The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-28

coast from port to port and cargo 10
cargo was all over at last. There were
no more tallymen TO feed n our
last passengers had disappeared down
the gangway In some lonely. sandy
harbor below the Peruvian Andes. In
Valparaiso the simple "Chilianos" who
had made part of the crew to Seattle
and back bade us a wild farewell and
pulled away in small boats, their sash
belts crammcd with souvenirs of the ship
that they had cody taken unto them
selves during unmatched moments.
They had left us and were now quietly
at home with their Chilean sons n
daughters, or lingering on the piers
and gazing at the SNOWY Andes over
head or at the lonk whiskered sea
lions below, or at many ships riding
their anchors in the long swell n
slow heave of the ocean.
But we had left all this behind us
now. We had left Montevideo behind
us, grimy with coal and muddy with
the river flowing by from Buenos
Ayres and the valleys of Argentina.
Nothing lay before us but the Canary
Islands and then Hamburg-Germany
the Naterland!
That was something to look forward
to. With two other adventures had
joined the crew only at San Francisco
and consequently felt less exuberance
than the stokers and fremen and sail
ors who had paced these iron decks
and listened to the striking of the bells
since the steamer left Hamburg in
December, eight months before. ! was
mighty weary myself with iron decks
and the e~Xasperating monotony Of
daily duties. What a great day hen
lay waiting when the Menes should
pass Cuxhaven and anchor snugly
far up the Elbe in Hamburg and not
a long cry from the gay lights Of
gayer dance halls. Day by day we
tore date after date from the calendar
and whooped like crazy schoolboys for
vacation time.
Three days out from Las Palmas
| was sent to the bridge on repair
work in the wireless room. The third
officer, who was also wireless operator.
"A tall, blond Hanoverian. sat crouched
over the keys with receivers capped
over his ears. The aerial sung and
cracked. But | was not particularly
attentive to this. II happened day
after day and most of the night now.
n to report every night on the
bridge at IL o'clock. but lately on these
dismal watches l had noticed that the
tall Hanoverian who should have
been snoring in his bunk room was
crouched over the keys in the yellow
electric light. Still | had not noticed
il PARTICULARLY This day was like
other days. My work was almost
n-..tzl .,l Z u.ac prnnarinD IN lenNa
with my arms full of brass and cot
ton waste when the operator, Herr
Wuerstenberg, called after me. l stood
in the doorway and waited.
Gang steward he aid in a low
steady voice. gang steward. do you
know that when you get to Hamburg
there'll probably be going on tho
greatest war N the world?"
| slowly picked up my armful OF
brass and cotton waste. Herr Wur-
stenberg sat there, propping his chin
in his hands and looking unusually
%thoughtful. He didn't expect any an
swer from me and l had none.
Gee whizz." l said, and picked up
the brass and cotton waste.
In the evening | broke his startling
news TO the stewards and the bushy
bearded chef, who laughed too loudly.
| thought, considering his great
respect for the aerial overhead.
Veg" he roared, and / retreated
la srily from his turbulent incredibly.
No one vas oversympathetic, but
from III time on the stokers were q
little more weary after their Tour
hours shift below, and the engineers a
little more mySteriously silent and the
engines spat steam at slightly quicker
intervals. Obviously the captain was
q shrewd man. lie lid not wish a
brand new twelve thousand ton ship
with a half a million dollar cargo
slowed below TO be captured on the
high seas. In eight days he would
be safe at Hamburg, Why not make
it seven days? So we raced past the
stars for the Canaries.
About / o'clock in the morning
| awoke with a very uncomfortable
feeling Of suppression on my lungs
/ sat up and looked about me, The
port hJle WIS locked. Some one had
crammed the deck funnel overhead
with some one e.se's trousers. The
air was indescribably hot.
What's up?' l called to a figure
passing in the gangway.
"Coaling." a voice answered.
What, at this hour? You're crazy
"Coal.ng it is it responded and
passed IN.
You're a bad, grumpy man, ! said
to myself and tumbled on the floor.
whore the brown C~ockrOaChes were
prospecting for a midnight supper. !
hurriedly dressed and went on deck.
l wondered why We were coaling AT
suoh an unearthly hour. Presently
Herr Luders came along. He was tbs
fourth officer. \ fourth officer ought
to know At least that much.
Herr Luders, tell me, please, why
we're Coaling now. ! thought we were
not to coal until after breakfast"
I'VE clear this port after breakfast
he said and DISAPPEARED hurri dly afl
to set the patent lpg.
At 10 o'c,oCk the last barge haC
drifted awIy and l was waiting to So
the blue peter at the masthead. At /.
O'clock there was no blue peter at tn
masthead; only the yellow quarantine
flag hung there LlScOnSolatcly, for w
a been in Chilean bubonic plagu'
ports. The captain was still ashore
a. l..