The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-07
Edited by MARY MARSHALL
"A CHINESE CREW
By JOHN +. HENDRIcks.

4
Over the mantel in Grandfather
sterling's dining room hung the pic
ture OF q great Newfoundland dog.
One winter day when Ralph Pell
and his grandfather met at breakfast
time, a northeast wind was whistling
around the corner of the old mansion.
and hurting the snow with . musical
tapping against the window panes.
I The white-haired sailor looked up
at the picture of the noble animal
saying. with a touch Of affection In his
voice: We'll. Nero. good old fellow.
this Is one of the kind of days you
used to love-"
"Grandpop." said Ralph. you have
never told me about Nero. Did he
ever go to sea with your"
Go to sea with me, boy? why,
Nero was first mate with me once.
and a good one. too. when I had a
Chinese crew on my vessel"
"oh. do tell me the story. please.
grandpop." exclaimed Ralph. "for It
must be 9 funny one"
NJ
perhaps; but I'll spin you the yarn.
and let you judge. Well. when l was
a strappling young fellow, way back
In the forties, sailed out of the port
of Boston as mate of the bark Eagle.
bound to Hong-Kong. We had q
quick passage out. but found nothing
in the way OF a good freight just then
offering for home. SO We remained
for several weeks with our mud
hook-as sailors call the anchor
dropped in the same place. It was
the unhealthy season. and. one by one,
our crew sickened. and were sent on
shore to the hospital Next / found
myself, with the second mate. the only
man left on board the vessel.
Just at this time the captain was Of
fered a good paying charter to carry q
cargo up the coast, SO he ordered me to
ship a new crew for the trip, and to take
his place as captain, saying that he
would be himself again when returned
There was not q white sailor to be en-
gagged in the port, so i shipped a crew
are called, slowed my cargo. and set
sail: but as this class Of Cinnamon are
very dirty in the way OF their clothes
and habits, took care to lock the door
Of the forecastle house. in which the
sailors sleep. and to make the natives
take up sleeping quarters on a lot of
mats thrown on top of the cargo in the
hold
las Ill luck would have II. the poor
second mate, who had made several voy-
ages to the pig-tail country. and could
talk pigeon-English so as to be under
stood by the moon-eyed sailors, went out
OF his head with the fever and jumped
overheard in his delirium this second
night after leaving port. This left me
to deal with a crowd OF men who could
not comprehend a single order / gave
them. However. as the place to which
We were bound was only about two days
sail away. and as the wind was favor
able. kept the ship on her course.
"of all the exaspersting times I have
ever had, that was the worst. believe
that the men would have turned on me
II it had not> been for the captains big
dog Nero. who followed me wherever
moved, and who growled wickedly at the
evil-looking crew whenever he saw them
look threateningly at me.
In addition to the navigating OF the
ship. was obliged to constantly super
intend the setting and taking in OF the |
sails, the steering OF the ship. and many |
other matters. so that I dared not go be- !
low even for my meals The afternoon |
of the day before expected to reach |