The daily Alaskan., 1915-04-05
 A SMALL JOB OF PIRACY It Happened In the Bay
 of Naples.
By JOHN Y. LARNED
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Pelican with cargo which was to be sold out at Mediterranean ports, We reached Naples on the 9th of May, hay ing disposed Of all the cargo except 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 1t was brought aboard in bags
 We had 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 ever the side of the ship. And from the weight of the gold anu the clinking of the coins when bag was placed on the deCG it was plain to ttem that they contained money.
 noticed an expression on the faces of several of the worst or the crew which indicated, to say the least, covet- ousness. 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 a liberty party went ashore. We were at anchUr in the bay of Naples. and the captain concluded to let all the men go, while he and l and the purser remained on watch. This again seemed to me to be taking a risk. Naples Is noted for the crimes committed in and about 1t. If 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 bad seen carried aboard the Pelican.
 The bay of Naples is probably Che 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 have spent. A full moon stood in the heavens, lighting up the city, Nesuvius 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 It was just warm enough to sit out on deck in light clothing.
 Facing eastward from the bay one looks to his right upon Mount Nesu vius, beneath which lie the half buried. half exhumed cities of Ponpeii and Herculansum Directly before him the city of Naples rises with the ground on which 1t Is built, and to ne, view ing 1t at night, 1t was successive tiers of light.
 By 10 o'clock ali who were aboard except myself had turned in, l having volunteered to stand watch till the lib- erty party returned. The men had or ders to return at II o'clock, but that hour arrived without them. was not especially surprised, for sailors ashore are not very reliable. didn't mind their not coming, for the night was so beautiful that had no desire to turn tn.
 Twelve o'clock came and still no crew. began to get bit drowsy and dozed in my chair. Opening my eyes, saw a boat heading for the ship. l did not doubt that It was the liberty party returning till l noticed that there was no sound of oars or voices. Sail ors who go ashore for good time don't usually come hack quietly. Be sides, it very soon dawned upon me that the oars in the approaching boat were mufied.
 What have said about the god and the crew and crime in Naples fash ed through my brain. ran down stairs to awaken the captain and the purser.
 Arm yourselves and get on deck as soon as possibleg' cried, shaking them at the same time.
 l then ran to where the arms were kept and. seizins a musket, a cutlass and a revolver, got. up the companion way just in time to see the boat about 100 yards distant From the gunwa!e amidships I cried out to the approach, ing party. to keep off, though if they were Italians they would not under stand me.
 They stopped rowing. and could hear them talking in the guttural sounds of the low grade of the Italian people. Then without needing my warning they resumed their course to- ward the Pelican. fired a shot from the musket, but, not being sureof their intentions, aimed, above their heads. If they were not bent on crime this would stop them. It did not stop them for they pulled forward with lusty strokes.
 no aon,