The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-10
Picked Up at
Sea
By DONALD CHAMBERLlN

! We were sailing on the Australian
coast when a boat was espied by the
lookout. She was an ordinary ships
\ lifeboat, open, and was dancing mer-
rily on the waves in the bright sun
light When she came nearer we
( counted nine men in her. She was
heading for us, and the captain gave
an order to slow down. AS soon as
she came alongside man in 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 fog and had gone
to the bottom. He asked how long
ago that was and they said week.
( Then he asked what had become of the
officers 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 as being likely, but he could not
refuse to take the men aboard and did
so. 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 scared
/ look. while others seemed to be saying
to themselves, Not If we can prevent
/ it."
! made up my mind that the men
| were mutineers and had either been
put off a ship or sunk ship or some
thing Of the kind, but when they We're
put TO work they showed such igno-
rance of everything nautical that
changed my opinion That they were
not what they purported to be was
evident, but what they were we had
no means OF knowing.
Our ship was a small steamer, not
needing d numerous crew. We usually
carried eighteen men, including cap
tain and mate, being mate. but now
we were 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 information rather than
wake him up. He was 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 to make some other port
than Melbourne. He admitted that
they would, but when ! asked him
where they would like TO put in he said
that they preferred not TO stop at an
Australian port at all l told him to
consult with his mates as to what they
wanted and let me know.
/ did this to put the strangers on
their guard and gain time. II was evil
dent, from their not wishing TO go
ashore I'm Australian territory, that
they were criminals. After consulting,
with the others the leader came back
and told me that they would like 10 be
put out in large boat we carried
which was rugged with sail and in
part decked over OF course they would
need 70 be proyisioned.
This was dead giveaway on their
part and showed that they were des-
perate. for they had no knowledge OF
navigation and would be az the mercy
Of the winds and waters. | pretended
10 accede 10 their request and d.
rected that they come on deck and get
the boat ready 20 be lowered. As soon
as they went 10 work | sent men 10
collect the weapons they had stolen.
when this was done ] stationed men
IN different parts OF the vessel all
armed. Then | began 70 send the
strangers In different directions Tor
different articles they would need on
their voyage. some were sent for pro
visions. some for water, some Tor
blankets. some for fuel.
| first ordered their spokesman, who
was leader as well. 20 take two men
with him and go down 70 the hold for
some salt pork He obeyed and three
out OF the nine men went below not
10 reappear again. Tor ns soon as they
cot into the dark bold hands were
clapped on their mouths and they were
removed 10 the BRIG. As soon as u
was reported 20 me that they had been
captured I sent two more men to the