Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-09
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A SMALL JOB
OF PIRACY
It Happened In the Bay
of Naples.
BY JOHN Y. LARNED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I sailed from New York on the 10th
Of April as first mate Of the steamer
Pelican with a cargo which was to be
sold out at Mediterranean ports. We
reached Naples on the 9Th Of May, hav,
ing disposed Of all the cargo except q
few things that we sold there, and took
nothing aboard, intending to load up
with Arabian goods on the African
coast. The purser went ashore with
money he had taken in for the goods
we had sold, got 1t changed into gold
that would pass readily In the places
we expected to make purchases, and II
was brought aboard in bags.
We had a promiscuous crew Of white
and copper colored men, the latter
having been picked up on the Medi,
terranean coast, while the former had
come from the low grade Of sailors one
will find in the shipping districts OF
New York. Since We were not loading
they had nothing to do, and when the
bags of gold were taken aboard a
lot of them were looking over the side
Of the ship. And from the weight Of the
gold and the clinking Of the coins when
bag was placed on the deck 1t was
plain to them that they contained
money.
noticed an expression on the faces
Of several of the worst Of the crew
which indicated, to say the least, covet-
BUSINESS. mentioned the matter to
the captain, suggesting that bringing
gold aboard so openly was throwing
temptation in the mems way. He pooh
poohed the matter. and. having warned
him. did not press 1t further.
That evening liberty party went
ashore. We were Mt anchor In the bay
of Naples, and the captain concluded
to let all the men go. while he and /
and the purser remained on watch.
This again seemed to me to be taking
risk. Naples is noted for the crimes
committed in and about 1t. II we had
nothing to fear directly from the crew
we had something to fear from those
to whom they might talk about the
gold they had seen carried aboard the
Pelican.
The bay of Naples Is probably the
most beautiful bay in the world. At
any rate, have in my voyages visited
many. but none other impressed me In
the same way. The night we lay at
anchor there remember as more
beautiful than any other l have spent.
A full moon stood In the heavens,
lighting up the city. Vesuvius and the
islands Of Ischia and Capri. while 1t
left its simmer on the water. Then.
too, the temperature was delightful.
The day had been hot. but the nights
in Italy are usually cool. On this night
1t was just warm enough to sit out on
deck in light clothing.
Facing eastward from the bay one
looks to his right upon Mount Vesu-
vius, beneath which lie the half buried,
half eXhumed cities Of Pompeii and
Herculaneum. Directly before him the
city Of Naples rises with the ground
on which 1t is built, and to me, view
ing 1t ut night, 1t was successive tiers
Of light.
BY 10 o'clock all who were aboard
except myself had turned in, having
volunteered to stand watch till the libs
erty party returned. The men had or
ders to return Mt II o'clock. but that
hour arrived without them. was not
especially surprised, for sailors ashore
are not very reliable. I didn't mind
their not coming, for the night was so
beautiful that I had no desire to
turn in.
Twelve o'clock came and still no
crew. I began to get bit drowsy and
dozed in my chair Opening my eyes,
I saw boat heading for the ship. ]
did not doubt that it was the liberty
party returning till noticed that there
was no sound of oars or voices. Sail
ors who 60 ashore for q good time
don't usually come back quietly. Be-
sides, 1t very soon dawned upon me
that the oars In the approaching boat
were muffled.
What I bave said about the gold and
the crew and crime In Naples flash
ed through my brain. I ran down
stairs to awaken the captain and the
purser.
"Arm yourselves and get on deck as
soon as possible~ I cried, shaking
them at the same time.
then ran to where the arms were
kept and, seizing musket, cutlass
and a revolver, got up the companion
way just in time to see the boat about
100 yards distant. From the gunwale
amidships I cried out to the approach
ing party to keep off, though II they
were Italians they would not under
stand me.
They stopped rowing, and l could
hear them talking In the cultural
sounds of the low grade Of the Italian
people. Then without needing my
warning they resumed their course to-
ward the Pelican. fired shot from
the musket, but, not being sure OF their
intentions, aimed above their heads.
II they were not bent on crime this
would stop them. 1t did not stop them,
lor they pulled forward with lusty
strokes.
Hearing the shot hastened the cap
tain and the purser, who arrived half
dressed, but armed. few moments
after I had fired. They Joined me
when the boat was within thirty yarc1
of the ship The party had come In
large yawl. and there were about a
dozen OF them. They had an advhn.
tage over us In numbers, while they
were at a disadvantage as to position,
for 1t Is not an easy matter to board
vessel from boat much lower than
the ship to be boarded. Unfortunately
we were at some distance from the
shore or any other vessel. One or two
ships had been near us when We an
chored, but they had sailed or docked
during the day.
While could not tell who these men
were, presumed that they were ltal-
ians who had heard the crew talking
in Naples about the treasure in the
ship. Quite likely some members OF
the crew had been heard talking about