Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-03-03
A SMALL JOB
OF PIRACY
1t Happened In the Bay
of Naples.
By JOHN Y. LARNED

OF April as nfSC 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 a
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 it changed into gold
that would pass readily in the places
we expected to make purchases, and it
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 blinking Of the coins when
a bag was placed on the deck it was
plain to them that they contained
money.
l 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 it further.
That evening a liberty party went
ashore. We were at 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
a risk. Naples is noted for the crimes
committed in and about it. 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 had seen carried aboard the
Pelican.
The bay Of Naples is probably the
most beautiful bay in the world At
any rate. I have in my voyages visited
many, but none other impressed me in
the same way. The night we lay at
anchor there I remember as more
beautiful than any other 1 have spent,
A full moon stood in the heavens.
lighting up the city. Vesuvius and the
islands Of TSchia and Capri. while it
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 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 it is built. and to me, view
ing it at night. it was successive tiers
Of light
By 10 o'clock all who were aboard
except myself had turned in. I 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. l 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. l began to get bit drowsy and
dozed in my chair. Opening my eyes,
l saw a boat heading for the ship |
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 a good time
don't usually come back quietly. Be
sides, it very soon dawned upon me
that the oars in the approaching boat
were muffled.
What l have said about the gold and
the crew and crime in Naples fash
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!' | cried, shaking
them at the same time
/ then ran to where the arms were
kept and. seizing 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 gunwale
clI1uoA1po SA4Su OuL W Luc dppIOdCu-
ing party to keep off. though if they
We're 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. l fired a shot from
the musket. but, not being sure Of their
intentions, aimed above their heads
If they were not bent on crime this
would stop them. 1T did not stop them
kor they pulled forward with lusty
strokes.