with his mates as TO what they
wanted and let me know.
l did this TO put the strangers OF
their guard and gain time. II was evi-
dent, from their not wishing TO go
ashore In Australian territory, that
they were criminals. After consulting
with the others the leader came back
and told me that they would like to be
put out I'm large boat we carried
which was rugged with a sail and In
part decked over OF course they would
need to be provisioned.
This was Il dead Eivenway on their
part and showed that they were des-
perate, for they had no knowledge of
navigation and would he nj the mercy
OF the winds and waters. | pretended
to accede to their request and IL
rccted that they come on deck and get
the boat ready Ia In. lowered. As soon
as they went "a work | sent men 10
collect the weapens they had stolen.
When this was done ] stationed men
I'm different parts OF the vessel. all
armed Then began Ia send the
strangers in different directions for
different articles they would need ON
their voyage Some Were sent for pro
visions. some for water. some for
blankets. some for fuel
first ordered their spokesman. who
was leader as well. 10 take two men
with him and go down to the bold for
some salt pork. He obeyed and three
out OF the nine men went below moi
to reappear again. for m soon as they
got into the dark hold hands were
clapped on their mouths and they were
removed 10 the brig. As sooE Ms Il
was reported To me that they had been
captured | sent two more men 10 the
sail room for canvas. They. too. were
secured. and within twenty minutes
from the time they bad started ia get
the boat ready had them all unsler
lock and key.
When the captain appeared on deck
the next morning and | told him that
the strangers hal stolen arms he took
I'd serious Thea when told him that
| had the men secured he was aston
lshed. not being able 10 understand
how he could have slept through Il mu-
tiny. Finally when | gave him my
plan and the manner OF It's accomplish |
ment he reprimandel me for acting |
without his orders.
A few days later we reached port. | /
went 10 the municipal office and stat |
"a the case. 70 lie told that nine persons |
serving terms at a prison neal, the coast |
lad escaped. A boat was missing. and
{ was supposed they had taken II and |
nut TO sea. Government officers were
ooking for them. but thus far had seen
,othing OF them.
The men were taken In charge by
he police and returned 10 the prison.
rhafr Landau knlI mo hafara IaaVlnr |